Days Of Thunder

Boogity, Boogity, Boogity!!

Yes, I'm a big NASCAR fan, and I've finally got around to playing Mindscape's Days Of Thunder, which (I think) is the only stock car racer for the Atari ST. I was curious to see how the sport would look in 16-bit, and it started well with a fantastic title with music by David Whittaker. However, it was soon all downhill from then.

The visuals are shocking on the eyes, but it's the framerate that is total diarrhoea. The sound effects are actually worse, and I truly do mean that. I could forgive the visuals and sound for good gameplay, but sadly, this game lacked that, too. Could this be the worst Atari ST game ever? Well, put it this way, I could not stand to play more than a couple laps before rebooting in anger and utter disappointment.

I wondered how my 16MHz Mega STe might perform, so I contacted Peter Putnik and he created a hard drive version. But even the extra MHz couldn't save it, but thanks for trying mate!

Floppy Disks | Hard Drive Version

Elf

Oi, big ears!

Elf was released in 1991 by Ocean Software and is a platformer with simple adventure mechanics for lots of cumulative puzzles. It's not too dissimilar to something Codemasters would crack out. Not only that, but each of the levels appears impressive with lush visuals that appeal to my fickle nature!

We are Cornelius, a cool-looking dude whose girlfriend, Elisa, has been kidnapped by the evil Necriliousr. Armed with his magic ring (stop it!!), you must travel eight incredible landscapes, avoiding strange and wacky creatures, and solving puzzles to rescue the love of your life. That's Elisa and not your Atari ST computer.

Well, hmm... I dunno about that lol. Let's take a peep at a screenshot taken with my phone...

Upgrades are great - I'm flying!!

Finders Keepers?

Playing Elf is never boring, thanks to the world we have to explore and everything in it. That includes the puzzles that must be figured out logically and in order. Oddly, I'm reminded of the old ZX Spectrum games by David Jones. You know, trading items with NPC characters who require the silliest of items before providing something you require. It's brilliant, but only experience and perseverance will grant success.

However, that's not easy thanks to a barrage of critters constantly invading the screen, think Black Lamp. They are often relentless and try to stop you from solving the puzzles. So, look for anything that might help along the way? Heck, items and even animals, to collate as "pets" that will be used as currency to purchase an assortment of power-ups - including firepower, extra lives, the ability to fly and much more.

Elf is a fascinating and long-winded game that won't be easy to finish. The quest is massive but will entertain you every step of the way with humour and cool ideas, like when you are chased up a ladder (impressive AI). Finally, and in true Atic Atac style, a tombstone is erected when dead. It's rumoured to be haunted!

This game is huge and brilliant in almost all respects, so let's view a clearer screenshot this time...

Beautifully drawn graphics with tons of extra colours thrown in. Look at that sky!

Aesthetics

The graphics are tremendous, with outstanding attention to detail for the scenery and characters. The baddies are some of the most detailed sprites I've seen, so killing them almost makes me feel bad (almost). They have cute expressions with integrated novelties, like rocks that watch your every move. Lovely extra touches throughout. I feel confident saying this, but the visuals are some of the best I've ever seen.

The audio is great with amazing sound effects. However, it's the music I love the most by Matthew Cannon (remember Navy Seals?). Awesome tunes throughout, thus proving once again that chip music is immortal!! In fact, I'd describe them as bewitching, so I prefer playing this game with the music on.

This final screenshot is something I see a lot of...

The screen you hate, and in stark contrast to the jolly feel of the game.

The CryptO'pinion?

Here we go, nothing is perfect... yadda yadda! Well, that's true, and it applies to Elf. I felt the number of lives was too restrictive, considering the task at hand. I also found it a little annoying when some critters would walk onto the screen just as I was about to walk off, thus zapping valuable energy. Arghh, irritating!!

However, Elf is a brilliant platform/adventure/puzzler. It will sap the hours whilst you shoot the cuties, trade, and try to figure out how to bribe your way through the game. This is something that you need to experience and is very rewarding. Elf is excellent, and I cannot recommend it enough. Make time for this game!!

8BitChip has a version for hard disks

Floppy disks can be found via Old Games Finder.

Here is a walkthrough, but don't spoil this awesome game!!

--> MY HANDY TIPS <--

Tweet Tweet, that cute little bird is hungry. Easy!

Red Indians love feathers...

Toilet paper? Ahem, surely too easy to solve?

That big guy? Well, he just loves roast chicken.

If you must, type in CHOROPOO during gameplay for 99 Pets.

1632 ATARI podcaST

It's always nice to see someone doing something creative for the ST scene and here is Atari 8-bit legend, Wade with a new podcaST. Obviously, this is about the Atari ST and by a guy that didn't originally care for it. Interesting? Maybe, so let's check this out and his re-discovery of the best 16-bit retro computer! <clickety click>

Big Nose The Caveman

Big hooter

We are Big Nose, a fella from prehistoric times, and, once a year, he and his family strangely celebrate Thanksgiving, which means one thing: a yummy Pterodactyl roast dinner. Fortunately, one of these birds was just spotted flying by - now isn't that lucky? So this Jurassic journey takes you through dangerous dinosaur-infested lands looking for that tasty bird to kill, cook, and eat with your fellow big-nosed family.

Code Masters released this humble platformer in 1993, programmed by Neil Hill. The game involves clubbing anything that looks dangerous, lots of platform jumping, and fighting off end-of-level bosses. The controls are excellent and responsive, and the cartoon-like graphics with amazing sprites are a joy. However, the bland backdrops are a letdown and desperately need some rasters! Sound effects are sparse except for jumps and hits, but thankfully, the title music is fantastic (a shame it doesn’t play during the game).

Big Nose, a budget platformer, feels a bit cheap in some places, especially considering the Atari ST’s capabilities. However, the superb and addictive gameplay is what truly matters. Okay, you’ll likely complete it in a couple of hours, but it's budget and well-designed, demonstrating its playability. So why not kill some time and give it a go? Big Nose The Caveman is a bucketload of fun, and I think you will all enjoy it a bunch!!

Go on and grab the download of Big Nose the Caveman for floppy or hard drive.

Argh, a dinosaur!! What shall I do...?

Take that, you dino freak!!

Those snakes are pesky things, but easy to kill.

The spiders are so cute and have a cunning edge to them, too.

This is access to a secret place that allows you to skip through level one. Weird...

This is another secret place that grants you a brisk walk through the next level. Ugh, no thanks!