Let's kick back and enjoy some toons!
I've had this gem on my hard drive for ages and finally got around to recording what is nothing less than a jaw-dropping collection of chiptunes converted by Gunnar Gaubatz, aka Big Alec. It was (eventually) released for Sommarhack 2019 by Grazey of Psycho Hacking Force. I've recorded snippets from each track, but it's advisable to download this to enjoy it properly. Remember, nothing beats real hardware. Certainly not YouTube!
But what about Amberstar?
Well, Thalion may not have released the ST game, but this got me thinking of its prequel, Amberstar. A game I've never actually played - not ever! I remember seeing it featured in magazines, and the graphics looked very nice. So, today, I downloaded the pre-configured HDD version by 8BitChip and had myself a playtest...
Atari Legend has the floppies but there's three of 'em. Good luck with that disk swapping!
We begin with an overhead view of a graveyard, which is a dead interesting place (sorry). This leads to the City of Twinlake, which flips our view from 2D to 3D, ala Dungeon Master. Now the adventure begins with plenty of places to explore and folk just waiting for a good natter. The aesthetics look and sound brilliant. However, I was unsure of the clunky user interface, which initially feels a little cumbersome and messy.
Amberstar is difficult to get into from the start, and I'm perplexed that I wasn't able to create my own characters, but I hear that's something to do with a dodgy installation? Anyhow, the world of Amberstar appears huge, so I'm wondering if I should add it to my ever-growing list of Atari ST games to play over a quiet weekend. Yeah, I often say this a lot... sigh... I think we all know how that plan will go. Hmm.
An early CryptO'pinion
I'm quite taken aback by what appears to be an in-depth RPG. There's so much to initially overcome from the interface and characteristics, as with any new game. Graphically, it's amazing, and the storyline is interesting with dread and captivation. Although I'm wondering if I need another life-sucking RPG, especially as I still play Temple of Apshai, Rogue, and the mighty Shadowlands. Not to mention the obvious ST classic!
Hey, have you played it? Are there any fans? What can you share about this Thalion RPG? I'm looking forward to hearing what you guys think because it looks intriguing. For now, it's something for me to ponder over.
Until then, take a gander at these screenshots and try not to drool at the gorgeous pixel art...
Well, that's me heading northward the moment he turns his back!
Who knows who you'll meet under the beautiful skies?
Look at that lovely artwork. Very Ultima and very sexy!
Come on, how can you not love reading stuff like that!
The inventory here will take ME some time to master as I'm fussy like that.
A map. A freaking map!! This isn't cheating, as it aids the quality of your adventure.
