Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Fire & Brimstone -mapped






Fancy a holiday in Nilfheim?

Are you ready for more ST game maps? I hope so... and this time it's a Nordic platformer that is so tough I genuinely cannot imagine anyone playing it without cheating. That's right, it's the dreaded Fire And Brimstone by Vectordean/Firebird, which you may remember was featured on AtariCrypt many moons ago?

Wow, how time flies... Anyhow, it's been fun trolling through the entire game, but there's no way I'd have beaten the first level without infinite lives. Absolutely no way! Regardless of that impossibility, I still love this platformer, but what were they thinking with such unfair difficulty? Like the stupid bosses or those ledges that set alight without any warning. Ugh, those killed me too many times to count. Unless it's just me? ;^)

Perhaps gamers were tougher back then? If so, I've obviously gone soft, but not enough to wimp away from many weeks of mapping. Scroll down and check out the thumbnail of my "hard work". If you think those look good enough to use, then the hi-res images can be downloaded by clicking here. 👈🏻

  • I wanna send a shout-out to Chris Sorrell for his striking pixel art. Mind-boggling quality!!
  • There are lots of downloads, but I preferred playing D-Bug's excellent crack.
  • ST Format featured a basic walkthrough of the earlier levels in issues 11-13.
  • Greetings to Maarten from Atari Legend for his incredible Fuji support.
  • What? You missed our review... sheesh, why do I bother? :p Go on, click this link!
  • Hey, there are more Game Maps on my website, just look to the right for that link...

This was another fantastic Atari ST platformer that I have thoroughly enjoyed mapping. Interestingly, I found a couple of "bugs" along the way. Level 5 is impossible without carrying a blue potion, and you had to know that before leaving level 4. Very odd, so I'm glad that I kept my older game saves to return to!

It might have taken several agonising weeks and lots of tears (lol), but I hope you like this collection of ST maps? Yes/No? Let me know in the comments below... but whatever you think, do one thing - STay Atari.



No, don't bother clicking this picture - just download the hi-res images from the above link!



And after all my hard work, the end screen isn't exactly worth waiting for! Can you beat my score??

Thursday, February 02, 2023

Deluxe Nostram




Into the Wonderful

This takes me back, as I remember playing the original thanks to a magazine-cover disk. It was a good platformer, but some screens were fiddly, so I didn't get very far. It was a freebie, so I shouldn't complain too much! Deluxe Nostram is the sequel and much the same, but with better controls.

Released in 1993 by Powerfist, it was programmed in STOS by Daniel Walton with graphics by Ian Wilkinson. The map is ginormous with an incredible amount of rooms to pillage. The documentation has a line that I thought was brilliant: "THE GREATEST ADVENTURE YOU WILL EVER EXPERIENCE". Well, that's surely a bold statement, and it only made me excited for a great challenge. (Yeah, I am easily pleased lol)

Wait, this sounds too good to be true? Maybe, but let's crack on and check out two screenshots...



Oi, you with the helmet head, this is the starting screen where your adventure begins.


Ah, a doorway and it looks wide open too. Don't be fooled, a key is still oddly required...



Don't fall asleep

Today's muscular hero is an adventurer in a castle tower with bizarre monsters. The objective is to collect five crystals scattered throughout the castle to escape and regain the Wings of Flight. During the journey, there are obstacles, trinkets to collect, and locked doors that grant access to mysteriously hidden places.

Any platformer demands effortless, instinctive controls that are responsive and precise. Deluxe Nostram nails this, especially as the jump mechanic was later improved, so our warrior is agile. However, numerous screens contain no monsters or obstacles, so there is little reason to exercise these controls.

That makes this a rather strange game, as I expected content more akin to a generic platformer. Nope, Deluxe Nostram is more of an exploration-adventure with a few puzzles along the way. It's mostly just us wandering about looking for keys and crystals if I'm brutally honest. Are you still interested?

Nevertheless, it's the explorational element that appealed to me. It's possible to visit all rooms without resorting to a cheat, as there's little to endanger you! So I enjoyed the entire game rather than worrying about impossibly tough screens. Although I doubt many reading this will feel the same way.

You're still here? That's good! Okay, let's take a look at more purple-and-orange screenshots...



A weird purple monster walking against the purple background. Hmm...


One of the more bizarre enemies you will come across. I'd say kill it before thinking of moving on...



Aesthetics

Graphically, this is <cough> very familiar thanks to a design all too godlike, albeit less sophisticated. I appreciated this display because it's clean and concise, so it works well. Sadly, there isn't enough variation, so everything looks samey after a while. I was also weary of seeing the same colour scheme!

The audio is disappointing: there’s no music, and the effects are limited to monster hits and item pickups. It’s essentially silent, which is a shame because a chiptune soundtrack would have been nice.

Fancy a gander at even more purple/orange screenshots? No? Well, I'm in charge, so tough luck...


One of the stupidest screens, as it's impossible to pass the two blades without losing energy!


See that crystal over there? You need that, but how will you get it? Make a map!



The CryptO'pinion?

Deluxe Nostram isn't the best platformer, but it's far from the worst. The castle is huge, but there are too many rooms with little to do. Ie, no moving platforms, slides, acid pools, or even roaming monsters! As a platformer, it fails to engage the player, and I fear that might dishearten many potential players.

Oddly, for me, this was a nice change! It enabled me to travel through the castle, and that's why I enjoyed mapping it. Deluxe Nostram is for those who enjoy exploration, so I doubt it will appeal to most platformer fans. This is a weird one. I'm definitely interested to hear what you guys think in the comments below.

The floppy can be downloaded, but PP has adapted a better version that you can grab here.


The Maps!

Here are the thumbnails for each of the four levels. As you can see, they are all complete, but I wasn't able to exit and finish the game as the door (top/left of map 3) looped back (in error) to map 4. And that is the same as the door on the second floor. So I can only assume it's a bug, seeing as both doors lead to the same place.

Yes, I am totally gutted by that!!


On map 1, the door on the first level takes you to the dungeon level (which is map 2).
On map 1, the door on the fifth level takes you to map 3 (bottom/left door there).
On map 1, the door on the third level is used only as an entrance.
On map 3, the door on the first level takes you to the entrance door mentioned above.
On map 3, the door on the second level takes you to map 4.
On map 3, the door on the fourth level also takes you to map 4 (perhaps a bug?)



[Map 1] This is where we begin our adventure...



[Map 2] The Dungeon, a tiny level that (erm) looks nothing like a dungeon!



[Map 3] Possibly the best level of them all, albeit still with few monsters to contend with!



[Map 4] presents another place to explore. See what I did there? You would if you had played it... ;)

Sunday, January 29, 2023

Uninvited ...not a walkthrough!





Helping Hands
There are many walkthroughs all over the internet, but blindly following one makes playing any game rather pointless. Used as a reference, they're helpful to get you past those sticky bits that have you stumped - BUT NOTHING MORE. And I know all about that feeling all too well for this bloodthirsty adventure!

Anyhow, did you read our review of Uninvited? Go on, check that out :)

Uninvited is tough, and it's an understatement to say that some obscure puzzles are impossible to figure out because they make no sense whatsoever! Also, there are many areas used exclusively as a red herring - lots of dead ends with even more dreaded deaths (Ugh, remember that giant spider under the church?).

I figured I'd try to map what I can and provide some helpful tips that might help you out...




Generous Big Tips
* After escaping the car, look around before entering the scary mansion.
* Once inside, you'll notice an unlit fire and comfy chairs. Rest a while.
* Inside the library, there is an interesting book to read.
* Anything readable is often helpful for information, words to speak and numerical combinations.
* The hallway on the first floor has access to bottles for critters and phantoms.
* Hey, there's a spirit in the hallway on the ground floor, that's handy!
* Any books left lying about need to be examined and read.
* Flowers can be a sign of respect, especially when placed at the graveside.
* I always carry a box of matches with me because you never know...
* Aren't knives great for cutting stuff up? Vandals use them to slash things like chairs.
* Did you find a box in the Master's bedroom? If you're stuck, highlight the 'hidden' text below with your mouse: "pick up the box from inside the locked cabinet. This needs to be burnt in the fire"
* Gems make great keys for (erm) aptly shapely keyholes.
* The greenhouse is another enigma. Highlight this text if you're stuck: "use the watering can on the empty plant pot which is on the table on the left. Pick up the plant pot afterwards"
* Those dogs aren't that bad, they just need to hear a friendly voice. Reading is always helpful, right?
* If you don't go to church then you should - but the chapel is so vague and if you need help then highlight this text: "light the candlesticks and pick up the Cross. Don't forget to speak to the head..."
* The maze is its own entity of annoyance. Explore if you must but this is the part of the game where I "cheated" to find my way through. I know, I know but at least I'm honest! So, if you're fed up wandering around the maze like a fool, then highlight this text for directions: "north, west, west, north, north, west, west, north, north, east, east, north, north, east, east".
* It's here that you stumble upon a zombie! This is an easy kill but only if you were listening and paying attention right from the start? After the car explodes, you needed something. Can you go back? Ha!
* The maze still isn't over with and after killing the zombie, these are the directions to continue on: "East, east, south, south and you better have brought those flowers!". Hint? "only birds go inside a bird cage"
* Now we can leave the maze. Can you remember the way out? Okay, here you go: "north, north, west, west, west, west, south, south, west, west, south, south, east, east, south, south, east, east, south, south".
* Ice caves need melting. If you need help, highlight this text: "that brass pentagram which you thought was pointless is actually the way to melt ice. I know, I know... what a rubbish puzzle".
* Remember that little red demon that flies by every so often? Highlight time: "he loves cookies and can be found in the Recreational room on the ground floor".
* Dead body? Police might assume the worst so why not try dumping it?
* Drowning in the bathroom? Look up and keep trying.
* One final tip for the last task? John 14:6 ... Yep, you need a †


I hope my hints helped you out in some of those stickier moments. But please don't ruin this game by mindlessly following a walkthrough. Trust me, this adventure has its annoyances, but it's worth playing properly. Except for the maze, which is a stupid part of the entire quest - cheat all you like inside that place!

Okay, I'm being harsh because it's actually doable -but- only if you map it. This will take several attempts because of three things: 1) deadly creatures lurking in the maze. 2) dead ends. 3) Well, I won't spoil this one!! So, the best thing to do is draw a map and keep saving. This way, you can keep nudging your progress forward with each go. Yeah, it will take a while, so wouldn't it be nice if someone had already mapped it?




The Map!
Yeah, I've managed to map all of the rooms, paths and locations (that was fun!). It's complete, so download it. This took me several weeks to finish, so let me know what you think in the comments...



Yes, this image is merely a partial thumbnail. The download link is above, so grab it now!





Puzzling Puzzles
As I said in my review (go on, you know you wanna click it), there are many puzzles, but some are plain stupid. Success is always about being a good adventurer and leaving no stone unturned, so make notes and don't rush. Yep, slow down, grab that pen and paper, and you will do just fine (he says).

Before we see the absurd puzzles, let's take a look at some of the better ones I enjoyed...



Why would I need a paralysed spider? Well, isn't everyone scared of spiders? Everyone!



This is a game of experimenting, so look everywhere and why not see if... something... works...



Yeah, you sussed it out! But now a peculiar haunting dude shows up. Scare him away!



Interesting information is everywhere, so leave no stone unturned. Or chair.



What would you say to a gypsy? Well, I know, but let's be nice! (hint: read everything)




Absurd Puzzles
See how painless those puzzles are thanks to a little common sense? Plus, it always pays to read documents and books, as the information gathered will help. However, there are a few puzzles that are vague, so they stump even the most hardened adventurer. Heck, I don't think Spock could suss out some of these killers.

Melting ice, the church, and the greenhouse sections made no sense, and you know how I feel about the maze. There are some infuriating dead ends that are a pain in the bum, especially when you're worried about the "impending darkness". These aren't difficult puzzles, more like impossible, which is illogical to me.

Okay, you've waited long enough, let's take a look...



Stone faces talk, really? Candles scare away ghosts - in the daylight - that was weird!



One wrong move in the maze, and you've guessed it. Death! Did you save the game?



Another dead end that results in your gruesome death. So glad I save regularly!!



I cannot stress just how impossibly irritating this puzzle was. Cool ghost drawing though!



Perhaps the most annoying death of all - I had no chance without referencing a walkthrough :(





Funny Faces!
Let's end on a high note with some silly pixel art. Uninvited is stuffed with great artwork, but several screens are downright ridiculous, like the bathroom with its ugly miniature dolls hanging on the wall. Also, there are a few dodgy-looking monsters that certainly don't suit the "horror" theme (David Marsh, what were you thinking?). Quite odd compared to the other drawings, which are fantastic by comparison.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy this last batch of incredibly silly screenshots...



Attack of the killer tomatoes? Oh, and this was another ridiculous puzzle!!



Green fingers make this monster happy. Apparently...



One final demon to contend with, but only if you steal from the chapel! Whaaaat?



The weather brightens, and everyone is happy. Another day saved. Be happy.



lol yeah, that's me alright. And no, I don't have a printer!





What? Do you want even more?
Well, how about access to a hidden room? It's called the Art Gallery and is of no use whatsoever to your progress, but it is fun to visit. There is zero chance of stumbling upon it by accident due to the obscure way it's unlocked. Only by sheer luck, I spotted it on The Cutting Room Floor (works on Mac and Atari ST).

What I liked about this secret is that it's actually twofold: not only can you unlock and access the room, but you can also alter the girl in the painting. Give a guy half the chance... Yep, I'm talking boobs!

Again, thanks for stopping by, and remember to comment or share this article with the ST world...


As secrets go, this was nice to uncover, but... It's meaningless to your adventure.


Bring along the correct brush and hey presto, boobs!!!

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Uninvited






Thy Flesh Consumed

I enjoy adventures, but MacVentures are something I have yet to experience. I believe there are four, and this caught my eye because of its horror theme. Seeing as I had a bucket load of fun with Ooze and Curse of Rabenstein, I booted it up to see what it was all about. It appeared very good, albeit with many agonising deaths! But, as that is the norm for my gaming ventures, I carried on and had fun nonetheless.

Hold your horses, what's a MacVenture? That's the name given to the engine powering the point-and-click adventure by Icom Simulations. This is just one game from a series of adventures, all of which have been ported to the Atari ST Shadowgate, Déjà Vu, and Déjà Vu II - Lost in Las Vegas. We call them AtariVentures.

The story starts with my brother and me experiencing firsthand what a nasty car crash looks like. I wake to find he's missing and the car is about to explode! This is the first puzzle - figuring out a way to open the car's door and scarper before it's too late. Afterwards, you find yourself outside a creepy old house, and there is a sinister storm approaching. Thunder is booming, and we have our brother to find.

Dare we risk entering the scary-looking house to search for him? Let's see some screenshots...

Update: I've posted a new article for Uninvited. It's (not) a walkthrough! ;)



Of course, we were gonna crash because somebody put the steering wheel on the wrong side...



Oh, looks like the crash happened right outside an intimidating haunted house. Let's go inside!




User Interface

The Uninvited uses GEM, albeit with minor changes to its look and feel. Windows are resizable and used to display commands: what we're carrying, descriptions, and also the current room as we view it. All commands are limited to eight options: examine, open, close, speak, operate, go, hit, and consume.

For example, to inspect an object, you would click it and then choose the examine button. The game employs this simple method of instruction throughout, but more "complex" actions like walking through a closed door require multiple commands: ie first opening it before attempting to walk through a closed door.

Items you find can be easily carried (and sorted) in your inventory by drag & drop. The other window is for Exits - all of the possible ways to leave the current location. Being GEM'ish means we easily begin playing thanks to a functional and intuitive design, but that comes at a price, ie I'm glad my ST has a Blitter!

Additionally, you can double-click most items to select the default option. Like the closed doors: double-click once to open it and again to walk through. The same goes for the window exits.

The more observant may have noticed the "Self" button? Well, that's rarely used if I'm honest, but it may involve something that you need to do, such as drink a potion. This is another way the game shows its good sense of humour: try using the axe on yourself (save first). I love this freedom and the potential to be daft!!

Wanting to escape the oncoming storm, we head for shelter. Oh, and two more screenshots...



The first room is a little weird, especially with that giant pentagram on the floor!



This is the room just off to the right (see previous image). Not much to see... Ahem, right?




Let's play!

Uninvited is all about exploration, study, investigation, and lots of trial and error. Well, with Uninvited, the trial-and-error parts are paramount, with the earlier stages presenting a steep learning curve. This game takes no prisoners. Yes, I'm talking about you, Scarlet O'Hara, and that vicious temper of yours!

She is the lady lurking in the hallway, and no matter what you do, she will eat your face!! Over and over, I died. Too many times! The only way to safely pass her is via the stairwell to the first floor - but you need to come back downstairs at some point. Perhaps there is something up there we can use against her?

More or less everything that you see can be examined (it's now that I'm starting to realise there are a gazillion possible objects to inspect). Take a look upstairs; have a poke about and inspect each room for anything that might kill this Scarlet monster. It really is an obvious puzzle that you have probably overlooked.

Killing Scarlet is a big deal and completely opens up the game. I feel quite victorious, but there is much work to do with many more rooms to plunder for anything that might help me find my brother. Oh, there are walkthroughs on the net that I won't link to, as they'll only spoil the fun (though the maze section contradicts that entirely). Just play the game and enjoy everything that's on offer for the avid explorer.

Here are two more screenshots of the hallways that (embarrassingly) took me aeons to suss out...


Scarlet seems to be guarding each of the four doors. So why don't we sneak upstairs?



It's much safer upstairs, and you can freely explore each room... for an item to combat Scarlet!




I love big tips!

  • Go slow and don't rush as you will only miss what is obvious.
  • Learn the user interface properly, it's dead easy but can be finicky.
  • Just escaped the impending death of a car wreck? Snoop before entering the house...
  • Inspect absolutely everything, even the smallest thing can get you out of trouble.
  • Read the object descriptions carefully, subtle hints are usually given.
  • Don't be a vandal, not until the time is right later...
  • 90% of the items are useless so remember their locations rather than carrying everything.
  • Make a map. I know, I know, but this is the time for pen and paper!!
  • Install to hard drive - the experience is miles better with audio on cue.
  • This next one is obvious but never more so for a game like this - save regularly!



Every so often, a little critter whisks across the screen! He's a little cookie, he is!



A spider freely walks by, and then a winged eyeball appears. What is going on?!!




Aesthetics

The artwork is good, with each room well-detailed to represent its scene. It's not exactly The Pawn, but I admire what they were trying to do, and I thought it worked very well much of the time. The horror aspect is feeble, but Scarlet is a babe, and Romero would love to cast her, I'm sure of it. The severed head guy is superbly drawn, but what's even better is the glimpse we're given. That timing works well for maximum effect.

You'll soon realise just how many monsters there are. Not to mention the different ways to die! Some of these are really cool. I especially liked the zombies in the maze. However, some are rather lame - like the one that looks like a giant tomato. Yeah, the results are mixed but generally favourable with a comical twist.

I know some will disagree, but GEM works well for our version of AtariVenture. I think it's made great use of the windows, especially with the ease of issuing commands and the use of Exits and Inventory. But this means it is slower than other similar games, but a Blitter helps a bunch.

Thankfully, there is no music, as it would have ruined the atmosphere. The sound effects are superb, made with crunchy samples, and include everything from creaking doors to horrific screams. Honestly, they are amazing effects and, if I were playing this back in 1987, it would have blown my little socks off!!



Death comes thick and fast throughout your entire adventure. I hate Scarlet so much!



I'm heading back downstairs!!! (probably the scariest moment in this 'horror' game)




The CryptO'pinion?

I found the Uninvited to be a challenging and intense adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed, especially considering this is my first frolic into the world of MacVentures, erm, AtariVentures. As with any of its ilk, you have to take your time and study all aspects of a location. That's the only way you're going to get anywhere.

Sadly, it's not perfect, with certain puzzles not making any sense whatsoever and therefore impossible to figure out without sneaking a glance at a walkthrough. Not only that, but I've never known any adventure with so many red herrings - either the pointless items or dead ends (that often lead to your brutal demise!). That might sound silly in some respects, but it's not when you're restricted to a finite number of actions.

However, please believe me when I say that this is an excellent game. Whilst certain parts of it made no sense, the Uninvited offers a richly rewarding experience and, if you fancy a different kind of adventure, then this is definitely it. Demanding, interesting, infuriating, and blummin' good fun for anyone up for a challenge.

> You can download the floppies, but Uninvited is a dream running off a hard drive/UltraSatan!



I love Uninvited. So I looked on eBay, and there it was, going cheap as chips too. Excellent!!


Sunday, January 22, 2023

Frankenstein






Wait, Master, it might be dangerous. . . You go first!

That is one of my favourite lines from the cult classic movie, and also fitting for Zeppelin's Frankenstein, a "horror-themed" platformer that had us searching for gruesome body parts for an ungrateful (and mad) scientist. Of course, there's nothing much original about this, but its structure, challenge, scary graphics, and perfect joystick controls help make this one of my favourite Atari ST games. It's the bee's knees; you can read about it by clicking here. (go on, click it!!)

So, why am I telling you again about this old platformer? You've guessed it - it's now fully mapped for your viewing pleasure! Now, before the negative nelly's love to tell me, I do know there are maps already out there (based on another computer's version of the game). Regardless, I wanted to make an official Atari ST map - without a watermark :-)

Hey, do you want more Atari ST game maps? Of course, you do so click here for my new section! (WIP)

The map is horizontally enormous, so it's pointless to include a thumbnail of the entire thing, as you wouldn't be able to see anything. So here are a few snippets from different parts, and you can download the hi-res map by clicking here. I hope you enjoy the map so much that you are persuaded to play the game. Let me know in the comments below...

Yes, the following images are snippets and NOT the full map. That's linked juuuuust above...


The morgue area pushes that time limit, so it might be worthwhile shifting a few items a little closer.


The crematorium area was one of my favourites because it's superbly designed with hidden touches.


This is the first area that most found challenging because of the stupid hidden platforms... not a good idea!!


Ghosts, creepy hands, bats, dead people... what more could you ever want from a horror game!