Released in 1993 by Howard Tilley, the Darklyte games are turn-based tactical affairs that will feel right at home for fans of classics like Space Crusade or Hero Quest. You're in control of a squad of four droids, battling a rival enemy team on an isometric grid reminiscent of Shadow Sorcerer. Your squad starts at the top of the screen, with the enemy team at the bottom, and your primary goal is straightforward: destroy them.
You control each droid one at a time, indicated by a white arrow pointing to the active unit. Right-clicking cycles through your droids (you can click them directly in the second game). Each droid has a set number of action points (displayed as a green number) and an energy bar representing its health. Movement around the board is simple: click the arrow buttons to step around the grid, but remember that different terrain, obstacles, and other droids might block your path. A secondary challenge is to safeguard your Commander droid. Losing this unit means game over, regardless of the status of your other droids - so protect him!
When it's time for a fight, position your droid next to your opponent, then click the attack icon. Combat is resolved using specific stats for the current action: your droid's attack number versus the enemy's defending number. The difference is dealt as damage, chipping away at their energy bar until "kaboom!!". I do have one minor gripe: sometimes your droid isn't facing the enemy. To successfully attack, you *must* first tap the correct directional arrow before choosing attack. Your robot's stance doesn't visually change, but he can now successfully strike his opponent. It's a minor gripe, alright, but still rather peculiar.
There are power-ups, such as gloves for stronger attacks, shields for extra defence, and injections to restore energy. Darklyte II even adds a super-strong lightning attack, amongst other new additions. You can also scan enemies to reveal their stats, which is invaluable for planning your next move. Gold and experience are earned with each kill, which can be spent at shops and repair stations. You can transfer gold between droids to support a weaker unit, though I feel a pooled wealth system would have made more sense.
The Darklyte games are tremendous fun for fans of turn-based combat. Each game is similar, but different enough to warrant playing both. I love their interesting battlegrounds and balanced gameplay that progressively gets harder as you gain experience. Both games are absolute gems and must-plays for turn-based nutters. However, Darklyte II feels like the completed product, so it scores a Metal Mickey rating of 90%.
Stop what you're doing, and play Darklyte II. Yes, right now. It's blummin' great!!
The official disks for both games are at Atarimania.
If you prefer a menu disk, then Atari Legend has a couple of great disks.
I've become a fan of turn-based games <~~click here to see some more.
Darklyte (1) is excellent, but it feels like an early release?
Yep, Darklyte II feels like the finished product.
[Darklyte 1] Strategically position yourself and check your equipment for goodies.
[Darklyte II] The interface has transformed with a spanky new design!
Sooner or later, my robots die... Plus, the game (Darklyte II) insults you!
You knew this was coming, right? Darklyte II scores an AtariCrypt SMASH!!
My first experience of an ST turn-based strategy game was with Sabre Team. I loved it, and it was one of those moments I wondered why I had spent my life 'avoiding' such games. Sure, I didn’t initially grasp the concept, but once I realised it wasn’t a run-and-gunner, I loved it. Games like this eat away the hours in the best way possible. I enjoy the careful pace, the planning, and the risk involved with every decision.
I suppose I've become a fan of turn-based games now. How did that happen?
B Squad, released in 1996 by Richard Hansell, has elements suspiciously similar to Space Crusade. So if you enjoyed that (stupendous) game, then I reckon you're gonna be head over heels about this one! However, please note that this is the demo version, and, with a heavy heart, I expect the full version hasn't been released. Possibly because few people registered so late in the ST's life? If it had been released a few years earlier, I imagine it would have been a hit (££) like so many other PD/Shareware games in our library.
Before we begin, let's take a look at the first screenshot of my A-Team in action...
As you can see, the user interface is minimal, but incredibly effective. (iPhone screenshots for this review rather than from Hatari)
User Interface
The story takes us into deep space as our ship docks with another that is (wait for it) infested with aliens! Of course, it is. And their queen has even taken control of the ship’s computers, preventing us from accessing the terminals, which means she also controls the AI droids. The good news is that we're not alone and part of a team of six military soldiers armed, who obviously have never seen any of the Alien movies.
When you first boot up B Squad, you're thrown into the start of a new game without so much of an intro or title music. The user interface is displayed alongside the main gameplay window and features our team and action buttons. Immediately, I'm impressed by this, as there is nothing worse than a chaotic screen of buttons offering functions that could easily have been simplified, as I found with (albeit excellent) Bio Hazard.
To the right is our team, showing their name, health, and action points (you can right-click any to view stats and information that will help with weapons and more).
Underneath are the movement arrows with the option to centre the gameplay screen around that particular character. These also scroll the gameplay window.
The button with the little squares is a map of the ship. Use this!
To the right of the map is the button to execute commands.
Next to the funky image (of your currently selected) soldier carrying his gun is a "?". This is used to describe the surrounding area of any soldier (similar to Temple of Apshai).
Now you have two more boxes that are blank until attacking - the top one informs you of the chance of hitting the enemy (the calculation is based on distance, location, and weaponry). The lower one displays their chances of defence, and feels more like the expected dice roll.
Finally, there is a button on the left side of the (erm) left arrow. Use that to end your turn.
See, it takes longer to read that than to understand it. Let's see another screenshot...
We're inside the lift, which offers access to even more rooms to kill the beasts!
Let's play!
We're in control of six soldiers that we command in turn. Their efforts are executed using "action points" for walking/shooting. Being turn-based, the order of play is Your Turn - ST/Alien Turn - Random Events (before looping back to you again). The random events are a curious addition that works well; they might be something like jammed doorways or lifts failing, but could also be something irritating, such as random teleportation, or an explosion on a lower deck (which always seems to be where your soldiers are standing!).
Getting around is brilliantly easy using a grid layout for soldiers, enemies, and objects. Just select the soldier, and the screen changes to show all possible tiles that can be reached within the turn. Unlike in Space Crusade, walking doesn't need to be performed in one go, as you can move again later. This means you could move, shoot, and leggit (depending on how many action points remain). It's also worth noting that our soldiers need to walk around the team members during this action; you can't merely stride over a taken tile.
Each man (and two women) has their own skills and strengths, which should be taken into account before arming or positioning. Each person is different; for example, Hooper has tremendous strength, so I have him take point. Roxy has agility, with more movement on each turn. Dorian is expendable, but he is good at chucking grenades. Also, this approach applies to the cargo boxes you find along your travels - inside are grenades, scanners, health packs, or better weapons like flamethrowers, assault rifles, etc.
Remember, check the character's stats. Put the right weapons in the right hands...
Roxy is an ex-pirate and is best with an assault rifle (found near the start).
Dorian is someone I'm wondering why he's here. A poet, no less, and with poor combat skills. Great.
Julius is one of my favourite soldiers and is great with an assault rifle and grenades.
Hooper is great with a flamethrower.
Tobias is a good all-rounder who is neither rubbish nor excellent. If you find a plasma device, he's your man. Powerful stuff that fwiw.
Tallis is a great soldier and skilled with a Needle Gun.
The ship is split into three levels, which you access via the elevator (lift!). The current level is free of the Alien Queen, but she has Grubs and Droids roaming the corridors, so it isn't long before you bump into something. There aren't many different enemies to contend with, but they are plentiful...
Grubs are like a blob filled with explosive gas, so don't let it get too close!
Droids are, just as you would expect. And they are armed to the teeth.
Nest Warriors are extremely vicious, breathing fire that can affect multiple soldiers who are close together.
Look out for Turrets later on; they're controlled by the Queen and fire a powerful laser.
Mines are something to obviously avoid. You may need to shoot some to create a pathway.
The Nest Queen doesn't move, but it spawns Grubs through four tentacles. She is very strong and has bad breath, so beware! Beat her, and you've won the game.
It's worthwhile exploring everywhere on the current level before deciding to use the lift and venture deeper into the ship. My tip is to head northwest from your starting location, where many decent weapons await you. And you won't stand a chance against the queen unless you are equipped properly!
Let's see another iPhone shot of my ST's screen in all its fuzzy glory...
The map might be a bit cramped, but it's helpful. Especially when locating members of your team
who were teleported elsewhere during the "Random Events". Can you spot the poor sod?
Aesthetics
The graphics are like an amateur Space Crusade, with a clean design. Okay, I mean only the overhead part, as there is no funky-cool isometric display whenever the combat takes place. With that in mind, each part of the ship is distinct, and with descriptive text that adds extra depth to your current location (think of Temple of Apshai). Likewise, the user interface is nothing short of legendary, with a clutter-free display. However, and this is my only quibble, I wish our six soldiers had more variety rather than all looking the same.
Interestingly, this game uses the Blitter, which improves overall performance, especially when displaying new parts of the ship. So (yipee) play using an Atari STe if you can!
As for the audio, there is no music whatsoever, but we have DMA samples for shooting, explosions, cries, and (some) enemy movements. Sadly, our own men don't make a sound as they walk. But, thinking about that, I'm sure they're in stealth and wouldn't want to give away their position... Hmm, I know, I know!
Right, it's time for a screenshot break with the Alien Queen spawning Grubs...
The "final" room with the Alien Queen. She's a beast of an opponent who spawns Grubs.
You shall note the computer-controlled turrets? Well, the Queen controls those, so beware!!
CryptO'pinion
I've thoroughly enjoyed playing through until the end (yes, without cheating!!). Most games I feature on my little-known website are deleted after reviewing, as I'm always on the go with something new to play/review. That won't be happening this time. B Squad is one of the best shareware games I've played. If you enjoy a tactical slog exploring a spaceship whilst hunting down the baddies, then this is for you. I've only defeated the Alien Queen once and lost two team members, but it's an incredibly tough mission! You won't get anywhere near beating it without exploring every inch of the ship to scrounge for new weapons/helpful items.
Surely I've got something to whinge about? Well, the soldiers could walk faster, and although there are loads of cargo boxes, there aren't enough health packs. My only real quibble is with the random events that occur after the computer has had its turn. That "Random Teleportation" sends one of your teammates to a distant part of the ship. (Wow, what a whinger! I feel like slapping myself for that last whine because it happens so few times. At worst, it forces you to drop the plans you had to rethink and support that lone soldier).
B Squad is a legendary turn-based game and one I feel fortunate to have discovered (Richard, if I'd have known, I would have registered back in 1996). A terrific demo, and I can only dream what might have been with a full version. Quite literally one of the best games from the ST's homebrew library.
Play this game. Especially if you enjoy Space Crusade and want something new. PLAY B SQUAD!!!
HeroQuest is one of those games I've seen mentioned many times, yet never bothered with it. That's probably because it's a board game and I'm not exactly a fan of those (except Monopoly!). The ST adaptation is modelled on that turn-based board game and retains a similar look using an isometric perspective. So, having never experienced Hero Quest, I attacked it with a fresh pair of eyes, not knowing what to expect.
Our adventure takes place in Morcar's castle. He's an evil wizard with an army of monsters: Orcs, Zombies, Mummies, Goblins, etc. Four valiant warriors have signed up for 13 torturous quests to defeat him. That means plunging the castle's depths to do battle, avoid hidden traps, and grab loot or anything else that might aid the journey. Let's be honest, whatever the story, I'm in. Now, where did I put my sword?
Before beginning, we need to see a couple of screenshots. What glorious isometric graphics...
An Elf enters the room, much to the delight of the Wizard, who punches the air with joy.
This is when being a midget helps: sneak up on your prey, and club him!
Choose your warrior
We begin by picking a preferred warrior(s) from four different races - Barbarian, Dwarf, Elf, and Wizard. Before rushing off on the first quest, you should consider who you want to be and why, as they each have their own different types of strengths, weaknesses, and abilities. Even dice rolls, but more on that later.
The Barbarian is built for strength and is a trooper during the bloodiest of melee battles. Stumpy the dwarf is quite strong and also the craftiest one of the bunch, who uses handy skills to compensate for his shortcomings. Elves and Wizards are physically weaker, but the clever lads of the group. They use their brains to cast an array of magical spells without running the risk of having to get up close and personal.
Whether you're solo or not, there is an option to choose other characters instead of heading out as the Lone Ranger. It's optional, but there are benefits to having friends accompany you on the journey into the castle's terrors. It's here that you can name your plucky hero and spend cash in the shop to buy weapons, armour, etc. Finally, you can nurse a tired adventurer back to full health, but at what cost?
I suggest playing with two characters: the Barbarian is rock solid, and the Elf is an all-rounder who offers the chance to experiment with magic. Umm, the Dwarf is a good option with traps or if something is blocking the way. The Wizard? Well, superb with spells but too squishy for my liking!
Let's take a look at a couple more screenshots of some rather spine-chilling monsters...
His back is turned, and he's unaware I'm here, so let's kill him. Wait, I see a chair!
The door slams shut behind you and the room appears not too friendly!!
Go on a crusade!
Now decide which of the 13 quests to attempt - they're all different and listed in order of (more or less) their difficulty. Actually, there are 14 quests; the first is a trainer that offers a chance to learn the fundamentals of exploration and combat: the objective is to escape, and the quickest adventurer is rewarded with loot, which can be used in the shop for other missions. Use this to master the mechanics of HeroQuest.
Whatever quest you decide on, the gameplay is incredibly similar to the board game. Each player takes a turn by throwing dice to determine the number of action points - used to walk, perform searches, and fight the ghouls (for our game, we spin coins, but it's the same difference). There are limitations to this method; searching for treasure (or hidden doors) can only be performed once during a player's turn. Lastly, the monsters are then moved by the evil Morcar for his turn, which is controlled by your Atari ST.
It's that time again when I break up the boring text with some screenshots. Enjoy these...
You can see me, but you can't reach me! Hmm, perhaps it's time for some magic?
The map is a useful tool and even identifies the monsters. Ugh! A Chaos Warrior?
Come on, a board game... Really?
Yes, and all quests take place in a different part of the castle - they feature many rooms and corridors laid out in a grid formation. Exploration is performed using the direction arrows (or clicking on the desired tile), and the map is a helpful tool that displays the parts of the castle you have visited, along with monsters and objects. It's also great when something doesn't feel quite right - perhaps there's a secret room? Don't forget to search for loot, but remember that this castle is riddled with traps and scary monsters, so tread carefully.
Expect the usual creatures prowling: Orcs, Skeletons, Zombies, Mummies, Fimirs, etc. All are controlled by the evil wizard hiding inside your 68000, and their actions are executed after the heroes have completed theirs. The computer isn't always offensive, which can present an alternative strategy. Also, if walking away from a battle is an option, then take it because it's not always necessary to fight each and every monster.
This is a cool board game and something I need to check out. First, some more screenshots...
We're all playing a game, and the first one to blink gets zapped by a fireball!!
I knew it was too good to be true. Sometimes this game is very cruel O_o
Gimme icons!
The user interface is excellent and helps you to explore and interact (comparatively) with your surroundings. The current player has his image displayed top/left along with their attributes: action points, health, mental ability, and cash. The icons at the bottom of the screen might look confusing, but they're easy to learn:
1) The shield with an arrow allows you to end your turn.
2) The shield with a sword begins a fight against a chosen monster.
3) Bunch of keys - use these to unlock doors if you want!
4) The door with a question mark performs a search for what might be lurking nearby, like traps and hidden doorways. Works well with the map when things appear a little 'off'.
5) The opened bag is used to perform a search for treasure (kept by that particular player).
6) Satchel - this is the inventory and features the extra equipment a character can use.
7) Map - I'm sure this one is pretty obvious but is something you should use!
8) Directional arrows - use these to explore the castle (or click the tiles instead).
This is a fantastic quest and is quite the rush getting Sir Ragnar back home safely.
Oh, no, this is Ulag, the Orc Warlord, and yes, he did kill me...
Clash Of The Titans
Nobody enters Morcar's castle without expecting a fight with something unholy, and it's a bonus leaving any room unhurt, albeit in blood-splattered clothing! He has many gruesome creatures walking the corridors, so it's not long until something comes looking for you - all are controlled by Morcar. Ie, your Atari ST.
A skirmish in HeroQuest isn't what I expected. Firstly, a battle can only happen against a foe on an adjacent tile, and that fight is presented on a separate screen. However, there isn't anything to do as the computer rolls special dice for attacking/defending characters - skulls (for attack) and shields (for defence). So, if the monster has more skulls than you have shields, then that difference is deducted from your health. Likewise, if you are attacking and happen to have more skulls than the monster has shields, you win.
This system might work for the board game, but it is odd. Especially as each player has a different number of dice: Wizard = 1, Dwarf and Elf = 2, and Barbarian = 3. What is peculiar is when neither side rolls successfully, so they both stand idle, doing nothing more than staring at each other! Actually, that is quite annoying - it's a missed opportunity, which could leave you somewhat vulnerable before the next turn.
Zombies never fail to impress, and they're also in Hero Quest if you scroll down a little...
An unsuspecting Zombie victim, but I've not got enough action points left...
No problem because his attack was weak, so I came back stronger and killed him!
Clash Of The Mages!
Elves and Wizards have a different style to their combat, thanks to range attacks and magical spells. All magic can be used against any enemy currently within the same location, so you don't need to be close to attack an opponent. The ability to 'team/work' should now start to prove its worth to all players?
Magic comes in a huge variety to attack or hinder the enemy in some way. You can even help or hinder one of your party if you so desire. Each type of spell is grouped into four categories: air, wind, fire, and earth, each corresponding to a distinct style of magical ability. There is no in-game help, so it's best to experiment.
Along with spells to replenish health and harden defences/strength, there are many nifty alternatives:
1) Tempest blows a torrent of wind around your foe, thus confusing them so they lose a turn. Perhaps this is something you might wish to use on a fellow team 'mate'? :-)
2) The Genie spell is actually quite incredible and can pack a humongous punch.
3) Ball of Flame and Fire of Wrath are two spells that provide powerful attack options. Both could potentially turn an Orc into a pile of dust very easily.
4) But what if you happen to wander into a room that's full of monsters? A good spell might be Courage, which will help give you that much-needed adrenaline boost!
5) Pass Through Rock is incredible and an unmistakably selfish, albeit cunning ability!
That's more like it!! Unfortunately, I'm in a room with a Chaos Warrior...
Sometimes, magical spells fall short, so run to the nearest Barbarian for help!
Help, I'm confused!
You shouldn't be. To succeed in HeroQuest you should take it slow - be a careful explorer who wants to survive and reap all the rewards. Remember to search a room thoroughly for anything that may help. Especially the hidden loot, which is spent on upgrading weapons and other stuff for the later quests.
The quests are all different, but the ultimate goal is to follow the instructions and complete what's required before safely escaping. Personally, I prefer to be the Barbarian as I'm more of a melee kinda guy. I do require the assistance of another teammate to increase my chances (they're collateral damage!)
Hero Quest isn't a difficult game to master and is a lot of fun, especially with family.
Spend your plundered booty on something useful for the next quest.
Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into! Try, try again...
Pix'appeal & Bangin' Beats
I love the isometric style as each room looks superb using a strong palette, which is nothing you would expect a wizard's lair to look like. But it works. The characters look amazing with incredible detail, and the Mummies are the best - but I also love the Skeletons with their scythes! Sadly, animations are fine, but they should have been better, especially for walking. Oh, the battles are nothing more than a sword slap in the face!
The sound effects are basic: a fuzzy shuffle for walking plus chinks & clangs during a battle. It's a shame that sampled sound effects aren't used throughout, given that the ST is mostly idle. Music can be played in-game and is absolutely awesome, I gotta say. However, there's not enough, so it can become quite repetitive after a while, and I'm glad there's an option to hit F10 to disable that in favour of just the sound effects.
From the start, Hero Quest impresses with its aesthetics. Just watch this intro...
I love this intro, which tells the story of how Morcar became the evil wizard.
The CryptO'pinion?
Before I played for the first time, I assumed this would be an RPG; it isn't. Sure, there are elements of a lukewarm role-playing experience, but this is a turn-based board game. Each hero has strengths and weaknesses, but there is little character development beyond equipment and collecting items. They are also separate from one another - there isn't an actual requirement to work as a team, so you cannot progressively group-attack a particular monster because each battle is a new and separate act.
It's a brilliant board-game conversion, and best with everyone huddled around the Atari ST like they did back in the day. Even solo, this is a fine adventure, especially if you play with a couple of characters. I suggest a few practice games to see which you prefer, but grouping them is certainly a recipe for success.
Considering I'm not a fan of board games, I am enjoying HeroQuest a bunch. Absolutely EPIC!!
The floppies can be nabbed at Atari Legend. (and perfectly fine on either type of Atari ST/e)
Sabre Team was released in 1992 by Krisalis, coded by Richard Teather (I think this was his only Atari ST game?). This is a turn-based war zone fuelled by hardcore strategy. Yep, straight to the point there, as this is not an arcade runaround shooter, but it's tactical turn-based. Still interested? Great! Let's play.
We are in control of an elite SAS squad, who enter the lion's den to kill bad guys, rescue hostages, and save the day. This ain't a fake arcade action affair, but instead, tries to be realistic and thus requires stealth and tactical thought. So, a wrong move could end without assessing the situation, and it could get the team killed. And dead means dead; there are no second chances in this world. It's brutal, so be warned.
The first job is to select a 4-man team from eight warriors. Equip these guys with the right weapons for each mission whilst taking into consideration type, rate of fire, ammo, weight, and noise. There is a lot of hardware to choose from, like machine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, stun grenades, and gas canisters.
Choose your weaponry specifically for the mission at hand. Remember, some weapons need a reload after each shot. You're not superman, it's often advisable to wear a bulletproof jacket. I hear there are a limited number of medkits? But these will certainly help to recover from injuries.
The next screenshot is of you after your workout! Is it lifelike? Well, take a look...
This guy is ripped yet still manages to look a bit gay. Put on a shirt, mate!
Always read the backstory and gather as much detail as you can. It will help.
Think covertly
There is a lot to consider, so put aside any ideas you had of an arcade shooter. Sabre Team demands careful, calculative, and strategic thinking, so your assault should be executed with a stealthy approach that protects your men from danger. For example, don't stand near a window! The terrain isn't just something nice to look at; use it for cover as the enemy won't know you're there if they cannot see (or hear) you.
The battlefield is viewed isometrically, and our soldiers are controlled using action points. This means your men are allowed a specific number of moves before the computer gets a turn. The user interface is excellent with helpful animations to identify their purpose (just hover the mouse over them).
These icons are used to turn, walk, shoot, and do other fun stuff like searching bodies. The compass not only controls the soldier's direction but also displays the number of action points required for each particular task. Plus alerts for what a soldier might be able to see (red) or hear (blue). Play as if you were there!
I think we need a screenshot break? What, says you...
Look how I've positioned my men, just for the sake of a screenshot!
After you've used your action points, it's over to the computer...
No manual to read?
Sabre Team provides incredible insight into the tactical strategy like few others. Using your action points to run into a situation, guns blazing, will only get you and your teammates killed. Take your time, think about your moves - there's no rush as it's turn-based, so the computer will wait. However, when it’s the computer’s turn, you’re stuck waiting 3/4 minutes for it to decide the baddy's actions. This wait is particularly brutal, not only because of its length but also because you’re watching your team take hits due to your mistakes.
It's now that you need to read this tip:) Press and hold the mouse button to speed up the computer's process. It's like hitting fast forward on a tape deck (or a DVD player for the youngsters!)
Like any game, read the manual (yeah, right). Anyhow, here are more screenshots...
Getting tactical: the dot is a bullet that hits the 'E' (enemy). Wounded, not dead!
This shows the enemy moving forward to take his shot at one of my soldiers!
Graphics & Sounds
We begin at the title screen depicting a sinister SAS soldier emerging from the darkness, ready to assassinate terrorists. It's like a post-apocalyptic/Who Dares Wins, and is incredibly impressive. Phil Hackney did a superb job with the in-game graphics, with each environment showing superb attention to detail in its landscapes and scenery. I adore how all levels take on a realistic scene without feeling cheap or tacky.
The sound effects are excellent, with samples used to complement the tension of tactical warfare. Great quality, and I'm excited to see they didn't wimp out by using samples for weaponry, cries, and other effects.
I need another screenshot from my Atari ST that shows how great I am at the game... He says...
I hate emulator screenshots and prefer using my real ST. Sadly, the photos are naff!
Another shot from the ST, and here I am helping a poor civilian to safety.
The CryptO'pinion?
Never have I enjoyed a game that demands such a truly tremendous amount of tactics, stealth, and strategic thinking, all within a complex turn-based world. Take your time, plan your every move, and use those action points wisely, before anxiously watching the computer do exactly the same (it's very good!).
There is a learning curve, so don't expect a cakewalk. Initial attempts will end with laughable casualties as you uncover the joy of its realism. It’s cruel and takes no prisoners, but addictive. Sabre Team demands thought, patience, and wit to be successful. Covertly eliminating nasty terrorists is extremely satisfying.
Stop what you're doing. Don't miss this and play it right now. Nothing less than epic!!
