I've got quite a collection of Atari ST magazines and coverdisks, but this disk has to be the best of the bunch. The text is something that I didn't really take any notice of at first. Subtle wording. But I've been giggling to myself over it today: "Visit interesting places, meet new people... and then kill them!". So funny!!
Doubt they'd get away with it today, which sums up today's woke world. Sadly.
There are already many examples of cracking Pac-Man games for the best 16-bit computer on the planet. This one really needed to bring something extra special to the table. Well, the game has been developed specifically for the enhanced Atari STe and, unlike so many lost shareware titles, this download is actually the legit registered version! This comes with lots of cool gameplay/aesthetic extras, which will impress you!
This genre is timeless, but this version takes the familiar theme to a new level thanks to its furious speed. There are 100 levels, zany visuals, funky music and a range of stereo samples: like the Road Runner's "meep meep" and the buzzer from Family Fortunes. Digital Dreams utilises the STe's extra colours, Blitter and DMA Audio. Interestingly, the Function Keys can change the bass, treble, volume (and more).
Credits
Stuart Innes - Programming/Graphics
Robert Thompson - Graphics/Sfx
Alasdair Macmillan - Graphics
Come on, play the game
PacMan On E's can be fully enjoyed solo for the most hilariously challenging take on the original concept. It's tripped out and stuffed with colourful visuals and a bucket load of wacky sound effects. The action is fast and exciting, so it's never boring, which is how the original becomes. Well, after a while.
Best of all is the simultaneous two-player support, especially when hunting for the power-ups. There are a variety of silly effects, and my recording shows my daughter and me playing it together in coop. Absolutely superb!! (When she lost, she decided to cheat by covering my eyes with her hands. Hmm!)
Download me!
You can grab this belting Pac-Man game from most ST websites, but Peter, aka 8BitChip, has adapted the registered version, which you can download from my Dropbox (while his website is offline as I type). My personal greetings to Stuart Innes, Robert Thomson and Alasdair Macmillan for this wonderful game!!
Wait, don't go just yet!! Let's see some screenshots before you download this fantastic game...
An iconic opening intro. Love it!!
Oh yes, lots of STe-only features that you can tweak.
Super-duper colourful graphics to jazz up boring old Pacman.
Fine design spruced up using fantastic colour work.
What? This screenshot looks kind of dull. But the action is furious!
The final screenshot will send your eyeballs crazy with its psychedelic design!
This is a short video of the Atari ST emulating the ZX Spectrum and running Matthew Smith's classic platformer. Please note that this emulator struggles on a stock 8MHz ST when the music is playing (or the screen scrolls). Of course, this particular game doesn't scroll, but the background tune pushes its luck, so turn that off for much better performance (then it's almost at the speed of the original).
You can find out more about Speccy Emulator by clicking here. Enjoy my video recording :)
When playing with fractals the other week, I recalled David Braben's Virus. A complex game I've not played since the shops stocked Atari ST games. The original is best, but that's like comparing the STFM to a Falcon! So we should stop right there, because our version is a 16-bit classic running on a 16-bit computer!
Going for a test flight over its chequered landscape is an incredible experience. The mouse controls are tough to master, but soon become intuitive. Stick with it because once you've got the feel of how it handles, there's an amazing game waiting for you. Check out my animation above, I did quite well ;)
Visually, this game is a gem with an excellent style using smooth 3D that is fast. There are lots of neat touches, and I've gotta say, I love the ship's exhaust as it spurts out those lovely particles of thrusting power. The audio is great with crisp sound effects that are refreshing, thanks to the YM2149 doing us proud.
Virus is a fantastic 16-bit conversion of the original 32-bit masterpiece. Sure, it has a cruel learning curve (so be prepared for that), but after beating that, you've found yourself a killer game that's gonna eat away the hours. This game rocks, and I found it really enjoyable and extremely addictive. What a game!!
This infectious shooter provided me with hours of fun. Ignore the reviews. Play this game now.
The Atari ST/e might not officially support overscan, but that hasn't stopped many games, demos, and programs from making use of it. There's a lot out there with many already featured here on AtariCrypt, not to mention the ability to activate overscan within GEM. The Atari ST is a versatile machine and often underrated.
Fullscreen Construction Kit is a cool utility program developed by FMC Connexion to display high-resolution pictures using the same overscan technique. It works by piecing together four Degas images, which ultimately join to generate the finished picture. This image can be viewed on your ST using the program provided.
The process is simple but I had difficulties with the palettes because I'm not gifted in pixel art!! Hence the reason Milla is in greyscale and the dog is red, not brown. It's worth noting that I found it easier to create the blocks using my Mac but there are online tools available to split images.
Six test images are on the floppy, plus you can create your own. This set of image blocks [by Killer D] should give you an understanding of what's expected from budding artists. But even those without any skills (me!!) should be fine, so why not give this program a playtest to see what overscan goodies you can create?
This is a belting program to enjoy dabbling! Let me know what you think of it in the comments below.
Michigan Mike is a 1994 platformer developed using GFA Basic by Gordon Storey. It features an Indiana Jones wannabe who's got himself into a spot of bother and desperately needs our help to escape...
The story follows a 1930s explorer named Michigan Mike who becomes separated from his expedition in the South American rainforest. After being rescued by the "Ohla" tribe, a village fire leads the tribe to blame Mike. Your objective is to navigate trap-filled jungle levels to recover five pieces of the Great Ring of Zorog and place them on an altar to save your soul and escape with your life.
As you would expect from any platformer, each level has poisonous critters and many traps like crumbling rocks, acid pools, and spikes. However, Mike's energy levels are slowly depleting, which is really annoying because it forces you to rush. Of course, touching the nasties only increases that energy loss, so collect food to replenish him. That said, it's worth watching him die just to enjoy the explosive graphics! Evil, ain't I?
Michigan Mike And The Lost City of Zorog is a no-frills platformer with great joystick controls, making it very playable. He may have big feet and freaky eyes, but I've enjoyed this. My only gripe is the energy meter, because it goes down far too quickly. Not a great platformer, but far from being a bad one. Worth playing.
After the jaw-dropping Berzerk, I searched what might lurk inside the ST's archives. Eventually, I found Sleuth, a PD game released by Larry Scholz of MajicSoft in 1993. The year is 2525, and man's existence is threatened by evil cybernetic organisms (yup, robots!) created by Dr Spirit. A simple storyline for a familiar game. Okay, it's not what you would call an authentic clone (ahem), but the premise is there for another Berzerker!
We are Inspector Sleuth and about to infiltrate the doctor's lair to show these clumps of metal who's in charge! Gone are the randomly generated screens, replaced with a map populated by six different models of the doctor's robots. These range from the Hemroid, which is a low-level (wait for it) "pain in the butt" to the Hopperoids with warp technology, so don't get too close. Come on, you must love Larry's humour?
Movement and firing are performed in all eight directions using the joystick. Defend yourself using an armour-piercing gun that features a nuclear charge to incinerate all robots from the inside out. You still need to stay clear of the electrified walls, and if you hang about for too long, something freaky appears after a short time to chase you across the screen. Now we're back on the familiar Berzerker ground lol.
So, is it better than Berzerk? Not on your nelly! Sleuth feels like a tacky ripoff with rubbery controls and dodgy graphics. I can imagine that shocks you. Have I just wasted your time writing this mini-review? No. Regardless, Sleuth is a good game in its own right and is nice to play something different. You may have noticed I've not mentioned the audio? The chip fx are good, but the music? Wait and see for yourself!
For what it's worth, my 8-year-old daughter loves this shooter. She played several games badly and never understood why the walls killed her. But, she loved it!! I must admit, so did I. Remember, it's not Berzerk, so keep an open mind and give it a fair playtest. Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Sleuth can be downloaded over at the legendary Demozoo website.
IGNORE the graphics!! Gameplay counts the most, whether it's perfect or not.
Shamus shoots anything that looks... weird. Don't think, just shoot!!
Bombs And Bugs is a multiplayer Bomberman, developed by Stefan Eilert of Awkward Software. Supporting two or three players, it has superb power-ups and the most vibrant and jazzy graphics. Although the game was never released, it has been saved and sent to Atarimania for safekeeping as of today. 🥳
This game is an exciting, frantic Bomberman-style blast of multiplayer fun that’s all about outsmarting your opponents in tight maze arenas. We are a battle bug, dropping bombs to destroy walls, uncover power-ups, and trap rival players, to be the last survivor. Simple stuff, but stupidly chaotic! Its colourful presentation and explosive gameplay make it a brilliant "party game". So gather around the ST like it's 1993.
Sadly, there’s no single-player support, which I miss as a lone gamer 90% of the time. My video shows my gameplay against our 8-year-old daughter. She said, "It's freaky and very silly". I think she's right!!
Download this previously unknown game from Atarimania.
I decided it might be amusing to revisit a handful of games I’ve always hated. Good idea, right? Well, as it turns out, there are far more games I absolutely loathe than I expected, which shocked me somewhat. Perhaps I’m just a miserable bloke (there’s a surprise). Still, let’s do this anyway; it might actually be fun.
So, here is a handful of dreadful #AtariST games...
1) Lemmings is a game everybody went crazy for, but I couldn't find any joy in herding those idiotic critters. A few screens in, I would discover that I had no tolerance for their stupidity and found it irritating. Instead, I would deliberately watch them plummet to their death or explode!! 2) Next is a conversion of the arcade hit, Hard Drivin'. This looks the part with its polygons and wacky stunts enticing you to try your luck. However, it never goes to plan as I cannot steer the car in anything that resembles a straight line. In fact, I corner worse than a drunk Stevie Wonder. 3) Next is Strider, a game I saw in ST Format and it looked amazing. They gave it a glowing review so I went out and spent all my pennies. Well, I certainly won't be giving it a glowing review because I cannot stand this platformer for more than a few minutes - without throwing down the joystick!! A terrible Tiertex port.(UPDATE) < < < < <
4) Chuckie Egg II is the worst platformer for the Atari ST. I'm disgusted this game was released. Why? Perhaps it's because it's such a dredful conversion, but more likely because they ruined what is one of my favourite ZX Spectrum games. Yep, I was hoping they'd remain faithful (like with Jet Set Willy), or perhaps enhance it (like with Highway Encounter), but no. They destroyed it!!
5) Yolanda is a platformer that I've always thought looked curiously interesting and something very different. The sprites are superb and it has a funny title screen, so I've often wondered if it played as well as it looked? Well, and no joking here, this is my actual experience:
Start the game... Wonder what to do. Die.
Start again... Run left. Die.
Start the game again... Run right. Die.
Start for yet another go... Panic. Die.
Reboot my Atari ST, and wonder what I'm doing with my life.
The CryptO'pinion?
In case you're wondering, this article was just for a bit of fun. Except for the part about Lemmings, as it's another lame Amiga port by Psygnosis (explain its intro if you can). Okay, ignoring the odd game like Blood Money & Anarchy, they sucked with their rushed ports. My apologies to their fans worldwide.
Sorry, not sorry. :p
Are there any Atari ST games you hate? Let me know in the comments below...
This is a recording of my usual game. All over the road and driving like a drunk!
The controls... those controls...!! What have they done to this game? :(
A typical game, but seriously, I need to play this again to see what it's all about.
I thought it was time to introduce more 32-bit games to AtariCrypt, especially as AtariMania's Marko Latvanen has promised to give me his Falcon - Muahahahaha!! (he's since denied that conversation!). I'm happy with Hatari as it appears to emulate the bird well (even on my old Mac). Let's kick this off with Dune's Racer 2, which was released at Silly Venture 2014 for the stock 16MHz Falcon (4MB RAM / 320x240 true colour).
A driving game needs to be an interesting road trip with fast thrills to keep me coming back. We don't want boring. Well, Racer provides its motor fun with three types of gameplay: championship, challenge, and the good old arcade mode. Each can be played using three levels of difficulty, from beginner to an ace driver.
Wanna see a couple of colourful and (Mmm) absolutely gorgeous Falcon screenshots...
Creepy!! So keep the pedal to the metal when things get too spooky for you to handle.
Hey, I saw that you naughty boy. Don't stop to look at the pretty beach girls!!
Let's race!!
This feels like Crazy Cars 3 or Lotus 2 with its style and handling. It works well using either a manual or automatic gearbox, so it wasn't long before I was whizzing around the tight corners thanks to the effortless controls. They're dead easy, and you can choose either the keyboard, joystick, or JagPad.
Championship events are tough and definitely put this gamer through his paces, so don't expect to complete it on your first attempt. Arcade and Challenge modes offer a great way to practice the laps, with the potential to further yourself by unlocking numerous extra tracks. I probably enjoyed Challenge mode the most.
Optional bonus items can be collected for a myriad of effects: freezing the timer, increasing speed, ejecting your closest opponent, flattening the opponent's tyres, etc. However, joystick players might find reaching for the keyboard a pain. Perhaps I should try my Jagpad? Oh wait, I've no Falcon... (Marko's a rotter!!)
It's screenshot time, and here are a couple of beauties. Well, they're still colourful...
Perhaps I'm boring, but I turned off the Bonus feature...
New Race Unlocked? Oh yeah, I love it when that happens!!
32-Bit Aesthetics?
It was the graphics that originally enticed me to play this game - they are knockout and easily on par with other machines of the day. Each environment is accompanied by its own unique styles, drivers, and background music. Framerates are superb and can be increased further by disabling the textures. If I had to nitpick, the point of view is a bit low, and it’s a shame so few frames are used during the car’s cornering.
The audio is typically Falcon - nothing less than stunning. The selection of music is incredibly varied and suits each track's style. All effects are made using awesome samples, so whether you're skidding, bumping, or tearing up the road, it's ear-blasting and always amazing. Love it all, especially the smooth engine noise.
Looks and sounds incredible!! Well, isn't that nice? Wanna see a couple of screenshots...
Some tracks are weirdly different from what I expected...
...whereas others look more "traditional". Don't worry, all are great!
The CryptO'pinion?
What an awesome racer!! In fact, I could end my review there, but let's waffle on for a little longer. To say that I've enjoyed this game is an understatement, but it isn't without faults: slamming into roadside objects can stop you dead - even if that object is a spectator! Starting off from zero feels lethargic, almost as if you're behind the wheel of a Kia. The strangest is when the countdown timer begins before the green light.
Let's stop nitpicking! Racer 2 is a stonker with outstanding graphics, roaring sound effects, brilliant tracks, and superb controls. This is an utterly addictive experience and one of the best Falcon games.
I highly recommend this extraordinary racer, even if you're stuck using an emulator like me!!
Supa Zazai Da is another Gamopat conversion by Templeton, the same genius who graced us with the stupendous Crash Time Plumber. I couldn't wait to get my grubby mitts on this after reading the superb review by ST Graveyard on Atari Legend. Sadly, I admit to being disappointed with it. I failed to play more than a handful of frustrating games before rebooting my Atari STe with a massive portion of dismay.
I'll never knock anything powered by Maria Whittaker (yeah!), but this is rock solid and difficult!! Having only one life didn't help, especially when the enemy could fill the entire screen with bullets! Yep, this is a wolf in sheep's clothing and seemed like a bad joke. Dang, I was incredibly bad at it and genuinely gutted.
I know, I know, those first impressions of a weak gamer. Sigh, but read on...
Trust me, this game will destroy you and any expectations for success!
Don't judge a book by its cover
I returned and anxiously grabbed my creaky old joystick, determined, but expecting the battle of my life. After many embarrassing failures, I eventually beat the first horde of nasties and even gained extra points thanks to the green particles. How I managed to dodge the enemy's bullets, well, it felt like a personal achievement!! The clue is how you navigate through the cloud of bullets; it's easier than you think (watch the video).
Nevertheless, the scary boss gave me a good drubbing, and I was again greeted with the Game Over screen. I defeated him on my next nerve-racking attempt, so I was close to tears and ecstatic!! Once the second level begins, you realise there's a familiar and repetitive pattern, so I hammered it home and battled onto the third and fourth levels, with relative ease. The lesson is to stick with it, as it can be conquered!!
Talk about a massive learning curve. Or at least for me? Wow, this game is so rewarding...
However, nobody said those bosses would be easy. Especially when they can fire so much!!
Pixels and Sonics
The visuals scroll at an ultra-smooth 50fps. It's the outrageously cute sprites, from a wide variety of games, that everyone will adore. Your computer will require a Blitter coprocessor, which is not a problem for the Atari STe and Falcon, but the original ST models are outta luck (unless you have a later revision or a Mega ST).
Musically, Supa Zazai is great but different depending on your hardware: an unnerving chip rattles ST players, whereas the STe gets exhilarating streamed audio (both brilliant). As instructed, pump up the volume!
It looks and sounds fantastic, is what I'm saying about this Blitter-boosted game...
50fps action through, and just look at that huge sprite. Impressive, to say the least!!
The CryptO'pinion?
What a journey!! It's nothing like I initially imagined, yet it lived up to my expectations at the same time, which is weird. Arcade fans are going to drool over their keyboards because this shooter is fast, fun, thrilling, and addictive. Quite simply, Supa Zazai Da is an exhilarating game with gorgeous aesthetics.
I hope Templeton has many more Atari STe games in the pipeline, I really do.
Mario's Quest was released in 1993 by Dean Sharples of Silly Software and is a Hunchback clone. However, this time we're an unofficial clone of that ridiculous Italian plumber, but the gameplay remains pretty much the same. The screens feature lots of tricky jumps, pesky platforms, and annoying arrows trying to kill you.
I adore the humble visuals, which use a cool 8-bit theme, and the music is superb, too. However, the controls are far too sensitive, so judging exactly where a platform ends - without falling to your death - is nigh on impossible. With a little tinkering to its code, I'm sure Dean could transform this into a belting platformer.
However, Mario's Quest is one of the most frustrating games I've played. An infuriating game!
