Since getting my UltraSatan, I've been stuffing the SD card with lots of Atari ST files (okay, I mean games!!). Now, I don't wish to compromise my collection of ST goodies so I check for errors and viruses quite regular.
There's only one real Atari ST virus killing program worth its salt and that's Ultimate Virus Killer by legend Richard Karsmakers. Well, thanks to Chris aka Exxos, we have the complete and last edition freely available to download but is it still worth it after all these years? Surely the dreaded ghost virus is now extinct?
Sadly, I feel this program is still needed because most ST software is now archived online which means there's a chance so are the various nasties. It's like they're frozen in time just waiting to thaw and inflict their curse all over again. So let's kill 'em all using this amazing program which I highly recommend, even today!!
We are B.J. Blazkowicz, an all-American hero battling his way through the dreaded Castle Wolfenstein killing every evil Nazi baddie along the way. No, you're not dreaming. Rub your eyes in disbelief all you want because it really is happening - Wolfenstein 3D is running on the 8Mhz Atari ST and enhanced for the STe too. Staggering!!
Yes, this classic ID game has been converted to the Atari ST/e by Reimund Dratwa (The Sirius Cybernetics Corporation) and just in case you're wondering, the gameplay is authentic using controls that are excellent and ultra-responsive without any lag. This old computer is running this classic first-person shooter as well as I could hope. It feels like the same game we remember playing with levels, enemies, sounds and more just like in the PC game.
It features 32 on-screen colours, authentic texture mapping, and a high-detail mode (activated by hitting the asterisk key on the numerical keypad). Chipmusic is by Mathieu Stempell and thus truly outstanding as you would expect. Sound effects are fantastic and played using the DMA hardware on the Atari STe. I'm drooling here...
Everyone knows Wolfenstein helped change the gaming world back in the early 90s - in favour of the PC. Our version is incomplete but what we have is polished and every bit as good as you'd hope. In fact, there's a part of me that still cannot believe this is real and I can only imagine what witchcraft was used for its development! Reimund stayed up most nights coding until 5am and I'm positive he scraped together every last droplet of Atari ST power.
We have Wolfenstein 3D for the Atari ST. Take a moment to think about that. Now, get it downloaded right away!
Yerzmyey has released a new album this week called aTTraction which was produced entirely using Atari computers. This includes an Atari TT with Hex Tracker, a Falcon with Digital Home Studio and then he decided to make a couple of bonus tracks in Cubase using an Atari ST. The final shocker is the extra track that was done in Chaos Music Composer and NeoTracker on the Atari 600XL. Don't miss this from da' scene - download it now!!
Take a gander at his website because he's created even more. As I type, I'm listening to "Wake Up" from the "Chiptunes" album which is another absolutely fantaSTic album!
Check out the aTTraction tracklist, I'd say hear them all!!
Lots of games have cool intros but Domark's Race Drivin' must surely rank high as one of the best? It may only last a minute or so but it's a zany mix of Wacky Races and a dollop of Carmageddon thrown in for good measure. A brilliant intro for what is one of the toughest racers - can you drive in a straight line? Well, I know I can't!! O_o
8BitChip has the hard disk installable game and Stonish has the floppy disk Sigma #1.
I saw a stupid tweet the other day concerning the Atari ST demoscene by someone who was obviously an Amoeba user. Rather than rise to the bait, it inspired me to write this quick post! Besides, we know the ST has a belting scene which is very much alive & kicking! (view recent masterpieces like We Were @ + Strange roboTS). Powerful STuff!!
Later, I chanced upon a web page written by Georges Kesseler of ULM. It details his interesting ST-history which I thought was pure gold and I wondered if it was originally part of an older website? An intriguing read of a great ST coder.
Page 6 is a great slice of Atari history and they now have a website for the magazine and even their PD Library software is available to download. I remember buying stuff from Page 6 when I first became an Atari ST addict but their magazine had been going long before then and continued until 1998, true enthusiasts. Happy days!
"Page 6 is remembered fondly by many Atari owners as a unique and invaluable resource, supporting true enthusiasts in the heyday of Atari home computing" - I'd say that sums up Page 6 rather well :-)
Superfly is a cunning "avoid 'em" scroller controlled with just one button. As the screen automatically begins to scroll, just press the joystick's button to increase your height. This stops you from crashing into oncoming objects along with preventing gravity from crashing you into the ground. This might sound familiar to that Flappy Bird but Superfly is a lot faster, and slicker and was released way back in 2002!!
Without giving away the storyline, you are in control of a submarine and must rescue your kidnapped girlfriend. Please make sure you read the funny write-up included within the download!!
Running at 50fps, Superfly is extremely smooth and the audio is tremendous with gorgeous tunes. I believe the STe's enhanced hardware is detected and successful players can unlock features like a gallery and jukebox. This is an insane game which will have you swearing like a docker! Superfly is wicked, yet with an addictive charisma that compels you to play more. Forget frustrating flappy birds and play Superfly instead.
LINKS
- Downloads are available for both floppy and hard drive users.
- Want more? Try the follow-up Santafly!!
Do you need a fully-featured web browser for your Atari computer? NetSurf is an excellent choice and something I've enjoyed using for well over a year. You will need a decent spec and one that runs MiNT OS (check out my own virtual Falcon). To download NetSurf (click here) and for the bleeding-edge builds (click here). Enjoy!!
Well, maybe! But here is Leaderboard Golf which was released in 1986 by Access Software and is undoubtedly one of the least technically impressive games to grace the Atari ST. Let's not be too hasty as this was released all the way back when the ST was just a baby one year old. And the 8-bit computers reign was at its peak.
When loaded, the main menu is rather crude, but functional, and is used to commence a new game. Each hole is rendered in front of your eyes to be played via a third-person perspective - we can see ourselves ready to take each shot. You shall note the golfing jargon on the right and basic information like weather, clubs and distance and a shot meter.
The picture I'm painting isn't exactly wonderful, right? I know, I know, but let's view a screenshot...
Select each club carefully and watch out for those high winds!
Slow down and think about it...
With each and every shot, is a unique distance to the hole so a different club is always required. Long distances will require a 'wood' and (from what I can gather) they're rated W1-W9 and a 1W will achieve the greatest distances whereas the 9W might produce a more acute shot albeit with less power. The 'irons' feel similar to this golfing noob here at AtariCrypt but you might choose a 9I for a more acute shot when in a troubled rough spot.
Finally, the 'PW' is the pitching wedge and is used for those final moments when accuracy is needed to get that little white ball into the hole. Yes, what a golfing connoisseur I am. You shall also note a little pole in the ground that is casting a shadow of varying angles and lengths? Use that to help determine the current conditions.
Sadly, Leaderboard has no save game feature built-in but there are scorecards inside the box and mine (see the picture below) has pages filled in by the previous owner. I love finding stuff like this which I think is excellent as a tiny piece of ST history is preserved. So, here is an interesting tidbit for y'all...
I wonder who David is and how much he enjoyed the game?
It's all about whacking a ball really hard?
Leaderboard is actually quite simple to play but also quite challenging. It's all about choosing (and using) the best club for the shot at hand, of course. Correctly hitting each ball is a balance of lining it up and mastering the power and snap meter. That determines how far you wish your ball to travel and whether it should go straight or curved to the left or right.
Weather will affect the direction and conditions your golfer must face. Plus he also has many of the usual pitfalls to contend with, like the rough, trees, puddles of water and those nasty bunkers. It might be an idea for novice golfers to disable those weather conditions whilst you learn the game's controls and basic mechanics.
Okay, golfing dudes let's take another gander at another amazingly realistic screenshot...
Get that power and snap meter just right for the current shot and weather conditions
Next-Gen visuals!
Visually, I'm sure many will find Leaderboard far too unrealistic and extremely minimalistic, especially when compared to certain other ST games. However, Leaderboard has a nostalgia that I love; the way it draws each scene so methodically is superb - and brings back happy memories during a time when it would have impressed everyone.
Sound effects are on par (see what I did there?) with the visuals. In fact, they're more than enough for this quiet stroll through the countryside using a spot-fx for hitting the ball or selecting the clubs. Hearing the ball drop into the hole is crazy but my favourite is that mushy effect when it falls into the water. So lame, but it's genuinely brilliant!
I tried hard to get a nice screenshot - so appreciate it and take the time to view it properly...
Oh dear, there are lots of pitfalls to avoid on this hole. Can you do it?
The CryptO'pinion?
This was great fun yet I think most golfing connoisseurs might foolishly turn up their noses at such an old game in favour of something better? I would say stop and think about that because this is one of the most charming and entertaining moments you can experience with an old computer. It's so easy to pick up and play and incredibly addictive.
I hate most sports games - I don't even like golf - yet I adore Leaderboard and so will you. This is one of the best games - from the earlier years - that you can play for the Atari ST. Truly this looks poor but is superb!! A fantastic game.
Take a swing and download for either floppy or hard disk (come on, hdd if you can!!)
Road Blasters - an arcade conversion by US Gold that attempts to recreate the speed and thrills of the original. Imagine a Bullrun Rally event through 50 overcrowded highways where you must win each in order to progress on to the next. Yep, nothing new but I'm sure you already know that this is still going to be tons of fun, right?
What makes this game different from many other racers is a combination of driving and shooting. This means your gleaming red sports car has a mounted machine gun. The easiest targets are the yellow cars which are a quick kill, but the motorbikes are a pest because of their tiny size. Occasionally, several jeeps will swarm around you like something from a Mad Max movie for a hair-raising moment - so react quickly and viciously. Take no prisoners, kill everyone. Oh, yeah!!
Right, it's time to break up the reading with a screenshot. And I want one with a green blob...
Bubble City sounds like a cool place - I must drive there!
Carmageddon!
Watch out for other various hazards like oil spills, roadside turrets, bullet-proof purple cars and those darn proximity mines. Fortunately, you do seem to have friends, a futuristic aircraft frequently flies by with power-ups: speed boost, extra weapons, shields, etc... However, it takes lots of practice to precisely collect these goodies!
At your disposal is a limitless supply of replacement cars but they are all fuel-greedy, so if you run dry then it's game over. Luckily, fuel pods are available which can be collected by simply driving through them for an instant top-up. Your car is also equipped with a reserve fuel tank which should only be relied upon as a last resort, but the good news is that it's replenished at the end of each race. Well, depending on your performance of course. So keep practising!
Oh, it's sounding very exciting, isn't it? Well, I think it's still time for another screenshot...
Fast cars and guns. What more could you ever desire?
Input & Output!
The controls are sharp with responsive steering that retains an arcade experience - as much as is possible with a joystick. No complaints here, because I found the car handled excellently and instantaneously took to it.
Visually, this is an older generation of racer on the Atari ST, more like a Crazy Cars 2 than the third or even a Lotus 2. I never expected arcade-quality visuals but it retains a good feeling of the original whilst not being the best you'll get from an Atari ST. It's colourful but also a bit bland in decor and with stodgy sprites. But I like it, sorry, not sorry!
The sound effects are pretty good and better than Lotus Turbo and I really enjoyed the music. Nuff said.
Now is the time to drive like Knight Ride to collect those goodies from above!
The CryptO'pinion?
I've loved this old arcade speedster, it might not be perfect but at least it's nothing like that dreadful Outrun. And we're armed so that's basically one hell of an added bonus and is probably the best of that ilk on the Atari ST. Having spent several nights playing this, it's certainly got that "just one more go" factor. A much-underrated game that deserves more attention because it's fast, thrilling and the car has a gun. What more could you want? So much fun and I love it.
Back in the 90s, Christoph Zwerschke developed a Sinclair ZX81 emulator for the Atari ST. Believe it or not but I've never actually owned or even used this old Sinclair computer before! From what I know, this computer is mute and cannot make a sound! Plus the graphics are actually made up of monochrome blocks rather than colourful pixels. Yikes!
This might all sound rather lame but there is a certain charm to the itsy-bitsy computer with less processing power than your average kettle. So I powered on this quirky computer and even took a stab at programming... Well...
10 PRINT "ATARICRYPT ROCKS YOUR ST WORLD" 20 GOTO 10 RUN L
The good news is that even the stock Atari ST should be able to run any of its games perfectly fine - from either a floppy or (better still) a hard drive device. However, if you feel that the ZX81 is running in overdrive, then hit the UNDO key and adjust the speed limiter. I needed to do this for Pac-Man which was otherwise insanely too fast!
Yep, I might never have owned a ZX81 but I was shocked to discover many games that are surprisingly very playable. Albeit without sound or pixels... For starters, 3D Monster Maze by Malcolm Evans is a great example and is highly regarded as one of the best reasons why people many adore this old paperweight. Truly, this game is way ahead of its time and perhaps even the first survival horror game using a first-person perspective? (check out Retro Resolution for a review!).
I gotta say, Mazogs is something else!! (have you played Bugziacs?)
The CryptO'pinion?
This is a fantastic emulator and one that feels complete and robust. It provides an opportunity to play games from an era when fancy graphics and 3D sounds weren't necessary. A time when only gameplay mattered (tell that to today's millennials). Give it a whirl and boot up this fantastic emulator to flip your Atari ST into a Sinclair ZX81.
Party like it's 1981 and have tons of fun. Win, Win!! :^) Scroll down for more ZX81 games that I really liked...
I was also equally impressed by the simplicity of Galaxians.
I have just received a factory-sealed treat, a copy of Alcatraz by Infogrames. I thought about leaving it as is but, within milliseconds, I had ripped it open!! Mint condition and I love the contents of this hidden gem.
Hostages fans will appreciate it but surely that goes without saying? This time, the head honcho of a nasty drug cartel has taken shelter in Alcatraz prison and he happens to be surrounded by many loyal henchmen. Yep, you've probably already guessed that it's your job to sneak in, kill the bad guys, destroy everything and escape in the nick of time.
Well, in light of that stunning revelation, I think we should take a look at a screenshot...
The first stage displays the coop action and reveals that strength comes from stealth.
Take it easy, take it slow
This isn't a gung-ho game, Alcatraz demands stealth and careful covert tactics. The starting level first appears in the style of an arcade beat 'em up but is actually the complete opposite. Tread lightly because firing your loud weapon isn't always the answer! Use the darkness to your advantage by nipping into the background scenery, avoiding any unwelcome attention. It's fantastic being able to hide and watch the enemy oblivious to you lurking in the shadows!!
This won't always be the answer of course, so you may need to resort to a little gunplay now and then. However, it's worth considering your weapon choice: why not silently throw a knife instead of using your BAM BAM noisy gun? And it's this way of thinking that makes Alcatraz very exciting to play. It's like you're there being sneaky and covert. Love it.
This next screenshot is for those who often go out at night and hide in the darkness...
Take cover in the shadows and wait for the best moment to step out and take 'em by surprise!
But is it fun?
Initially, I admit I wasn't sure about this game if I'm dreadfully honest. The controls can feel a bit fluffy, but stick with it and you will master that within a few plays. What is immediately superb is the support for two players in coop who can enjoy each mission simultaneously. This really makes a difference compared to going solo for such demanding missions.
Venturing deeper inside Alcatraz, the game changes to a first-person shooter, similar to a Dungeon Master clone - but we have a machine gun!! There is a handy map function which I really liked because it helped to detail the locations of enemies, rooms, etc. I really loved this part of the game but, I died. Talk about tough love.
Talk about a brilliant surprise! Let's take a gander at a screenshot...
Okay, now we're talking. This Doom part of the game was blummin' excellent!!
The CryptO'pinion?
Alcatraz is nothing like I initially expected but I'm really enjoying it. What a game, especially with a friend in co-op, which is exhilarating. I like what they attempted to construct with the realism element, it works in many ways. What a great game of perseverance, stealth and tactics which will eat away the spare hours. For all its niggly flaws, I love it.
Downloads are available as floppy disk images with a better option for hard drive owners (D-Bug).
Wait, don't go as I made a video and I wanted to show you what's inside the box...
Here's the back of the box cover that advertises the original game, Hostages.
The floppy disks were protected and unused for three decades. Yes, they work!
Codes! Fuzzy to read and will pop your eyeballs if you stare at it too long!
No, I'm not going to post this. Can you imagine their faces? lol
Short but sweet manual but it has a decent map of the island.
This was interesting to find. If anyone wants better scans of the pages then just holla.
I've stumbled upon a nifty resource for lots of Atari ST goodies waiting to be downloaded. It's the leftover remains of what used to be a popular German BBS called Traveller-Box, by Alexander Bochmann. His hard drives have been recovered and their BBS contents have been uploaded for the Atari community to use again.
Look, stop reading this lil' article and go and check it out for yourself... Enjoy!!
Zany Golf was developed by Will Harvey of The Immortal and is one of those games I spent much of my college years playing - instead of studying! What a simple yet addictive game which is obviously based on crazy golf. It's excellent solo and better with friends but best of all, you don't need to visit the local park anymore.
Play through several whacky courses to get that ball into the hole and yes, that's my technical explanation! Controls are actioned using the mouse and feel somewhat similar to any snooker or pool game: click/hold on the golf ball for a directional line to appear. Use this to guide the speed/direction of your shot. Interestingly, a level of interaction can be required which might include controlling fans, playing pinball, making a burger jump, and more.
It's quirky, it's silly and it's a little lame... but... Zany Golf is freakingly fantastic so comes highly recommended!!
I remember when I first heard tracker music, it was around 1989 and it was a pretty cool experience albeit not on the ST. To be honest, it was something that I never expected to hear from such a small file - after all, I am comparing it to a sound sample of course would eat up the entire space on any floppy disk (and then the Ram).
So, when I upgraded to an Atari STe in 1990, finding a MOD player was one of the first things I attempted. I think that I wanted to ditch chipmusic for this tantalising new style of computer music. It's weird but, back then, I felt disappointed in my Atari ST and its chip music but I don't feel that way now. In fact, I find many of those MODs I find poor and often quite irritating, excluding classics like R-Type, Menace, and a few others.
Today, I'm a chip guy, but that doesn't mean I'm completely against MODs. I just prefer chip. I see videos on YouTube and read people's comments of how they wished a particular ST game sounded more like the Amiga. I get that but, imagine IF our computer did sound the same. Would that be a good thing? I don't think so. The ST is its own entity with the ability to sound its own way using gorgeous chip music. If the ST had the same music capabilities as the Amiga (in games) then why not just buy the Amiga and have done with it?
No other computer out there has to justify itself like the Atari ST and that ... annoys me! Think about it. In fact, this is why I started AtariCrypt because I was tired of the way we were ignored. I want the ST to be an ST and not pretend to be something else. The YM is part of what makes the ST an ST, and that's a good thing and shouldn't be thought of in a negative way. With that off my chest, here is a selection of excellent MOD players for the Atari STe...
Atari STe MOD / Tracker Players
BackTrack - I wasn't too sure about this at first but I cannot deny its playback quality and the selectable frequencies is a brilliant idea that will be useful on every model of Atari. The audio playback sounds great, especially at 50KHz - but you might need a Mega STe for that!! (v4.04 - released 1993 - by Wizzcat)
CD Player STE - This is like a CD player from the 90s. Just copy the MOD files into the same folder as the program and boot it up. Obviously not a GEM program but something that works really well and is very effective and with a fantastic interface. Cracking program - leave it running while you work! (released 1990 - by Light)
DBE Player - Another GEM program to punch out your favourite MODS. The quality is excellent and has a decent playlist feature but it's pretty demanding of the basic model STe (v2.0 - released 1999 - by Sector One)
The MusicPlayer - Ignoring its quirky GEM interface (which is odd) I thought this program produced good sound quality and even supports 50KHz / 8 channels! (v1.0 - released 1994 - by Christian Dahl)
Sirius Player - This is another that refuses to use GEM and replaces that with its own beautiful UI and what a gorgeous player it is!! The sound quality is Grade A with support for 50KHz thus proving a normal 8MHz STe can handle outside of GEM. Also, 8-channel MODS can be played using features like presets /etc/etc. Don't forget to press the HELP key for all of the options. This is my favourite program of the lot because its playback quality is literally mind-boggling!! (v2.0 - released 2001 - by TSCC 2001)
Paula - A great program that makes you wish you'd have bought a Mega STe for that extra grunt! This is yet another example of the sound quality an Atari STe can produce - and in GEM too. My thanks to Pavel Puchala for alerting me to the freeware release! (v2.6 - released 1999 - by Pascal Fellerich)
JAM - A true jack of all trades that works either in GEM or using its own frontend GUI. It features a neat plugin architecture so lots of different file types are supported - not just MODs but various chiptunes. This is absolutely fascinating and JAM always produces excellent sounds! (v1.0 - released 2000 - by Cream)
The CryptO'pinion?
This page proves nothing. Well, except that the Atari STe can easily handle those Amiga MODs with quality playback, no matter what program you decide to use. They're all great. It just depends on your own needs: if you need a GEM player then any of the above is a good choice to install onto your hard drive/ultrasatan.
Yes, they are all great in their own way but I really loved how CD Player can be stacked up and left to play while you're doing something else. Also, JAM is great and can handle a wide variety of different formats too. Ultimately, I think Sirius is best (for me) with its astounding 50Khz playback, so I tend to prefer this above all others.
Xenon 2 is pretty much Marmite - some love it and some appear to hate it. Well, I love it. It's one of my favourite shooters with fantastic power-ups and freaky baddies. Plus, it's a technical masterpiece with outstanding aesthetics that proves the power of the Atari ST - when in the hands of developers with talent and commitment in equal measure. We need no custom chips nor those horrendously lame Amiga ports from the 90s!!
Okay, rant over. Here is a brand new Xenon II upgrade for 1MB+ Atari STe computers with an UltraSatan or decent hard drive. This new version streams 25KHz music, during gameplay, thanks to the DMA Audio hardware. There is no CPU hit whatsoever so everything is as good as it ever was BUT with your choice of music :-)
Just convert any song into: 8-Bit @ 25033Hz using a free program like Audacity. I've a massive selection of rock/metal songs stored and ZZ Top is currently during my games!!
Xenon II just got even better and I hope Peter converts many more games to make use of the DMA co-processor. The possibilities are endless... Hmm, perhaps I should send him a wishlist? LOL he'll block me!!
I recently asked Peter Putnik, from over on 8BitChip, if there was a program that allowed the Mega STe to flip between 8 and 16MHz - but without having XControl preloaded. He basically said yes, no reason why not. And a couple days later he had created it!! What a great Atari community we have - my sincere gratitude to Peter. Thank you, mate!!
The download link is available via the AtariAge forums.
Well, today is your lucky day because we are a fiercely-looking dude who loves to jump on all kinds of nasties. This violent act kills and splatters the baddies and they fall off the screen dead. Sound familiar?
Released in 1994 by Cybernation Software, it was developed by Simon Scott and is a platformer created using GFA Basic. Well Ard is a cracking game and to think it was developed in GFA Basic is incredible. Earlier levels are easy but it certainly becomes challenging later on - some of those jumps are insanely tricky!
The scrolling is smooth, with fast action and large sprites - I love the snowman. Controls are accurate and responsive with many tight jumps on interesting levels. Strangely, there are no optional methods to kill enemies - no weapons. Instead, reap violence by leaping and using our red booties. It's weird but who cares?
This is one of the most enjoyable platformers I've played in a long time. Addictive gameplay that has you coming back for more so put on your red boots and play it. Downloads can be found for floppy or hard disk.
Here are some more screenshots to whet your appetite...
Look at those teeth. This guy is a beast so don't mess with him!!
Jump up and down until they're all dead - not violent at all. Honest.
Well 'Ard features some odd critters but don't waste time looking - squash them.
The wife has gone out shopping and gracefully left me to do the housework! There is no way I can do these boring chores in silence so let's power on the ST and play a few toons from the SNDH Archive / SNDH Record
Here is just a selection of my favourite chiptunes at this moment... What are yours??
Nowhere by 505 ( listen / or click the GREEN arrow below! )
Like anything in this life, nothing is perfect. Shockingly, this applies to our Atari ST which has one characteristic I never cared for: its obscure, ugly, stretched medium resolution. Well, since my colour monitor decided to blow up, I have been happily zipping along in monochrome which would explain the recent run of high-resolution articles. All were written using the classic, 1st Word Plus. (Go on, you can call me a geek!)
It's hardly a modern word processor bursting with features but it does the job well. Sure, I can't wait to get my new colour monitor bought as I'm missing games in glorious 16-bit technicolour. However, I have definitely fallen in love with this crisp black and white display which has met each and every requirement lately.
Who needs an expensive modern computer? Obviously not me!! Yes, I am mad... :^)
