Saturday, May 12, 2018

Capy






Crappy... Capy... Uh, what?

Capy is a spin on Sokoban and was released in 1998 for the Atari Falcon by YesCREW. We are a shiny ball that desires refuge on an 'exit' tile - usually located on the other side of the screen. Initial levels are easy and break you in nicely, but it soon gets tough, so careful thought is required to execute the correct route.

Interestingly, there is an option to create your own "worlds" in an Editor, but read the docs before jumping in at the deep end. This is a cool addition, and I hope somebody picks up the gauntlet and has a bash.

Take a look at these screenshot animations to get a feel of what to expect...







Sokoban in space

The goal is to guide the ball into a black hole exit. That may sound simple, but it's not... Well, it is based on Sokoban, so what did you expect? Anyhow, there are often obstacles in your way, routes that need to be followed correctly, and even the risk of falling into the gaping deep space that stands between you and your exit. So, take a moment to think about how you're going to get to your target as efficiently as possible.

Each screen employs different tiles in various ways. Push tiles are highly versatile, able to be moved almost anywhere and even allowing access to other areas by filling in holes. Be careful not to push them into a useless part of the map, or get yourself trapped. Look out for cracked tiles that disintegrate after one use, thus altering potential routes. Sliders are fun and can transport you across the void easily, and Movable tiles have an arrow pointing in a one-way direction with which to travel. Don't forget to collect the goodies for points.

This game is a tough nut to crack, with each screen requiring logical thought and planning. My first stumbling block was on Level 6, which my old brain struggled with! This was mainly due to the time restriction (which isn't necessary), so it spoils what should be a difficult puzzler, played carefully. I asked Swe [Janez] if that could be removed, and it wasn't long before it was - and Capy got its first upgrade in 20 years!!

Okay, let's check out another animated screenshot from one of my games...








The CryptO'pinion?

I've had a blast playing Capy, but sadly, there just aren't enough levels for me. Thankfully, there is an editor, so perhaps I should pick up that gauntlet and take a stab at creating some of my own? Also, the timer was a problem for me that been removed, so I can now enjoy Capy to its full potential without rushing.

Capy is an odd spin on the Sokoban genre, but it works. I'm sure its cunning levels will have you stumped for ages! Capy is fresh and addictive, using a beautiful style and presentation. The levels are fascinatingly cruel to solve, and I love it. A fantastic puzzler, and I hope it gets an ST conversion soon!

Capy has humble requirements:
a Falcon with a VGA @ 640x480/16 colours.

My download contains the original and the newly updated "Crypt" version!

My greetings to Janez :)



One day I'll get to see this screen for myself. One day...

Wednesday, May 09, 2018

Galactic Conqueror





STress relief!!

Sometimes I need to keep my life simple and take time to enjoy blowing stuff up. This is Galactic Conqueror, published in 1988 by Titus. This is a personal favourite of mine because it grants stress-busting, wanton violence without any hassle. No life-sucking storyline - shoot everything and enjoy the pointless destruction!

That's as complex as it gets - pick up the joystick to mindlessly destroy everything. It's a wicked mash of Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom, Afterburner, and Thunder Blade. Okay, it's not perfect, but it's excellent fun, and that's what matters most. Highly recommended, especially after a "great day" at work (yes, sarcasm!!).

Play this game to blast away the stress from your rat race. A fantastic shooter!!

Download this awesome space shooter now!

Monday, May 07, 2018

Automation




Forget Elvira and Maria Whittaker, this is the sexiest screen your Atari ST will display!! :@)

Saturday, May 05, 2018

Rumbo






Rick thinks he's Sly!

Rumbo is a flick-screen platformer developed in STOS by Pete Halloran and isn't too dissimilar to Rick Dangerous, with more than its fair share of <cough> similarities. The story is simple, our girl has been kidnapped, so it's time we dressed like Rambo and tool up to begin our valiant rescue mission.

After watching a short, but superb, intro of our girl being kidnapped, the game begins inside the underground in caves - a place that only Rick Dangerous himself would normally explore. Within here are many rooms with a variety of tricks and traps, but many predictable ones, like spikes to leap over. Also, there are some cruel ones, like strange creatures who appear out of thin air without any warning. I hate him!

The first end-of-level boss is a giant bat, but don't fret too much because it just moves up and down. It's lame and probably should have been left out if I'm honest. But Rumbo has come prepared for all these monsters and bosses and is loaded with more than enough ammunition, which is something I appreciate.

When level two begins, it's more of the same, but with different graphics! However, there appears to be a bug that prevented me from completing the final(?) room: hitting a switch did nothing that I could see. Thus, I found myself stuck with no way to venture on, which is a huge shame because I was enjoying Rumbo until that moment. I'm now wondering if I've missed something stupidly obvious in the previous rooms?

Graphics are average Joe, but do their job, even if entering a new room draws at the speed of ST Basic. Sound effects are made up of a few samples; they're good, and I especially liked the howl of death. Rumbo's tippy-tappy walk reminded this old gamer of Chuckie Egg 2 (ZX Spectrum version). I know I'm being daft, but I loved it, and it broke the near-silence due to the lack of in-game music. Which is a shame?

I have really enjoyed Rumbo, which is balanced and fun to play. Sadly, there's that bug on level two, but maybe it was me? I tried twice, but each time I got stuck. Ignoring that, Rumbo offers platform fans to be an avenging squirrel in a Ricky D world. This is cool, so grab your bandana and download the floppy disk!

This is a fantastic game, and here are some screenshots to tempt you to play it...


Out for a picnic and everything seems great...


Then a giant turns up to ruin everything!!


Rumbo prepares to fight back!


Oh no, spikes to carefully leap over.


Spikes are deadly, and caves love to surprise Rumbo!


Another strange thing appears. I wonder what it might be!