Zool

Whoosh, it's Zool!!

Zool was released in 1993 by Gremlin Graphics. Late in the ST's life, yet they went that extra mile to support both models of computers. Respect. At first, it appears to be a Sonic clone and does indeed have similarities, but Sonic it ain't. That fact disappointed many, back in the day (like me). I guess we wanted our Sonic? Well, I figured enough time had passed. Should I give this zippy insect another second chance?

Our little protagonist is a rather odd, badly-disguised ant-like ninja from the "Nth Dimension". He can run, climb, leap and perform an airborne pirouette. Sounds very Sonic'ish!! His mission is to travel six worlds and prove himself worthy of earning the black belt accolade he so richly desires. Each world is split into three segments of progressive difficulty and is littered with traps and countless baddies to contend with.

Sonically, a very cool game this (ugh, sorry). Let's see the first screenshot of this ninja roadster...

The first level is excellent and has a little iddy biddy Sonic vibe to it...

Run and leap like crazy!

There are several levels; the first is "Sweet World", which could be a child's best dream: an entire planet made of candy. But these are killer sweets: like wobbly jelly and a cute, rapidly-firing dolly mixture! The second is musically themed with angry instruments like bongo drums and some that play helpful musical notes.

Sadly, that is as far as I've managed to get. Very disappointing but, that's me and my skilful gaming reactions for ya'!! Well, be disappointed no more for I am extremely grateful for a cheat I found. This allows me to play on the later levels, and the Meccano-style in Tool World is excellent. Just carry on reading for more information about this handy cheat!

Zool is simple; it's all about collecting the items (in Sweet World, that's candy). Look at the bottom/left of your screen, which shows how many are required with an arrow pointing you in the right direction to find more. Thankfully, losing a life isn't a game-buster, as there are checkpoints from which to continue. That’s no easy task. Each level features a cruel layout filled with hidden traps and a huge number of enemies.

Power-ups are also frequently available to ease your hectic adventure, like Two Zool - your doppelganger. Zool even has an energy shield that can be replenished during play, but it can survive only three hits before you're as dead as a dodo. I would have liked more to balance it against the number of nasties.

However, this isn’t just a game that demands lightning-fast reactions; you’ll need to replay it countless times. Learning the levels is essential for progression; otherwise, you’ll be caught off guard by unexpected obstacles. This inherent replay value makes Zool’s replayability massive by default.

It's screenshot time, and this one was taken with my phone when using real hardware...

Watch where you're walking! So many dangerous places in this world of weird.

Input & Output

The joystick controls are incredibly intuitive and responsive. There’s also an inertia option, which I leave disabled (yikes!). For rapid firepower, keep banging the fire button. If you tap it again during a jump, a pirouette manoeuvre activates, allowing you to kill even more colourful nasties in this crazy world.

Visually, Zool is fantastic, and I’m sure they’ve used every colour imaginable for a strangely gaudy display. The sprites are lovely, particularly the purple dolly mixture. It’s incredible that a game like this runs on the ST, given the lack of hardware scrolling. It’s far superior to other similar games I could mention.

Of course, it's best on the Atari STe, as Gremlin made use of the hardware with 50fps scrolling. It's a thrill and crushes the experience you had using the standard ST. Not only that, but there are more colours too. Weirdly, there is some slowdown, which is a shame and doesn't make sense.

The audio is superb with effects and optional chiptunes. It would have been nice to hear DMA samples, especially noticeable in World Two, with its oddly silent musical instruments. A missed opportunity?

Right, who fancies a lollipop? No? Oh! Well, don't look at this next screenshot then...

Right, hands up who wants a lollipop now? What... Just me? Darn it!!

The CryptO'pinion?

Zool is a fantastic platformer packed with speedy fun, but some frustrating mechanics spoil what would have been a perfect game. For instance, don’t expect to zip across great distances like the spiky hedgehog. Zool’s levels are designed to contradict his Ninja-like abilities, as the levels are littered with deadly objects, many of which are off-screen. Plus, enemies constantly respawn, which is incredibly annoying.

Despite these negatives, I must admit I enjoy Zool. It’s fast, crazy and bursting with personality. It’s a great platformer, especially when played on the Atari STe. Now, give me some Chupa Chups!

8BitChip has the download for those with a hard drive/Ultrasatan.

If you're stuck using floppies, Atari Legend will ease your pain!

AtariMania features Zool in their ST database (with manual & code wheel).

To cheat, type in PANDA on the menu, and you will see a flicker.

During a game press:

          -> Spacebar 1 - will make you invincible.

          -> Spacebar 2 - to skip forward onto the next stage.

          -> Spacebar 3 - to skip forward onto the next world.

!cube

I've been browsing through some of the amazing works to come out of Silly Venture and found a superb chiptune by !cube (aka Toni Lönnberg). Hyper Ocean Ride came second in the competition and makes use of the Atari STe's DMA hardware with cool drums. I love this tune, so press the GREEN arrow below. Enjoy!

Okay, Mr cube has a great website and is also listed on Demozoo and SoundCloud. I have recorded a video of his "Meet !cube" musicdisk which you can download here and I must say that Bullet Sequence is another of my fave tracks (from Silly Venture 2014). Delicious!

Crash Time Plumber

New game alert!

Crash Time Plumber is a conversion of the Gamopat original released at Silly Venture demo party. The Atari game was developed by none other than Sebastien Lucas of Cerebral Vortex, and it will work on any Atari computer with a Blitter Chip: check the Options screen in GEM, but all late models of STfm, Mega ST, Atari STe, and Falcon should be a-ok. Many STfm computers have an empty socket just waiting to be used:

* Many newer STFMs have an empty Blitter Chip socket so head over to the EXXOS webSTore.

At first, I wasn't sure how this was gonna go - we've been burned by so-called 8-bit conversions before. However, it booted up with a neat intro and looks the business! Based on Donkey Kong with a dollop of Popeye, it's set in 1983 as the gaming industry crashed (which I was unaware of as a Spectrum kid!)

Anyhow, an Italian plumber has teamed up with an angry-looking monkey and kidnapped ten gaming heroes: Pac-Man, Pitfall Harry, Q-Bert, Frogger, and others. They are all preparing for a hideous death at the hands of these criminals from the East, so go and rescue them to foil Mario's plan and stop this invasion.

Sounds cool, right? It is, and so is the intro, which begins in Alamogordo (I've been there!)...

The intro is sweet and tells a good story. Also, I've been to Alamogordo, NM. #tidbit

Hang on, this looks familiar?

Taking place on the Donkey Kong construction site, we run along girders collecting love hearts by a damsel in distress. She floats by in her hot air balloon and, when enough are collected, we begin a steroid-jumping rescue to the top of the screen and save a trapped hero. Once free, we can move on to the next level.

This isn't easy because, not only is Mario rolling barrels downhill, but King Kong is hanging about, throwing deadly bananas at us with annoying accuracy! Some levels have weather conditions affecting your movement, and there's even a harsh 120-second time limit. This makes things difficult after a few levels!

The game ends once each and every gaming hero has been rescued. Easier said than done...

Watch out for angry monkeys throwing their killer bananas, or you're DEAD!!

One smooth looker!

The graphics are fantastic, using an 80s retro theme with cute sprites. The Blitter delivers a smooth 50fps display. Heck, the Atari STe even adds enhanced colour fading. Falcon owners get to witness a huge Zeppelin flying by, which I wonder why it's missing on the STe? Ignoring that, this game is ace!!

The audio is superb with lovely sound effects and a simple chiptune suited to the ye olde style. A lot of effort has gone into both the visuals and sounds, and I dare that jingle not to stay in your head all day.

Everything is just dandy and perfect with a retro, comical design...

Beautiful girl blowing kisses? Come back, my love!

The CryptO'pinion?

Don't be fooled by the 8-bit appearance. From the start, you're tricked into thinking this will be easy, but the combination of fantastic controls and tough mechanics will catch you out. I'm sick of being smacked in the face by a killer banana, but I keep on coming back for more of this torment. So addictively playable!!

Crash Time Plumber is extremely hard, but it manages to drag you back for more - kicking & screaming.

Download for FLOPPY / HARD DISK

Online ST Picture Viewer

Often, I need to quickly view an Atari ST piccy on my Mac, and there are plenty of options, but here is a fascinating web tool by Cyprian. It allows you to instantly view those old images within a web browser. It supports classic formats like Degas, Neochrome, Spectrum512 and works with drag and drop.

This is an outstanding web tool.

Blasteroids

Boring old asteroids again?

Blasteroids builds on the classic Asteroids formula. You pilot a lone starfighter, navigating hostile sectors filled with tumbling space rocks and aggressive aliens.  It’s the same old story: the galaxy is overrun with rocks that need smashing to smithereens. These rocks come in all shapes and sizes, and some are downright strange, like popcorn rocks that inflate before freezing. Then there are red rocks that leave behind crystals to conveniently recharge your shield. It's rehashing the old favourite, so are you ready for more rock blasting?

I hope so because this is frantic, and we're not alone as aliens frequently rear their ugly heads! These should be killed quickly to reveal a range of nifty power-ups - such as a double shot or the impressive Ripstar.

Let's pause the pointless chitter-chatter with some screenshots...

Who ya gonna be? Quite the selection for different gamers.

But how tough are ya? Come on, be brave and don't wimp out on me now!!

It's all rocks and aliens!

Blasteroids is divided into segments, each further subdivided into smaller sectors. Completing these unlocks a gruesome End Of Level Boss - the monstrous Mukor! Your ship boasts upgradeable weapons, a powerful shield, and the ability to transform. Once all the rocks are pulverised, a transporter whisks you away to the next sector. Don’t be disappointed. How else could they enhance Asteroids without overcomplicating it?

After clearing all sectors, you’ll finally face Mukor, a festering evil entity who launches miniature spaceships from his tentacles. My tip: shoot these first. Then watch him scuttle away like a cowardly, bloated coward. I genuinely enjoyed our battles; they’re fun without being impossibly difficult. It's not often you can say that!

This game is superb and features cool graphics I admire. Wanna see some screenshots...

Attacks from all angles and tremendous BAM BAM BAM fun!!

Asteroids, but with flashy backgrounds and colourful pixels? You are a cynic!!

Joyslick action?

The controls are excellent and responsive. Rotate the ship with left/right, up to thrust, and keep slamming the fire button to shoot anything rocky. It’s predictable, but gravity and momentum affect performance. Don’t worry, your shield will help to compensate for any poor piloting skills – not that I have any, ahem.

Pulling back on the joystick transforms your ship into one of three different models: the agile Speeder, the well-armed Fighter or the burly Warrior. Best of all, friends can join in at any time with impressive cooperative two-player support. This is a superb feature you shouldn’t overlook - I can’t stress it enough!

Fantastic stuff, right? Well, it's time to stop reading and see some cool screenshots...

The gravitational effect between sectors is superb...

...and then it's more rock-blasting again!

Aesthetics

The graphics are stunning, transforming what was once a visually stark experience into something truly captivating. The beautifully animated rocks rolling through space are a highlight, while the enemy ships are superb. All other sprites are large, detailed, and well-animated. Interestingly, the backgrounds are four-coloured, but this is hardly noticeable due to their clever design and impressive artistic flair, which I admire.

Unfortunately, the audio disappoints with lame bleep-bleep sound effects instead of samples. The ST would have easily handled that for a game like this. The music is also a bit of a letdown as it quickly becomes repetitive. Thankfully, this can be switched off, but it only emphasises the inadequate sound effects.

Looks fantastic, but sounds poor. Can't have it all, eh? Let's view some screenshots...

Shoot!! Kill!! Destroy everything!! <insert evil laugh>

BAM!! BAM!! BAM!! BAM!! BAM!! So-much-fun!!

The CryptO'pinion?

This is a fantastic conversion, though a few minor niggles detract from its otherwise great rock-smashing experience. Asteroid purists might not appreciate the changes, but keep an open mind; this game is incredibly fun. Ignoring the sound effects, they’ve done their best to elevate the genre without adding unnecessary bloatware. I love this game a bunch, so take the time to play this outstanding BLASTER!!

Download for hard drive

and floppy disk

Oh yeah, baby!!! I own this beauty :-)

Atari logos

Having zero artistic flair means I need to cheat whenever I fancy changing the website logo. Thankfully, I've found a couple of free websites that offer fancy text-generating tools, so I figured it would be nice to share today's experimentations. Take a look at Picture To People & FlamingText to design your own.

I've included a few logos that can be downloaded from my Dropbox account. These actually double as great wallpapers and are best when centred, not stretched or tiled. I hope this bundle will give you some ideas to create something cool. I'm always looking for an ST-inspired website logo - can anyone help??

Legends Of Valour

Swashbuckle in first-person

Legends of Valour is one of the last Atari ST games that I bought before the shop shelves started to be filled with PC/console games. I remember that it received relatively favourable reviews, with its first-person engine getting lots of praise for a 16-bit computer. Personally, I loved it and was smitten by its storyline, depth and longevity, not to mention playing in what felt like a cross between Wolfenstein and Dungeon Master!

Our journey begins in the city of Mitteldorf in search of our cousin, Sven. He previously set out to find his fortune and is now missing - what an idiot. It's been far too long since anybody heard from him, and thus, our adventure begins. The storyline is a little lame, but it leads you into a world fresh and full of strife.

Begin by designing your appearance, including clothing and armament. This means you can choose to be human, dwarf or elf, and each type offers a different gameplay style and alternative outcomes. Select hair, eyes, nose and so on to create your demi-god or perhaps your character will end up looking like a freak?

Note: ignore my poor capture above, as the game moves smoothly. Let's see a screenshot...

It isn't long until somebody nice and welcoming pops up to greet us, as a new traveller.

Get lost ...in an amazing world!

Once you're dandy, enter the city and heed the advice from the local who pops up for a chat. I would advise you to take the time to explore and familiarise yourself with your surroundings, because this is such a massive place and you will need the necessary amenities, like safe lodgings, income, beer to sup, and grub to nosh. Yes, it's pen & paper time! Think of this game like your new virtual world, and be prepared.

Mitteldorf is a fortress city, populated with interesting characters, secretive guilds, curious places, and even a labyrinth of dungeons hidden underground. Of course, these are waiting to be explored, but be careful because you might not like what you find down there. Tip: your cousin wrote a letter which explains his story. Perhaps it might feature hidden clues that could help you out along this quest. Heck, you never know?

All exploration is through a first-person engine not too dissimilar to a shooter like Wolfenstein with fully texture-mapped graphics - a testament to what our 16-bit computer can knock out. The display can be configured in three sizes: small to large. Any ST will perform well, but the largest setting needs 16MHz.

Initially, the interface is scary due to the number of icons, but it soon becomes easy to use. Wandering the city is feasible using the GUI's icons, but it can become laborious due to the immense size of the play area, so a right-click will activate mouse control to unlock its full potential. Which is a tremendous way to explore.

Only some people you meet are nice and helpful. Many are nasty, like this guy...

Wow, there is no need to take that attitude with me. A festering sore? lol excellent!

Chill, relax, chat with the yocals

Legends of Valour isn't something you play for a few short moments; you live it. Life here is open-world, a "sandbox" adventure if you like? You are free to roam and do almost anything you want, day or night. This genre has always been a fascinating concept for me, and, although it's an early example, it works well.

Exploring Mitteldorf is exciting and bursting with fun characters, monsters, temples, stores, taverns, employment and more. I love the Olde English medieval setting, which is portrayed and experienced in real-time, so day and night pass by with their own consequence. All the requirements we have in life exist here: eating, sleeping, health and personal safety when in dodgy locations - especially late at night.

I find refuge (and a few ales) at The Hanged Man tavern. That is always a good idea, but perhaps that's me? Just don't get too tipsy and end up in lockup. Ohhh, yes, this is a game offering massive potential.

Mitteldorf is bursting with places to eat, shop, trade and read messages...

  

Mitteldorf has many interesting places to explore, so don't rush and miss a thing.

Turn over every stone

This game is humongous and not something to play for an hour. Learning the city of Mitteldorf alone can be overwhelming, so make notes and a basic key to complement the official map. So much can be understood by communicating with the citizens - get chatting with them over a beer. Don't forget those strange folk who appear to aimlessly wander the streets. Remember, you're living inside this 'RPG', so experience its world.

Be prepared to defend yourself when set upon by King's faithful knights in shining armour. But even a little old lady can throw a barrage of humorous insults before giving you a good slap, which was rather unexpected. There's only one thing left to do - slap her back!! That's right, why not hit an old lady? Yes, you are limited only by your own evil imagination and fiendish desires. Explore and live this game.

What great advice for such a wondrous place. Also, let's pause for a couple of screenshots...

Arghh!! I've been caught again. I guess I look too dodgy?

 This means I've been thrown down before the King's mercy. Sigh...

The CryptO'pinion?

Legends of Valour is something special and offers a vibrant and exciting place to live a life of intrigue. So many characters, taverns to frequent, secret guilds to master, monster-infested dungeons to plunder, and then there are side quests. As you begin to make progress and delve deeper, you soon realize just how much more potential there is just waiting to be discovered. Heck, I had almost forgotten to search for Sven!

Sadly, nothing is perfect, and I feel Legends of Valour lacks in a couple of areas: the battles could have been executed better, and it's disappointing to discover most buildings are (visually) empty. Also, audio is limited to spot effects, which is a shame considering the number of disks in the box - a few ambient samples or more chippy fx could have improved the atmosphere, especially during the night scenes.

Legends of Valour is incredible and massively enthralling. Allow yourself to get lost in this advantageous world, because there is so much to see and do. One of the best Atari ST games you should play.

Grab the hard drive version by 8BitChip.

Poor old floppy folk should use Atari Legend.

A city map and clue book ... and I had "fun" in October!!

After The War

Muscles and big boots

After the War was released back in 1989 by Dinamic Software, it's (partly) a fantastic beat 'em up, similar in style to Double Dragon 3. You are Jonathan Rogers, aka Jungle Rogers, and must assassinate Professor McJerin, who is today's nutcase. Worryingly set in the near future, during a post-apocalyptic Manhattan, where you must kill all the bad dudes and escape to somewhere better than this hellhole! Sounds easy, right?

The game is split into two parts: the first is a scrolling beat 'em up. The second is a shoot 'em up platformer. Upon playing part one, the first thing that struck me was the amazing graphics!! Huge sprites, great colour, and good scrolling. I adore the backgrounds and found the artwork to be apt for the grungy scenario. Sound effects are very cool and are made up of low-quality grunts and thumps with silly cries when somebody is killed. It is worth mentioning the awesome title theme, which I think is superb!

Check out this screenshot from the first part of the game...

It's time to kick ass and chew bubble gum... No, wait... Wrong game!

Kick and punch everyone!

Controls are easy to master and offer: a punch, a flying kick, jumping, and a get-me-outta-here rollback. Strangely, the keyboard is needed to activate another type of kick and a nut-crushing low punch, especially useful for rabid dogs! Sadly, I found flipping between the two sets of controls an awkward killjoy.

Part two is only playable once the first is completed. Our musclebound hero is now equipped with a giant weapon as he heads off into the underground. Gamestyle is a platform shooter where we need to blast everything, even the pesky rats! The controls aren't great, and the directional aiming is overly complicated. This stage is okay, but I found myself stressing over the controls rather than having fun, which isn't good. No, it's quite poor!

I didn't like part two enough to include a screenshot, so let's see the beat'em up...

I hit him so hard he flew into the air. Yeah, I’m big and strong! GRR!!!

The CryptO'pinion?

After the War is two games in one, which may sound great, but it's not. The beat 'em part is superb with decent graphics, sounds and lots of violence - I enjoyed playing it a bunch!! But that's more than can be said about the second part, which doesn't work as there is too much going on. It's not enjoyable if I'm honest.

Download this game, if only for the beat 'em up stages, and you have yourself a winner. Tons of fun!!

• Update September 2017: 8BitChip has a new hard drive installable download!
• Atarimania has the floppy disk version.
• Who fancies a couple of cheats...

          --> Fancy the code to part two: 101069 (tested and works)

          --> Inf.energy in part one, press keys: ALT, 1, B (untested)

          --> Inf.energy in part two, press keys: ALT, 1, M (untested)

Enduro Racer

Wheelie good fun

The Atari ST received a great conversion of Enduro Racer, programmed by Ian Morrison, who also made the amazing Road Blasters. There are five races to compete in against a whole load of other bikers on tracks littered with many hazards. The controls are superb, and I found cornering tight and exhilarating. Watch out for the timer, which is happy to tick down, so learn and practice the tracks! This is the only way you'll beat it and maybe show off those skills by doing a handlebar handstand? It's crazy, but it's cool.

Visually, things are a little sparse, but that helps to produce a better framerate. The music is nothing short of fantastic and typically Dave Whittaker - in other words, brilliant. Enduro Racer might be showing its age a little when compared to other ST racers, but I still think it's worth booting up. Cars are best, but this proves that even bikes can look cool when leaping over the jumps and thrashing around tight turns.

This is what excellent racing looks like, and I guarantee that you will love every second of it.

Floppy Disks  |  Hard Drive

Bellum Internecinum

Galaga!

Released in 1989 by M Goss-Custard, Bellum Internecinum is a Galaga clone.  Shoot first and ask questions later, as these incredibly trigger-happy ETs attack in formations. Don’t expect to take any prisoners. They also swoop down to clutter the screen for frantic action, gaining speed and ferocity as you progress.

The joystick controls are great, offering full directional movement. However, your ship has a limited amount of damage before parts start falling off, so be careful (which is actually a superb effect to see!)

Bellum Internecinum is a rock-solid shoot ‘em up, and I’ve loved every second playing it.

• Downloads can be found over at Atarimania.
• Wanna play more arcade games from the public domain?

Chubby Gristle

Oi, Fatso!!

This is a story of a fat, obnoxious parking attendant who loves to eat food - a pillar of the community! Chubby Gristle is always hungry and will roam looking for grub to nosh on in Grandslam Entertainment's 1988 platformer. This is a platformer and feels like games I played on my ZX Spectrum. Never a bad thing.

Each screen is designed in a fashion similar to Monty Mole. Chubby Gristle is incredibly tough and perhaps too difficult for the average gamer. As with all platformers, each screen has ledges, moving platforms, ropes, and the expected angry sprites zipping back n' forth (awkward to avoid, without losing a precious life).

Visually, it's perfectly 8-bit with 16-bit enhancements. And I mean that in a good way because it happily blasted me back into the 1980s. The sprites move smoothly and are animated using a style Peter Harrap would be proud of. Sadly, I'm disappointed with the audio, which plays the same tune over (and over). It's great, but we really needed a varied selection, and I found no way to replace that with the sound effects.

Chubby Gristle could have been a hit, but the joystick controls fail, making it too hard. There's so much going on, and it's too easy for the fat man to bump into something or fall flat on his face. Many extra lives are needed to balance it out. There are some great screens, but you won't get to see them without cheating.

This is a game that loves to see you suffer. Whoever playtested this should be shot!!

• Klaz' Hideaway who has the floppy and a hard drive installable game (with lives cheat).
• I've recorded a video of my dispare, dare you view it?
• Cheating is never good but Chubby needs extra lives like no other game on the planet. To enable infinite lives, type "buuurrp" on the title screen. You will hear a burp that confirms success. (untested by me) 

Microprose Golf

Another good walk spoiled?

Microprose Golf is a bit of a show-off if truth be told. It's like the rich and successful younger brother of poor old Leaderboard, who is green with envy! Now, I'm hardly a golfing connoisseur, but the developers have done a blinding job and created an involving game with a vast array of mind-boggling features that take it into the realm of a serious sim. But, don't panic, that doesn't make it boring!! Oh no, not at all, so read on.

Golf fans will shriek with happiness as several game types are on offer. Each is affected by an array of realistic variables that can alter every aspect and the outcome of your shots. Yes, just like the variables that real golfers have to think about: the type of ground, your stance, weather conditions, and so on. I'm sure experienced golfers will be drooling over the intricate settings long before they even consider teeing off. Heck, even as a novice, I was mightily impressed and blown away in equal measure.

One of the things I loved was seeing each hole before playing it. Just like in this screenshot...

Take a look at the course to get a brilliant perspective of what lies ahead.

Whack that ball!!

All control is made using the mouse, of course. The game's GUI is well-designed and intuitive to drastically reduce any learning curve. So setting up a shot isn't a chore when perfecting control and direction.

Microprose has taken 16-bit golfing to a whole new level by introducing its camera-angled viewpoints. That's right, it's like the camera is mounted to a drone that follows the ball along its airborne path. I sat in utter amazement as I watched my first shot in action. It's a gob-smacking moment!! There is also a selection of other cool camera angles, and all benefit from smoother framerates on faster computers - like my Mega STe.

Don't run away green with envy! Stop and read some more after this screenshot...

Take the shot and let's see how good you really are. Whoosh... SPLOSH!!! :D

Aesthetics

Graphically, this easily stands head and shoulders above anything else I've seen on any 16-bit computer. The artwork is superb throughout and is also nicely detailed with bold colours and designs we've come to admire from Microprose. However, it's the 3D aspect that absolutely blows the competition away. Jaw-dropping.

Sounds are excellent, but I do feel more ambient effects would have been nice during the times you're setting up a shot. It would have been good to hear birds chirping, a little breeze, or background crowd chatter.

There's always something, isn't there? Never mind, it's time for another screenshot...

This is superb, how I can get a feel for how my shot might go with a little practice...

The CryptO'pinion?

Microprose has done what they always did and released an Atari ST game that blows your socks off. At every level, it's beautiful and comes with a perfect blend of strategy and arcade to lose yourself in. Whether you're a casual fan or a golfing expert, I'm positive you will love playing what is a superb game.

You can grab the floppies but this is best run from a hard drive/Ultrasatan. Wasabim has recorded a fantastic video and AtariMania has neat scans of the manual.

Terry's Big Adventure

It's-a-me, Terry!

Terry's Big Adventure was released in 1989 by Gary Walton for Shades. It plays with more than a pinch of Mario (how did moneybags Nintendo let them get away with it, but I'm glad they did). His adventure takes us through twelve lands and, like his Italian cousin, he is stuck within a 2D world of silliness. Get your joystick ready because this means lots of platforms, gaps to jump, magic mushrooms, and iddy biddy critters.

Terry isn't a mean guy, and he doesn't like squashing cute creatures, so instead, he has brought a different weapon. Now, if you're expecting something like a shotgun or a sword, then you might be disappointed because it's actually a yo-yo. That is unlikely to impress the girls, but it's different and works well, too.

Power-ups are frequently available, plus you can swap the yo-yo for pebbles by hitting the space bar. Terry is such a badass, right? Many kills reward a random letter in a tiny parachute; collect 'em to eventually make "terry" to earn a temporary shield. This comes in handy, allowing you to plough through the horde.

Fancy some big tips? Well, it's always worth collecting the mushrooms for juicy points. Also, an extra life awarded every 20,000 points, which you will be glad of. Finally, there are bonus levels stocked to the brim with even more mushrooms - just don't get yourself addicted!

Fancy a screenshot? No? How about an animation? Better check this out then...

The Atari ST cannot scroll, right? Well, that's what the talentless programmers say...

Visuals, Sounds, Controls.

The graphics are very "NES" in style with tiny sprites, but these suit the console experience perfectly, and everything you see is colourful and detailed. Scrolling is silky smooth, and it's obvious Gary took pride in his work and achieved beautiful results - using a computer without any hardware scrolling.

The audio is a little disappointing, with the option of chip music or sound effects. The tunes are cute and my preferred choice in comparison to the dullness of the sparse sound effects. Don't get me wrong, the effects are okay, but few and far between - so much of your gameplay will be in silence. Stick with the music!

Any Mario game needs responsive controls, and Terry has a precise feel that is great. It's perfectly "console", which I know sounds odd, but it's true! This works hand in hand with the laws of physics, which means how and when to use the Yo-Yo. That weapon has a knockback that affects Terry, so watch out if near water.

Splish... Splash... Splosh... let's see a screenshot...

Terry's world is filled with colour and cute things. But even little things can hurt!

The CryptO'pinion?

Terry's Big Adventure is a superb game and one that will appeal to those who enjoy Giana Sisters or the Stario games. It might be a rip-off, but Terry has enough personality of his own to make this different and entertaining. The only kicker is never knowing about this wonderful platformer back in the day...

I thoroughly enjoyed playing yo-yos with my new spiky-haired friend. What a fantastic platformer!!

Download for floppy or hard disk.

"Metroid"

Talent + Atari STe = another new game

Samuel (aka Zamuel_a of Pac-Mania and Giana Sisters fame) is working on a third game for the Atari STe. This time it's based on "Metroid". Bear in mind, this is a WIP - we can walk, jump, fire, and explore the levels using a 16-colour-limit-busting display. The Blitter will handle the sprites with hardware scrolling being utilised for a silky-smooth display. Heck, even the analogue ports will be used (where's my Jag Pad?)

As you can see, it looks fantastic but Samuel is also asking for help: with music, sound effects, sprites, and level design. If you can help, please contact him directly via the Atari-Forum website. I wish him luck.

It looks like Samuel might have another winner on his hands! I cannot wait to see how this develops over time; it looks great so far!! Check out a couple more screenshots below and... watch this space...

Circus back²STage

Circus back²STage demo for the Atari STe, by BlaBLa, Cocoon & Sector One.

With an unusual style, Circus back²STage is a fascinating Atari STe demo. It features a bucket load of colourful effects in overscan with the most wonderful chip music. Some people hate clowns, but get over it - this is literally one of the best demos I've seen. It's hard drive-installable, and downloads are available on Demozoo.