PouifOuf is a French word (I imagine?) but no online translator seems to know what it means. Well, it's also the name of a unique platformer developed by Le Glod for the Atari ST using the old favourite, GFA Basic. Firstly, don't go off the familiar visuals because it really is nothing like you might imagine and there are no magic pockets too!
This familiar-looking kid must run around, almost like a headless chicken, collecting items scattered on each screen. The style is frantic, reminding me of a cross between Roger and CarVup. We can walk left or right but cannot jump, or use any weapon with our idle magic pockets. Thankfully, there are platforms with "springboards" to use. These propel us upwards to reach those higher places. It's now you realise the cunning thought needed to beat its design.
Curiously interested or have you already walked away? Well, here's a screenshot for those still here...
Hang on, is that the Bitmap Kid I see? The little fella is running around collecting everything!
Boing!!!
This is a great platformer but also very different from what I expected to play. It's a little crazy and there are lots of silly enemies who love to get underfoot and make our life hell. They aren't lethal but will humorously bounce you around the screen like a pinball. The emphasis here is Zool-like speed and fun which is a breath of fresh air.
Sometimes, fruit items will fall from the top of the screen but don't appear to do much more than offer visual diversity for extra points. I'm not sure but I can only assume PouifOuf is an unfinished project, so I would love to know more about this hidden GEM. I have contacted Le Glod but heard nothing back as yet. Anyhow, gather all items because we can only move on to the next level once everything is collected. This is basic stuff but it's darn good fun!!
Glad you stayed? Of course, you are because this game is different and so playable. Here's a screenshot...
A giant face in the middle of this level. Wonder how it is ;)
Aesthetics
The visuals are lovely and everything scrolls very smoothly and perfectly compliment the ultra-fast gameplay requirements. Okay, ignore the ripped graphics and enjoy the blistering speeds. Note, I cannot stress this highly enough, play using real hardware for the smoothest possible experience. Wonderful programming for a wonderful experience.
Sound effects or music can be activated at any time using the F-keys but I prefer the gorgeous chiptune.
It zips about like a drunk driver on a busy high street so let's check out one final screenshot...
Use the springboards but watch out for the baddies who will make you tumble!
The CryptO'pinion?
What a game!! Yep, I have really enjoyed playing this platformer which was a refreshing surprise - and nothing like I first imagined. It had me smiling like a Cheshire Cat thanks to the fantastic, zesty playability. I might not be able to pronounce "PouifOuf" but I know a great game when I see it - and this is a blummin' furious platformer!!
Simple gameplay that is incredibly fun. I cannot recommend it highly enough so grab yourself a copy now.
Jack is a fella who simply wanted to chill out and listen to a few of his favourite records but he never got the chance. Why, I hear you scream? Well, I'm glad you asked, the soul of Rock 'n Roll is somehow trapped and now manic classical instruments roam the land looking for blood. Of course, your blood... Yep, if there was ever a strange idea then this is it!
Jack's world is viewed top-down and made up of square tiles which he can hop on. There are also special tiles that alter colour with each hop - that will produce a record if you make them all the same colour. This must correspond to an unused turntable so, for example, a red record for a red player. The song will gradually compile as each record player is activated - which means that the level is only complete once all are working. Sounds weird but it works well.
Yeah, it may sound peculiar but it looks hotter than hell itself. Check out the first screenshot...
Never would I have imagined such a silly game would be so brilliant!
Not your normal game...
Each level is different and much like a jigsaw in design. Some aren't continuous, so the use of a transporter may be required - but be careful because you don't want to bump directly into a baddie! There are instruments that chase, if you get close, and will kill you using a humorous "Pif-Paf" cartoon-like effect (this is fantastic). There are many items to collect for extra points and other features: wear a pair of cool shades... or rest to safely gather your nerves on a chequered tile.
Also, why not try dropping a couple of your old cassettes on the floor to block an instrument dead in its tracks. Well, for a few seconds, but that gives the gameplay a desperately needed break - nobody uses those old tapes anyhow! As you progress, the maps become more technical and offer a greater challenge in this insane musical world of craziness!
What an insanely unique game and I did rather well and made the hi-score table...
Can you beat my Hi-Score? Nah, I didn't think so!
Aesthetics
Infogrames have (yet again) worked their magic and produced another jaw-dropper. I normally start with the graphics but, not today! Because this game is a blast - the sound effects are superb and these go to making up the thumping tune which is great. Other sound effects for the instrument monsters are excellent and I love it when some will begin to violently bash out their sounds if you get too close. Sigh, just imagine if they'd have used the DMA hardware?
The graphics are frequently amazing throughout each and every level. Constant, rich in colour, beautiful backgrounds, and all that with the funniest musical sprites chasing you. Mad! The scrolling is ultra-smooth and I even loved the high-score table which is almost like a funky demo screen! Hey, check it out above, can you beat my first-attempt score?
As you can tell, I love this game and wish you would boot it up also. Don't miss out! One final screenshot...
Oh no, something mean and green is attacking me!
The CryptO'pinion?
Jumping Jack'Son is superb and has lots of great, unique humour. Come on, there's nothing like an angry trumpet chasing you down the screen! It's maddening and very challenging yet remains one of the prettiest puzzlers on the Atari ST. I feel this is a timeless classic and something that feels fresh and innovative today. A lot of love went into making this game.
I cannot stress enough just how highly I recommend this game. It's a personal favourite. 10/10.
The Phantom Demo was released by Amiga/PC crew, Arkham who (for me) seemed to appear on the ST out of nowhere, only to disappear once again. This demo is actually two different party releases from 1993/4 bundled together. They feature super-duper visual effects and fantastic chiptunes by Kane Wood. Can you tell that I enjoyed this a bunch!!
The two videos are incomplete but a good idea of how fantastic it is. This was deliberate as I didn't want to spoil the fun - the demo is best viewed using a real Atari ST computer. If you can, please do!! The download is available on AtariMania with more of Kane's music on Demozoo. Enjoy what is nothing less than blummin' immaculate :)
Top Banana is a vertically scrolling platformer not too dissimilar to Magic Boy or Rainbow Islands. Ignoring the stupid eco storyline, this has an unusual mix of weirdness but begins with a tripped-out acid-style intro that reminds me of Grotesque and Aciid Burn (Whattaheck). Well, a little, and it's in stereo so worth watching.
The gameplay is simple, we start at the bottom of the screen and leap upwards using the platforms whilst avoiding the rising water levels. Along the way are the unusual nasties and our weapon appears to be "love" itself. We deliver a fatal kiss of death to anything that gets in our way. So take no prisoners and enjoy killing loving everything!!
Considering this is a game full of eco-preservation, it contradicts itself by killing animals. Anyhow, you win when you reach the top and then the screen falls and you can collect lots of doughnuts and other items before starting the next stage. Nothing new or mind-blowing but I actually quite enjoyed this incredibly cr4p platformer!
Before we go any further, let's take a peep at the first screenshot (which is taken from the ST version)
Top Banana played on the Atari ST (the oldest model without a Blitter Chip)
Aesthetics
That's right, this is one of the few games taking advantage of the Atari STe, so kudos to Hex for going that extra mile. However, what do you think about these screenshots? The ST version is rather lacking with an empty feel whereas the STe is the complete opposite with a crazy display of mess scrolling along your monitor using parallax-scrolling. My eyes are bleeding, my head hurts... I think I'm going to die if I play for much longer!!
Top Banana is incredibly unique. Never have I seen a game with such a weird abstract style. I admit, at first, I hated it because it was cluttered so I would struggle to see the dangers ahead in time. After a few games, I eventually overcame that eye-burst feeling and was used to it. Well, I must applaud the artists for daring to be different.
Interestingly, Top Banana supports the Atari STe which features madenning graphical design! But it supports parallax scrolling and also comes bundled with DMA sound effects. These effects certainly beat the chirpy YM effects into dust but, (like the visuals) are possibly way OTT. Check out this Atari STe screenshot...
Top Banana on the Atari STe. Eye-bursting visuals albeit with parallel scrolling.
The CryptO'pinion?
Top Banana is unusual alright. It offers an enjoyable challenge and I've nothing but respect for Hex for supporting both Atari computers. However, it looks, sounds and plays drab on the ST whereas it's way OTT on the STe. In fact, Atari STe owners should take out health insurance because your ears might burst with the incredibly annoying samples and the bloated parallax-scrolling display will give you a headache or a brain tumour.
I do wonder what Hex was thinking when they made this weird little game. Having said that, it is also pretty good and obviously inspired by Rainbow Islands. Sadly, it's one that I fear everyone might ignore which is a shame. Okay, I wouldn't bother if you're an ST guy but I'm tempted to sadistically recommend it for all STe owners!!
The D-Bug boys have a hard drive version and Stonish has two floppy disk options you need to try:
1) Fuzion #151 (a one-disk download without the intro)
2) Pure Energy #6A and #6B (with the silly intro but it comes on two disks)
Glutton for punishment Mike, of The New Retro Show, has just released the second part of our Ironman Challenge. As you may remember, I gave him a list of Atari ST games which I thought would help push him over the edge. Well, he's still with us, so let's see what torture he endured for the final part of this challenge (above).
This new video features Fire And Brimstone, Crash Time Plumber and R0x. If you missed the first video from this Ironman Challenge then simply clickety-click to watch that video of Mike's torment! Get the popcorn - enjoy :)
Crackman was released for the Atari STe by Teenage [Pung] and has one of the most idiotic storylines I've ever heard - make sure you read the docs. Okay, I'm sure you've already guessed, Crackman is a PacMan clone but is also one of the most challenging I have ever played. Well, that's an understatement actually...
The maps are huge with a crafty design but it's the ghosts that cannot fail to impress with insanely intelligent AI. This dictates practice before considering matching wits as their AI isn't like previously seen, it's more like Lode Runner. My first game almost ended in tears - I needed many more attempts before recording a video.
Along with the crazy storyline are a few surprises like mines, hidden walls and power pad support. I love the ghosts and our little pill-popper has a full set of teeth but my favourite is when he dies and turns into a puddle of gore. The Atari STe produces silky smooth 50fps hardware scrolling and superb DMA audio.
Everyone knows Pac-Man but if you thought it was boring then take a look at this - I dare you!! Is it better than Crapman? I don't know... but what I do know is that we have yet another excellent Pac-Man game!!
This demo was released at Silly Venture 2013 by Genesis Project and is amazing. No, it's outstanding and I love ElefantaSTic because it breaks from the norm with unique and stunning styles. Plus the artwork is superb with beautiful effects and a perfectly apt chiptune. This is one of my personal favourites and is downloadable from Demozoo.
I've always had a spark of curiosity for Rogue but (looking back) I have also wondered why I should even bother with anything "roguelike" when I could instead crawl within the '3D' realms of Dungeon Master. Of course, I'm being stupid because this dates back to 1980 when gamers spent their lunch breaks staring at Rogue's text-based dungeons looking for Rodney's Amulet of Yendor! Epyx released our turn-based conversion back in 1986 and it's essentially the same venture through the Dungeons Of Doom but graphics have replaced that original text display (no complaints from me! lol).
Don't run away in disgust just yet, this dungeon may look rather 8-Bit but that works perfectly to suit the atmosphere and I really love it!! For me, it's the monsters that look the best as these are superbly drawn - I love the Ice Monster the most. And the Zombie looks like he's about to get down and boogie. Pressing the Enter key will zoom out to display and the entire map is viewed full screen. This is probably favourable to the purist using a more traditional oldskool view of the dungeon? Monsters are then represented by letters, ie: B for Bat, R for Rattlesnake, Z for Zombie, etc...
Which visual display style do you prefer? Let's take a look at both right now in these screenshots...
Carefully explore each and every unique location and zoom out to see the map...
Let the adventure begin!
From the start, we're introduced to the adventure schematics which easily allow us to explore in relative safety against the easier baddies to contend with. I liked this learning curve because a novice adventurer (ie, me) should appreciate it. However, having said that, take a look at my screenshot from a recent game which I'd only just begun - Wow, quite an incredible gang of nasties, I'm sure you'll agree? But this is also a testament to the game's ability to randomly generate interesting scenarios with each new game. So, Rogue will always feel different each time you decide to boot it up.
Directional control of our little explorer is done using the ST's keypad which can be used in combo with or without the mouse. Personally, I prefer to use the keyboard for everything. There are other useful functions such as ALT/click to identify an object or creature. Also, pressing F1 duplicates your last attack action with other shortcuts like 0 to rest and '.' to search (repeated searches give the best results). Try it keyboard only and I'm sure you'll agree.
Rogue is an ARPG that is meant to be enjoyed from start through to death/victory. Once you've been beaten, you are buried and this state is permanent. You can save your progress but, coming back to continue is only allowed once (as that file is deleted). Hence, permadeath, and this may sound unfair but it works well and suits the theme perfectly.
Hey, do you fancy a couple more Rogue screenshots? What? Really? I knew you did...
There's so much more to this old dungeon crawler than just slaying the funky monsters!
Beware, you're not alone!
The enemies are a wild bunch alright! From traditional beasts like Snakes, Zombies and Bats to fantasy spooks like Ice Monsters, Hobgoblins and even Emus. Yes, there are emus down there! It's worth noting that not every character is immediately aggressive so it's advisable to try and tiptoe around a Leprechaun, a Nymph or a Centaur. I only wish Trolls and Wraiths had that relaxed temperament - they're so mean - so make sure you have good armour.
Fight back using swords, axes and more but there are also magical scrolls and potions which perform an insane variety of uses. For example, illuminating the dungeons or increasing health, weapon strength, and so much more. However, not all are good so you may wish to empower yourself with the ability to identify any obscure items you may be carrying. After all, you might mistakingly conjure a demon or leave yourself blind in the darkness. Yikes!!
Like the dungeon itself, both the enemies and objects are randomly generated so you never get to perform the same battle twice or know the location of items. This is one of the many things that makes Rogue very special.
Let's put the reading on pause whilst you gander at a couple more screenshots...
Some kind soul has left food but it isn't long before something appears from out of the darkness!
Tricks and traps
This is a game with its fair share of humour with lots of hidden traps so, if something doesn't feel right, then remember to search and you might just uncover a hidden passage. Watch out for teleporters that will zap you to another part of the map or maybe even drop you down a level. Gas sends you to sleep and bear traps are dangerous and require a few turns to escape their clutch. Avoid the temptation of a Nymph who might sneak something from your inventory - and I certainly laughed when battling a Leprechaun as he actually managed to rob me of my gold. O_o
Rogue has some aspects which are traditional yet still very funny - like being caught by cursed clothing which is then impossible to remove without using the right spell to counteract it. I travelled for five levels before being able to remove a nasty piece of cursed chainmail. Cursed clothing, who'd have thunk it? Irritating but humorous too.
Finally, remember to look after yourself and watch those stats. Food is sparse down in the dungeons, which kinda makes sense, so collect everything and only stop for a bite when it's absolutely needed. The action is lurking around every corner but a careful adventurer will find tactical exploring to be both enjoyable and rewarding. Think before you act.
Can you tell that I'm really enjoying Rogue? I'm a noob but this game is hot stuff. It's screenshot time...
Carefully sneak by the old bat (insert mother-in-law joke) and beware of leprechauns on level 7
Aesthetics?
Nobody loads up Rogue to be blown away by dazzling visuals but this is actually much better than I imagined. I love how the dungeon itself looks which is bright, colourful and quite basic. It looks the business and feels like a graphical upgrade on the original but without ruining it. As I said earlier, the best parts are the sprites and seeing those little iddy-biddy monsters lurking in the dungeon is fantastic. They all look brilliant yet faithful to the original theme.
Sound effects are pretty much authentic to the original, ie there aren't any! Well, little beyond the default clicks & dings we're all used to as ST owners, which is perfectly fine and natural to what Rogue is all about. However, I'd have liked an option to turn off the clicks without having to resort to using something like XControl (don't forget that!!).
I had an idea for my video recording - that's at the top of this page - so scroll back up. I wanted to replace the silence with something eerie using the Atari STe ACCessory: STe Background Audio Player. This plays samples using the DMA coprocessor and works tremendously well without any slowdown. Let me know what you guys think?
Hey, you should really watch the -STe enhanced- video if you scroll back. Until then, here are two screenshots...
Remember to use this view for a bigger image of your dungeon and keep stock of the inventory.
The CryptO'pinion?
As I write, I'm exploring level 14 but Rogue seems to have cranked up the difficulty a lot since level 9 and I admit to struggling: a Wraith and a Troll ganged up and sent me to an early grave so, I reloaded only to later suffer a humiliating beating by a Quagga! I now need to rest and hope nothing creeps up while I'm vulnerable. Hang on, I've a healing potion that should help me feel better and a spell to confuse the monsters. There is so much to this fascinating game!!
Yes, Rogue is easy to get into and extremely rewarding. I'm still learning the ropes of this immense dungeon crawler and I feel I have only scratched the surface. But I'm loving every minute of what is a tremendous experience and possibly one of the best Atari ST games. This is a blast into the past that proves just what makes #roguelike so excellent.
Actually, this is literally one of the best games I have ever played, regardless of the platform. Absolutely wonderful!!
Brave adventurers can install Rogue on to hard drive.
ST Format #42 featured The Fractal Engine by Daniel Grace and Mike Harris. I love programs like this and, after a couple of hours of tinkering, I began creating some rather funky images. This superb program is capable of creating impressive images using tripped-out colourful effects - if you have the spare time?
Features of The Fractal Engine v3.0
17 different fractal types, including 11 Mandelbrot/Julia pairs and Lindemayer Systems
Divide and conquer algorithms, with fixed-point arithmetic
Zoom animation and Julia Set morph batch processing
3-Dimensional Mandelbrot and Julia landscapes
480, 16 colour palettes
Simple but effective image compression
The Fractal Engine delivers exquisite results and is extremely easy to use. Oh no, does this mean I'm turning into a groovy hippie? I hope not!! Anyhow, I hope you like my images which were all calculated using my own Atari STe. (Thanks to Michael Keenleyside for this link to the latest version)
What's more fun than creating trippy images on your Atari computer? Nothing. Yep.
Only this morning did ST Survivor ask me for a video recording of Quartet, a new game based on the original, by Photonstorm. The task is to place pieces of four faces, into four slots, in four separate areas with bonuses awarded for a whole face. Watch my video recording and you will see that it's simpler than it reads - and very addictive!
I love finding YouTube channels with great Atari ST content and The New Retro Show is one such place to get my fix. It's run by a fella with a beard, called Mike! He's been addicted to the ST since he first got to play Dungeon Master (there's a shocker) and currently owns two machines: a Mega STe and a 1040 ST.
Now, after watching this video I came up with the idea for a challenge and suggested a few games which have all appeared on AtariCrypt: Chubby Gristle, Cybernoid, Zynaps, along with a few others. Shockingly, he actually agreed to the challenge (Muwhahaha!!) and released the first Ironman Challenge which you can watch here.
My thanks to Mike for taking on my silly challenge but I am now looking forward to the second part!!
Whitewater Madness was under development in 1989 by Scott Williamson and Ed Schneider for Atari themselves. With great faith, it was specifically designed for the then-new Atari STe (possibly one of the first games to utilise the enhanced hardware). Sadly, the game was finished but never released which is disappointing, to say the least.
This is a shoot 'em up taking place on a river; just imagine what would happen if you took Toobin' and then slapped in a dollop of river-raid violence. Well, then you have Whitewater Madness, a vertically scrolling shooter that has us sailing down a bizarre stretch of water that takes place through space and time like Dr Who. And bizarre it is.
In Atari's wisdom, they decided not to bother with this and it was left to gather dust in the halls of the forgotten. You know, I sure love Atari for giving us the ST/STe computers but there are times when they tested our patience somewhat! Well, cheer up because I have a treat in store for you with the full and finished version of Whitewater Madness to download and play for yourself. That's right, the disks have been found and guess who has been given a copy? ;-)
Please note, for many years there has been a demo version to download. Do not bother with that. It's a lame and very old beta which plays nothing like this final release here. Okay, it's screenshot time...
The controls are superb but you can also use the rapids for additional effect.
A Toobin' River Raid?
Okay, we're sailing down a magical river in our little Pod and searching for green energy cells.Why I don't but, but collect them and raise your Warp Energy levels to maximum capacity - so we can travel further through time. If successful, we are presented with an information screen telling you just how good (or bad) we did. However, if you failed to collect the required amount then you're sent back to the start again to do it all over again. (I saw that a lot)
Our dinghy is equipped with a rapid-firing mounted gun! This is a good job because we are under a constant onslaught of hazards and weird creatures. Try and avoid the many dangers such as rocky rapids, mines, artillery and other crazy stuff like kamikaze dinosaurs who love to leap from the shores. It's absolutely insane!! There are lots more causing mayhem; cavemen, something that resembles a pterodactyl, a giant turtle, and centaurs. Frantic and I love it.
The controls are dead easy to get to grips with - and superbly responsive to I might add. I really love the directional method which works for fast and efficient guidance down our insane river raid. Picking up green "L" pills will recharge the Pod and stop it from going BOOM but these are few, so collect as many as possible - quickly.
This is a fun game alright, so let's check out another screenshot from this crazy Toobin...
Those rapids are ace but you better watch out for the nasties - like kamikaze dinosaurs!
An Atari STe game that never was!
Old gamers, like me, will love the graphics which are perfectly 8-bit in style. It actually feels like something you'd expect of an ancient Atari console because of its striking palette and dinky sprites. These are small and with little animation, but nicely detailed. Well, with one exception, a hostile kamikaze dinosaur that loves to leap from the shores!!
Scott informed me that the Blitter co-processor was used to handle the visuals. And it shows with brisk movements that keeps up perfectly with the player and the hectic action without any trouble.
The sound effects are pretty nice with lots of shooting, explosions and more. The DMA coprocessor is used to play and is super-duper. However, I must admit to being disappointed with the title music because it sounds like it's using low-frequency samples so is quite "STFM" in quality. A bit odd considering what the STe is capable of.
It's time for another screenshot and here is that crazy dinosaur again...
Watch out for dinosaurs, mines, birds, riverside cavemen and lots more!
The CryptO'pinion?
Whitewater Madness has the hallmarks of a fantastic oldskool arcade game and is something I'd expect to see on an Atari console. And yes, that's a compliment. I love the frantic Toobin-style action which is perfectly balanced yet challenging without ever feeling impossible. There's so much going on and I think this is an excellent action/shoot 'em up.
Why Atari didn't release this is unbelievable because it's a great arcade game so easily sails into the seas of gaming gold!! It's simple, it's fun and it's now freely available to download after being 'lost' for three decades. That alone makes this extra special so enjoy what would have been the very first Atari STe game. A superb and delightful arcade game!!
The ST world constantly amazes me. Just when you think you've seen it all, a "new" version of Street Fighter pops up and slaps you in the face!! Yep, I had oddly never heard of this before! Where have I been all these years?
Anyhow, this beat'em up was developed for the Atari STe by Patrice Mandin, a guy whom I'm grateful for Doom and more. However, it's incomplete without the full game's content or even colours (although it is running in ST low). As is, it's fast and responsive by making use of the Blitter, hardware scrolling and DMA stereo sounds. It's actually very playable!
Sadly, Patrice stopped development so it's left this project in limbo - waiting for another techie to pick up the gauntlet. Great progress has already been achieved, and the source code is available, so it's sad that nobody has attempted to finish this incredible "beta". I think the potential is huge so download Street Fighter and prepare thy jaw to drop!!
I have just listened to this amazing tune called Wowy, by Tomchi (played using JAM) and simply had to record it. Absolutely superb!!! So, kick off your weekend in style and download this gorgeous chiptune for your Atari STe!! 🎧
Infogrames has done it again and released what I think is something rather quirky and special. In Mystical, we get to play with magic and spells to battle against the strangest creatures. We are a novice magician of the Grand Wizard, eager to learn the ropes but quick to make silly mistakes! Like losing his precious scrolls and phials! So now we must travel to parallel worlds to retrieve them. Should be easy, right? Get ready for the oddest journey you ever expected!
Our quest will take us into strange places to battle against all sorts of whacky characters: Buzzards, shepherds, faithless Monks, reptiles, sea creatures, farmers, little girls, Vikings, walking trees, funny faces, and more. Most will throw something at you or will chase. Sounds mad, right? It certainly is and I'm sure everyone will love its silliness.
I cannot continue without showing screenshots of just how unique this game is...
I must say that the palettes used are pastel-perfect and with lovely artistic tones too.
The characters you meet are... different! What a weird game this is.
Magically weird!
The big man has granted permission to use his magic to help us. This means the ability to cast spells that provide a variety of unique ways to dispose of our foe. For example, the ring of fire scorches anyone who dares to get too close whereas the blue ring deflects enemy attacks. Another will open up the ground and swallow our victims whilst we can summon cages to trap those nearby. Possibly the best of all is shouting "Boo" to shoo off anything nasty. Seriously!!
As you collect then, a spell activates immediately but, if you are quick, slap that Spacebar to stockpile it for later use - in combination with the Return key. Yes, it's quite a cumbersome design but it works well for those moments you're struggling. Each level ends when you reach the pentagram and must-do battle with an end-of-level boss - the first throw babies at you! Once defeated, a very large sphere appears and whisks you off to the next level.
Yes, I'm sure you're thinking this is weird? And you're right, it is!! But it's brilliantly weird!!
Collect the funky power-ups and use all magic spells to the best of your ability!
I'm tripping out here but three blue dudes appear and cause me trouble.
Aesthetics!
The visuals are gorgeous with smooth scrolling across beautifully-detailed landscapes. All use a very impressive and pleasing palette I might add. However, it's the tremendous quantity and quality of all the characters that steal the limelight. Never have I seen such gorgeous sprites with humour and animation that are always fantastic.
I must take off my hat and commend Olivier Roge and Jocelyn Valais for such amazing work. Take a look at these screenshots and tell me you're not impressed by the gorgeous sprites and even the artwork as a whole? Possibly one of the best examples of 16-bit pixel art I've seen in any game.
Sadly, the audio is a mixed bag. The sound effects are ace using samples for each character and other things like the spells. It's great and I adore the "Bla Bla Bla", which reminded me of the speech in Donkey Island. However, the title music is not good and I cannot see the point of low-quality sampled music over the option of a crisp chiptune...
Hey, what's that? I've got a doppelganger to help me out so let's cage the beasts!
The CryptO'pinion?
As much as it might try to hide behind the storyline, Mystical is a generic shoot 'em up albeit with cool power-ups and silly humour. (I never knew the French had a sense of humour? heh). I'll stop that now because it is obvious a lot of time and effort went into the production of this lovely game. It's magical and oozes so much lush artistic quality.
Sadly, it is repetitive and the end-of-level bosses are frustrating, to say the least!! But these are my only quibbles as I have genuinely enjoyed playing Mystical. I'm sure most gamers will love its unique style & personality.
Hard 'n' Heavy follows on from Giana Sisters in true sequel fashion to offer more Mario-esque levels to run and jump through. However, the official commercial release was very poor with awful flip-screen scrolling that ultimately ruined what might have been a great conversion. Sure, flip might work well with some platformers, for example, Jet Set Willy, which would have been horrendous with scrolling. Ugh, just imagine... but Hard 'n' Heavy requires scrolling!!
Thankfully, that's where the bad lesson ends and the good news begins because Peter Putnik has developed a version that features smooth-as-silk scrolling thanks to the use of the Blitter co-processor lurking inside every Atari STe. And also most other earlier models (incl. later STFM models which had a Blitter or at least a hungry socket).
Hard 'n' Heavy obviously looks and feels similar to Giana Sisters, so if you didn't like that game then you may as well start looking elsewhere right now. The physics exaggerate the Giana experience to feel more like we're floating and this took me a few goes to master. It's pretty weird! Okay, there are 25 levels of shooting the baddies and destroying blocks to search for those bonuses and even access to hidden levels. Also available is a two-player feature, with various game types.
Wow, this is superb and I'm sure any Giana Sisters fan will love what is basically more of the same with a few extra bells and whistles. Peter has done well to transform that pathetic commercial conversion into something it should have been all along. Just make sure you play it on a real computer to experience the silky-smooth movement.
Overall, I prefer Giana Sisters, but this Hard & Heavy upgrade is downright marvelous. Highly recommended!!
I finally rebought Magic Pockets by the awesome Bitmap Bros! Those guys sure knew how to program - never once settled for a lame Amiga port. So I'm proud to own what is nothing less than a belting piece of hiSTory by the Bitmaps!!
So the story? Ah, yes... Okay, the Bitmap Kid (BK to his burger friends) has been given a brand new pair of magical trousers from an old man he met in the park one evening. No, not really lol!! Anyhow, he loves these trousers but, finds out that his toys have somehow disappeared into a fantasy world: PocketLand. Of course, this cool Kid is determined to get his toys back. So, he enters via a black hole he conjured!! Boy, if there was ever a whackier storyline than this!
Anyhow, let's take a gander at a lovely bluey screenshot of the kid in his weird new world...
There are many crazy monsters to kill but... hang on... what's that TV doing there?
Short arms, deep pockets
PocketLand is split over four enormous levels - and they are HUGE. BK is armed with different powers depending on the world he's currently in. There are strange enemies and bonuses - heck, he even has extra abilities like the whirlwind to jump higher. Sometimes the route through can feel like a wild goose chase, but often you're led onto secret areas - that contain lots of goodies. I admire the design because most levels don't feel linear, even though they are.
Joystick controls are spritely with responsive action and movement. I have always liked the mechanics because - it feels less like a computer platformer and more like something a console would knock out. Of course, neither is better than the other. It's just how Magic Pockets feels (to me). So I like this game today as much as I did back in the 1990s.
Well, it's time for yet another screenshot. Wow, gripping stuff...
The first level nicely introduces various aspects of the game with its trippy mechanics.
Aesthetics
Visually, this has a Godly appearance that the Bitmaps sure enjoyed using. Lovely colours are splashed throughout every level and the scrolling is fast and fluent - so always manages to keep up the pace. However, it's the sprites that are something else; so many incredibly cute critters all of which are nicely animated too. Why can't all games look this beautiful?
The sound effects are fantastic but I would have preferred an option for a background tune. Famously, the title music is by Betty Boo but, I'm kinda meh about that. I guess it's nice to have and the quality is pretty good.
Get on your bike and get ready for another screenshot of crazy gameplay...
Hey, I've found a bike? Weeee, come on, there aren't many games like this!!
The CryptO'pinion?
Well, I'm new (again) to Magic Pockets so haven't gotten very far, if I'm honest. But, what a gem this platformer is and it's wonderful to play it again after all these years. I feel it hasn't aged badly whatsoever. In fact, it's still just as much fun and as entertaining as it ever was. You could say that I'm feeling like a big kid on Christmas Day here!!
Magic Pockets is an outstanding platformer and very easy to get into. This article might be a preview but, anything from the Bitmap Brothers is top-notch. So I know I'll be enjoying this for many moons to come. Highly recommended.
Electronic Images released one of the most hilarious Atari ST demos I have ever seen. I did try and record a video but my emulator missed some graphics and the sine scroller (which is beautiful) was jerking like it had a nervous twitch. So I burned the image to a floppy disk - because nothing beats the real hardware - and was able to enjoy it properly.
Download this utterly stupid demo from AtariMania then turn up the volume and enjoy the show.
