- * 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...
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Fire & Brimstone -mapped
Thursday, February 02, 2023
Deluxe Nostram
Into the Wonderful
This takes me back and I remember playing the original Nostram thanks to a magazine cover disk. It was a good platformer but some screens were too fiddly as I recall so I didn't get very far. Well, it was a freebie so I shouldn't complain too much! Deluxe Nostram is the sequel and kinda the same game albeit more polished and with better controls.
Released in 1993 by Powerfist, it was programmed in STOS by Daniel Walton with graphics by Ian Wilkinson. The game map is ginormous with an incredible amount of rooms to pillage and that potential, as an adventurer, is something I value. 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 one that only made me excited for great things. (Yeah, I'm easily pleased)
Wait, this sounds too good to be true? Who knows, maybe, but let's crack on and check out two screenshots...
Don't fall asleep
Today's muscular hero is an adventurer in a castle tower of considerable rooms and bizarre monsters. Our objective is to collect five crystals scattered throughout the castle in order to escape and regain the Wings Of Flight. During the journey, there are obstacles, trinkets to collect and locked doors granting 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 improved for the latest release so our warrior is very agile. However, numerous screens are void of monsters or dangerous obstacles which means little reason to exercise these controls.
So that makes this a rather strange game as I expected content similar to any generic platformer. Nope, Deluxe Nostram presents more of an exploration adventure with a few puzzles along the way. But it's mostly just us wandering about looking for keys and crystals if I'm brutally honest. Weird right? Are you still interested?
Nevertheless, it's this explorational element that appeals to me as it's possible to visit most of the screens without resorting to a cheat - because there's little to endanger you. It's silly, but I admit to enjoying going through the entire game rather than worrying about defeating impossibly tough screens. Although, I doubt many reading this will feel the same way?
What, you're still here? That's good! Okay, let's take a look at more purple and orange screenshots...
Aesthetics
Graphically, this is <cough> very familiar thanks to a look and design all too godlike, albeit less sophisticated. I do appreciate the overall display because it's clean and concise so works well. However, there isn't enough variation so everything begins to look very samey and a little boring after a while. I was also weary of seeing the same colour scheme!
The audio is less than favourable because there is no music and the effects are limited to hitting monsters or collecting stuff. Basically, it's silent and that's a massive shame as a chiptune would have been most welcome.
Fancy a gander at even more gaudy purple and orange screenshots? No? Well, I'm in charge, so tough luck...
The CryptO'pinion?
Deluxe Nostram isn't the best platformer I've played but, it's far from the worst. The castle is huge and well-designed but sadly, 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 fact might dishearten a lot of potential players.
To be honest, that factor was actually a nice change, as it enabled me to travel through the castle and that's probably why I enjoyed mapping it? Deluxe Nostram is for those who enjoy exploration so I doubt it will appeal to any generic platformer fan. This is a weird one, I will definitely be interested to know what you guys think in the comments below.
The floppy can be downloaded but PP has adapted a better version that you can grab by clicking 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) loops 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 both doors lead to the same place. Yes, I am gutted by this!!
Sunday, January 29, 2023
Uninvited ...not a walkthrough!
* 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 room, 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 all the shaded text 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 †