Utopos

Gravity, Guns, and Glorious STe Action

Yet another game I love, but without a write-up here on AtariCrypt. Which is just weird! Well, from my point of view, anyhow. Developed in 1993+ by Jani Penttinen and Jan Achrenius, Utopos is a slick "Gravitar"-style shooter specifically designed for the Atari STe. And when I say slick, I mean greasy-spoon slick!!

We are dropped into the cockpit of a nimble spaceship, trapped in a series of cavernous levels. As with Oids, Rotor, Thrust, etc, we are still fighting gravity and inertia, but you can alter these settings to your own tastes. Warning: the learning curve is massive, so it pays to tinker with them!! Once you're happy, things become more forgiving, and you will be zipping about, dodging obstacles, and blasting stuff like a pro.

Utopos takes inspiration from games I've just mentioned, but with a more arcade-like approach that favours speed and action over realism. What makes Utopos really stand out is its (overscan) presentation and superfast frame rate. It glides like warm butter on a non-stick frying pan in zero gravity! The backgrounds are subtle but effective, and the STe’s enhanced sound chip gets a proper workout with music and effects.

"This joystick feels like it came from the war." – My daughter, after 30 seconds.

As a single player, it's incredibly tough. Perhaps too tough? It doesn't appear to have the playability or strategic depth of Oids, as it prefers a fast-paced, arcade-style over realism. Personally, I think it's best as a two-player, even though nobody here (ahem) can control their ship. In fact, my daughter hated this game, so I'm left to go it alone - but don't listen to her, she's mad and wrong about this stupendous Atari STe game.

• Atarimania appears to have every version (demo and registered), but it seems that the one-player mode was dropped from the final release? I had to use version 1.52
• A must-watch video by Maarten/Atari Legend.
• A remake appears to be in the works, even supporting the Mac!!
• Being an STe game automatically enters it into the Enhanced List. Check that out!!
• This post is dedicated to our eldest daughter, Katie. 🤍
• If you are one of the few visitors to look back through the Crypt's archives, you’ll see an old recording of mine that I posted all the way back in October 2014. How has over a decade passed so quickly? Anyhow, the link is on the right-hand side if you scroll down a bit (or click here!) :^)

The one-player game is next to impossible without altering the gravity...

...and even then, it's next to impossible!

The two-player game is an absolute killer...

...well, if your family can get their head around the controls.

2026

Dust off your joysticks

We’re all still cold with winter and barely into the new year, yet the Atari ST scene has already tried to warm us up by delivering three brand-new games, with one even taking advantage of the STe. As if that wasn’t enough, Jonathan Thomas has also been teasing us with his next project over on X, and if you don’t know who that is, shame on you - go and play Pole Position or Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge immediately.

So here we are, it’s still only January, and I’m genuinely thrilled by the Fuji passion 2026 is already bringing. Yes, I used AI to create the logo as I cannot draw. Don't dwell on that too much, because there are three cracking games that you should play. Let's take a quick look at each before you click the download links...

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Babaliba, by Carles Oriol

This is a remake of the original ZX Spectrum game published by Dinamic Software back in 1984 (I love their Atari ST games!!). Sadly, I suspect this game never really made its way out of Spain, as it’s one I’ve never encountered before. The Atari ST version retains the look and feel of the 8-bit original, but with bugs squashed, visuals improved, and a map added to help you survive the maze (you'll need it).

We play as Johnny Jones, a fella with a big nose, dropped into a top-down labyrinth that will feel instantly familiar to fans of Sabre Wulf or Feud. Ignoring his rather large nose, the goal is to explore, find treasure, use keys to unlock new sections of the map, and deal with monsters using screen-clearing bombs. All while trying (I think) to rescue a princess along the way. Just don’t hang around after dropping one of those bombs!

You can download the game from his GitHub page and also follow him on X.

This is so authentically Speccy, and wow, Johnny really does have a big nose!

PuckMan, by Laurent Gaillard

The first Atari STe game of 2026 is a fresh spin on the little yellow pill popper. Everything you desire is here: that gorgeous retro theme, frantic ghosts chasing you around the maze, tight responsive controls, and smooth gameplay that feels like the arcade experience. Laurent has even added overscan support, using the top and bottom borders to stretch the display ratio, which makes it feel more like a proper arcade cabinet in this respect. And yes, it’s STe-only as the Blitter and DMA audio are also put to excellent use.

No need to play solo as both 1 and 2-player modes are supported, which my daughter absolutely loved. I feel this plays very much like the original and easily ranks as one of the best "Pac-Mans" I have tried on my Atari. Just don’t forget to hit 'C' to insert coins, and then press keys '1' or '2' to choose the number of players.

You can download Pac... sorry... PuckMan from his itch.io page.

PuckMan is a screen-filling beauty for the Atari STe.

Vlak, by Baky

Finally, we have a 1993 MS-DOS take on the classic Snake formula. Once again, I've not seen this one before, but the core of the game is instantly familiar - it's Snake! Only this time, we are a train, gobbling up objects instead of just fruits. Each pickup adds a wagon, and as your train grows, the challenge comes from avoiding crashes - not just with walls, but with yourself (as I often find out). Once the level is cleared, an exit opens up, letting you move on to the next screen, where things get trickier on a harder screen.

The download is available from Atari Portal.

Hilariously addictive, but very hard after the opening level. Be warned!

PHF Rally 2 - Zero Bitplane

Sommarhack Awaits!

Say hello to a game without any pixels. What, a blank screen? No, everything is created with palette swaps, which is something I admit to not fully understanding. But the result is something quite unexpected and, if I'm honest, very cool. The screen is made using colourful blocks representing a winding road through forests, deserts, snow, night, etc. This style and transition remind me of Enduro on the Atari 2600.

PHF Rally II is obviously the (2024) sequel, and coded by Grazey (aka Phil Graham) of Psycho Hacking Force. This is a racer similar in concept to Spy Hunter, as we drive a "never-ending" road to Sommarhack in our Toyota Celica (I swapped that for my Ford Focus!!). Anyhow, the objective is to last as long as you can without crashing into the roadside. It's dead simple, but a ton of fun - and one I was actually quite good at (for once). The controls are easy; simply use the cursor keys to move left/right, and avoid crashing!

Running at 50fps, this is one slick racer zooming down your screen. It's fast-paced and probably too fast if it wasn't for the use of overscan. This means you can see a lot more of the road ahead, which compensates for the terrifying speeds! The result is perfectly balanced, making it both enjoyable and challenging.

You can play this on either computer, but (I thought) it looks best on the STe thanks to the superior palette. The use of overscan alongside this insane idea of zero bitplanes is what makes the ST scene so exciting and innovative, especially with the stunning chip music by gwEm (aka Gareth Morris).

PHF Rally II is superb and rated an engine-breaking 85%. Try to beat my high score if you can!

• Grab the download either from Demozoo or Atarimania.
• You should take a look at Psycho Hacking Force on Demozoo, an incredible archive!
• If you fancy playing the first Rally game, then click right here.
• If you have an Atari STe, then check out our list of other enhanced games.

Level one takes us through lush blocky woodland.

Oh no, winter appears from nowhere!

But we travel so far that we eventually reach the desert!

Who turned out the lights? Oh, is it nighttime already?

This is as far as I got, a rocky canyon (not far from Sommarhack?)

Can you beat me?

Enhanced games - part 2

Gem 10

I’ve gone and done it again! Yup, I've picked more random games from the Atari STe's library of enhanced games (the earlier compilation can be viewed here). Of course, some games work on the ST, but all of the ones listed here are enhanced in some way. So, let’s crack on and see which games I've picked this time…

Battletris & Battletris+ are gonna be bundled together for good reason, and fantastic takes on Tetris. Released in 1994 by New Core, each has DMA audio and another extra feature - multiplayer via a null-modem cable to link two computers. Must admit, I don't like the colour scheme, but these games are excellent versions of Tetris. Downloads are available at Atarimania.

Breakdance is a 1998 Atari ST game developed by Paranoia, and inspired by the 1984 Epyx title (I actually remember seeing the adverts for that). Anyhow, it features a cast of demoscene personalities, including Llama, Paranoid, Sage, Grey, Mike/STAX, and 505. The gameplay revolves around performing moves in a rhythm-based format, using the joystick to repeat the dance steps. One of the most stupid games I've seen, but I'll have just one more go... Of course, the DMA audio is supported for these five funky dancers. Download is available at Atari Legend.

Detonator is a 2023 Atari ST/STE puzzle game developed by Tomasz Majewski, and is a remake of the Atari 8-bit original by Best Quality Ltd. The premise is we need to explode a screen-full of bombs. We must strategically move them into place so they detonate in turn (like falling dominos!!). It's a fantatic game I am blumming terrible at and need to do better. Regardless of my skills, all explosions are made using the DMA audio. Downloads are available from Atarimania.

Kuo Vadis was released in 2000 for the Atari STe and is a turn-based style "avoid 'em up" that challenges you to navigate through a moving maze while trying to make the robots collide and kill themselves. I've managed to reach the third level and score 360 points. Pretty poor, I imagine! Can you beat me? Downloads are available at Atari FTP Archive.

Micromachines was originally meant for release around 1994, but a DynaCore's lack of motivation ended that idea. Which is an enormous shame because it had massive potential. Thankfully, Lotek released it in 2006 as a preview for everyone to playtest and see what might have been. As you can imagine, it's a top-down racer like the classic Micro Machines series, featuring miniature vehicles racing through everyday environments. The environment is a bit sparse, but the Blitter is moving the screen fast and in overscan, plus the controls are surprisingly excellent. Ahhhhhh, what might have been... The download (with source code) is available at Atarimania.

Moonfall is set on Frontier Alfa where we assume the role of a pilot navigating between settlements, engaging in trade, and defending against pirates. It's somewhat a mix of Frontier and Starglider(ish) and should have been great, but it's not because of awkward controls. At least they found time for DMA music on the title screen. Download is available at Atari Legend.

Pairs are Gone released by Paradize Games in 2008 and inspired by a mini-game from a silly game on something called the Nintendo DS. It challenges players to clear a grid of face-up cards by pairing adjacent ones - horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. This is one of those games you will play and wonder why you're bothering because it's so easy. Stick with it... After about the third level the game rears it's devious head as it becomes insanely challenging. This is an excellent puzzler with peculiar DMA audio. Downloads are available at Atari FTP Archive.

Skulls is a Minesweeper-style game released in 1993 by Soderberg Software. The objective is to avoid uncovering skulls while strategically revealing safe tiles (groan, it's so tough!). Overscan graphics glide smoothly when guided by your mouse, and all that alongside DMA music too. Slickest minesweeper for the STe? Downloads are available at Atari Legend.

Speed and Skaet Ball looks a bit (ahem) familiar, and is a top-down arena-style sport for 2 players. The idea is interesting, but the damaged parts of the ground prevent this from ever being close to fun. Still, it's Blittery-smooth and features DMA Audio. Could be fun with a friend? Additionally, there is another Atari STe game on the disk called ButosDac, but I'll say no more about that (just keep it away from your kids lol). This download is available at Atarimania.

Tiptronix is a Tron-style game where you control light trails in an arena, aiming to trap opponents while avoiding collisions. Designed specifically for the Atari STe, it could be taking full advantage of the enhanced capabilities, but it's Tron. The download is available at Atarimania.

That was quite a mix of very different games! Some are definitely worth playing, but it's a tremendous shame Micromachines didn't get completed. Still, compiling this list was fun, and all titles have been added to our ever-growing Enhanced Games page. Have you had a look at that yet? Yes, you really should ;)

I hope you enjoyed this second compilation. Stay enhanced... STay Atari STe!!

Pretty cool, if you aren't sick of Tetris yet?

Something you've got to experience at least once in your life lol

Blowing up stuff has never been so difficult.

It's insane, and I loved it! Just don't use the joystick...

Off the chart disappointment, this one. Wow, it could have been something else!

This might have been great, but I didn't take to it at all.

What an unsuspectingly superb game!

Those damn skulls!!

I'm interested in hearing from someone who's played this with a mate.

I thought I'd show the loading screen rather than an in-game shot...

Amadeus Wolf Gang

Something old, something new

I stumbled upon this Megademo by accident when searching for something completely different. Not only that, but this is something I've never heard of and most certainly never seen before (at least my old memory doesn't recall). That's always a great feeling, which whisks me back to those carefree teenage years!

The Wolverine Megademo was released in the summer of 1991 by Amadeus Wolf Gang, including contributions by other French groups I hadn't heard of - Titanium, Kids Ghosts Brothers, Genesis, and The Storm Brothers. These are all new names to me, and ones I'm now keen to research further. Gotta love the ST scene :)

The main menu is similar to many productions of this era - a horizontally scrolling landscape provides doorways to each demo. The display moves fast, but the controls are awkward when objects are in your way. Be warned, there is a screen by Titanium that I'd advise you to skip (unless you're still that spotty teenager).

Many demos are old school with rasters, multiple scrollers, and sprites wizzing about. There is also an impressive use of overscan - I especially liked the Evil Dead screen. Intriguingly, there also appears to be a locked door concealed behind a wall – a potential red herring or perhaps a cleverly hidden demo screen waiting to be found! Sadly, it's a shame there's no reset screen or anything dedicated to the enhanced STe hardware.

The Wolverine Megademo might not be the best showcase of what the Atari ST is capable of, but it still has some good screens. I liked it a lot, and if, like me, this is new to you, then get it downloaded. This article is dedicated to Marko Latvanen – a fantaSTic friend who is a pleasure to know, and endlessly helpful!!

Right, ST Nutters - stop reading this boring text and get this excellent demo downloaded. I'll end with some animated captures from my favourite screens to tempt you to download it. Enjoy the 16-bit show...

• https://demozoo.org/productions/64844/
• https://www.atarimania.com/demo-atari-st-wolverine-megademo.html
• If you want more Demoscene STuff, then look to the right under "What's your poison?"

This gave me Carebear vibes! An excellent and colourful screen by The Storm Brothers.

Wolverine Screen by Kids Ghosts Brothers is good; the old school vibes are superb!

Incredibly impressive is the Star Only Demo by Genesis. Could be a screensaver without the other bits!

The Evil Dead by Amadeus Wolf Gang is one of my favourites. Loved this one a bunch!!

Defender

The arcade comes home

The Atari ST boasts a small but brilliant selection of Defender-styled games, including great alternatives like Anarchy and StarRay. Of course, there’s also the classic Defender II by ARC, a favourite of mine with its flash & pizzazz. However, I don’t recall ever playing a proper official port of Williams’ Defender.

Earlier this year, I came across a new thread on Atari-Forum by sark02 for an arcade-perfect version of Defender. He began reverse-engineering the gameplay functions by translating the 6809 assembly and modifying it to work on the ST/e. The original's resolution is similar at 320x256, but instead of losing pixels, he implemented overscan to remove the lower border. Not only that, but he also utilises the DMA audio hardware for 25 kHz playback, while still supporting the STf. Quite remarkable, right? We need to duplicate this guy ASAP!!

This ancient arcade masterpiece deserves a break from my boring text with a lovely screenshot...

Shoot them all; take no prisoners!! (And note the taller image)

What is it?

Nobody is wondering what kind of game Defender is. Of course, if you've been hiding under a rock, then it's a speedy, intense shooter unlike anything else at the time. This horizontally scrolling space-blaster has us killing aliens and rescuing humans from abduction. It is fast-paced with flashy explosions and tough as nails. But it has that special "one more go" factor that keeps dragging you back. Defender is an arcade classic.

The first thing you should do is wait for the authentic but pointless boot intro to finish, then hit the F4 key to access a wide range of options. By default, the keyboard is active; however, you can change this to use the joystick or pad instead. Other options include auto-saving high scores, switching fonts between Defender and Atari, and the credits. Save your options, and we're good to go and blast the alien scumbags!

Now, pick up the joystick, blast aliens, have fun, and blast some more aliens. What more could you ask for? Well, best of all, the game feels completely genuine with the same movement and silky smooth aesthetics. Look out for Landers, Mutants, Bombers, and others as you try to protect those plucky humans.

Have you grasped just how cool this arcade game is? No?? Well, here's another screenshot, then...

Do you have any idea how tough it is to get a screenshot without getting killed?

CryptO'pinion

I can't rate this any differently than I would the arcade. It's the same game, which I find mega-mind-boggling, if I'm honest. In the documentation, sark02 writes, “If it feels like Defender, then that’s because of them. If it doesn’t, then that’s because of me.” By "them", he means the original programmers at Williams, which I fully understand. But come on, credit where it’s due - in my humble opinion, he has done an extraordinary job of morphing everything together to create an exceptional Atari ST/e shooter.

I can’t emphasise enough how great this is on the ST (even better on the STe!). This is a jaw-dropping conversion of Defender, built around the original arcade code and beefed up with overscan visuals, buttery-smooth controls, and crisp DMA sounds. The effort sark02 put into it shines through. Where has he been for the last few decades, and what's next? Talk about bringing back those golden childhood memories!!

An authentic classic shooter that I'm pleased to rate a swarmer-busting 95%.

• Download it right away https://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-st-defender_43677.html
• sark02's original announcement https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?p=477907#p477907

Don't forget to hit the F4 key for an array of options.

The keyboard doesn't work for me, I need the joystick!

Fonts? How boring!!

Not really! Which one do you prefer?

Well done sark02. This was an easy game to rate, an AtariCrypt SMASH!!

Obsession

Pinball Dreams

Our gaming community never ceases to amaze me, and I've made many friends over the years. One guy in particular I've known since the days of swappies in the early 90s. Recently, he sent me a gift that made my day. Paul's always been generous and, like me, a fanatic about the Atari ST/e and ZX Spectrum!

Well, his parcel arrived, and inside was something very special indeed. Yes, I now have a blummin excellent copy of Obsession!! I still cannot believe it because I've had this game in the same league as Dungeon Master or Legends of Valour. In other words, one of those titles you dream of owning again, but it will never happen (a bit like the Atari Falcon030!!). At least not without forking out silly money we just don't have.

Anyhow, Unique Development Sweden only released two games for the Atari STe, and blimey, what a pair of Christmas crackers. Substation ended their short career with us, but at least they went out in style - a brilliant first-person shooter with great atmosphere and frantic action. Of course, the other is Obsession, a game I mentioned back in (wait for it) 2015. How the years pass... This is a marvellous game that looks and sounds as good as can be. Well, without leaving the house for your "local" amusement arcade!

Nobody needs me to review Obsession. It's a classic released in the dusk of the 16-bit era. The gameplay is hectic and challenging, and accompanied by superb graphics in overscan. Not only that, but the sound effects are incredible and played alongside funky tracker music. Where were UDS back in 1989?

I will say this: most games are best played using real hardware, but I found this more noticeable with Obsession simply because of the keyboard layout. It's designed for the ST keyboard, using the bottom row to assist as you whack the flipper keys. Emulation with a Mac/PC keyboard doesn't work nearly as well (YMMV).

I will never be able to thank Paul enough for his kindness and generosity. So ignore the fact that I’m terrible at Obsession and boot it up for yourself. Those later years produced some killer titles, and this proves it; Obsession is one of the best “arcade games” on the ST, imho. Oops, I meant Atari STe 🥳

• Download via Atarimania https://www.atarimania.com/unique-development-sweden.html
• Grab a hard drive-ready version https://atari.8bitchip.info/SCRSH/obsess.html
• Demo versions can be found on AtariUpToDate and Atari Legend.
• Do you want more enhanced games https://ataricrypt.blogspot.com/enhanced-games.html

The Musical Wonder

Groovy beats

It's been a while since I found a great music disk, so I was pleasantly shocked to discover The Musical Wonder by Offbeat. This is their second 'Musical Wonder' and is apparently described as a demo delight. Well, it is actually!! The floppy disk boots with a mesmerising intro before offering different types of music.

This disk is impressive and, from the moment I saw that initial intro, I was hoping it wouldn't disappoint. Thanks to a humongous library of tunes by Big Alec, Mad Max, and An Cool, it doesn't. But it's not just the cool tunes I loved. This production uses gorgeous visual effects in ways your eyeballs will relish!

Additionally, there is a hidden screen that features high-quality audio. Hitting the right keys helps wonders, but if you don't want to experiment, beware of this spoiler... Hit the tilde key during the menu screen, then press the Clr Home key for the image. Scroll down to see the picture (without the cool audio, of course).

Okay, let's state the obvious once again. I know it's harsh to hear this, but no emulator or video recording will do justice to any Atari ST production. Use a real Atari computer to appreciate this disk fully.

I am taking a short break due to personal reasons... Hope to continue the ST talk soon... TTFN.

Credits

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An Cool - Music

Big Alec - Music

ES - Graphics (Font)

Flix - Code, Graphics, Music, Other (Concept)

Jacky - Other (Music Ripping)

Mad Max - Music

Ramses XIII - Other (Music Ripping)

Ray - Code, Graphics, Other (Concept)

Slime - Graphics

Titan - Other (Music Ripping)

Grab the download off Atarimania  - https://www.atarimania.com/demo...

Offbeat fully archived on Demozoo - https://demozoo.org/groups/31780/

After the glorious title screen, we have three options...

The first is typically old school with loads of colours, a moving background, and all in overscan!

Overscan is used once again with a shedload of tunes to play. This section is my favourite.

Don't go off how it looks for the third part!! Sit back... listen... read...

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Not much to see, but the audio is outstanding. Scroll back up to learn how to access it.