Frantick

Munsie power!!

I remember playing Frantick years ago so it's about time I gave this another shot. Well, after today's attempt, I still suck eggs but this is a cracking game. Released in 1994 by the legend that is Dave Munsie, Frantick is a shooter like a 2D Tempest! The documentation states that your reflexes and dexterity will be tested.

It's not wrong! This game is challenging so features two extra game modes to help train you: Easy and Droid. Personally, I preferred the help from my trusty droid who seemed to enjoy sacrificing itself to compensate for my sluggish reactions. I suggest playing in either mode for several games of practice, you'll need it.

Our spaceship is situated within a horizontal stripe along the middle of the screen. We can't escape this area but can move along it and fire up/downwards at the enemies. These blighters ascend on your position, so be quick and kill them before they reach you. One touch and you're brown bread, but there are power-ups to help and bonuses. If things get too crazy then whack the spacebar to activate a limited supply of nukes.

Graphically, things are pretty simple but using freakishly psychedelic styles! There are different aliens and everything comes alive with colour. Heck, there is even an epilepsy warning! The sound effects are superb and STe owners, with enough RAM, can listen to streamed DMA music in-game which I really enjoyed!!

As with Anarchy, this is one of those games that is too fast for old Stevie. Frantick bemuses and overwhelms me with its furious action but it's such a thrill. But boy, what a ride. This is what you'd call a great example of arcade-style gaming. Just make sure you wear cheap sunglasses and drink lots of coffee first!

I've thoroughly enjoyed Frantick; it's nothing less than a ridiculous shoot 'em up!!

Download at AtariMania (registered game).

 [ Install to hdd/ultrasatan for best results ] 

Oh No! Not More Radioactive Mineshafts

A simple idea perfectly executed

Not since Rumbo or Hector vs The Mutant Vampire Tomatoes From Hell have I loved a title. I mean, come on, Oh No! Not More Radioactive Mineshafts - how fantastic!! This is a catch 'em style game released by Breakpoint Software (Jon Garry) for the Atari STe and, once again, the 'PD' world comes up trumps.

We are a penguin who has somehow fallen down a mineshaft. To escape we need to collect colourful blocks which are raining down from above using our head. Yes, I said using our head!! Before a level begins, we are instructed on the number and type of each block to be nutted by our noggin before a timer expires.

The ones that you miss will fall onto the ground and these then become radioactive (I presume). And that also means they will slide away to the sides of the screen. Your job is to hop over them without dying and that's as technical as it gets. Thankfully, there is a password system to skip directly to any level - brilliant!!

Surely I can beat Tony Hart and Les Dennis!!!

Input & Output

Controls are best using a joystick (keyboard sucks). You can move left/right plus hitting the fire button (or pushing upwards) allows you to leap over the radioactive sliding blocks. Right from the start, the gameplay is fast and I'm impressed with the controls - which are superbly responsive. In fact, they are perfect.

Graphically, these mineshafts aren't half bleak: a black screen with colourful blocks. Okay, the penguin sprite is cute, the palette is always bright and bold for those squares and everything breezes along at a smooth pace. I love the menus which are very kaleidoscopically and something like you would see in a demo!

Audio is where things shine and throughout are some of the most spectacular tunes by musicians like Tao, Big Alec, Sally of STAX(hello Jon!), Mad Max and Count Zero. All are electrifying and something special.

A password system? Ohh, brillopads!! ^ ^

The CryptO'pinion?

This is a frantic game that I've thoroughly enjoyed - even if it did drive me nuts!! I'm unsure whether it will appeal to everyone but give it a go because you never know? My only criticism is the lack of a points display, which means you won't know whether you've done enough to progress - until the timer has expired.

Oh No! Not More Radioactive Mineshafts is infuriatingly addictive and will have you screaming at your SC1224 in no time. It is irritating, agonising and yet ever so simple and addictive. An exhilarating game!

Download from AtariMania or

Stonish with a great menu disk by Pure Energy [video]