Get ready...
Top Banana is a vertically scrolling platformer similar to Magic Boy or Rainbow Islands. Ignoring the stupid eco storyline, this has an unusual mix of weirdness but begins with a tripped-out acid-style intro that reminds me of Grotesque and Aciid Burn (Whattaheck). Well, a little, and it's in stereo, so worth watching.
The objective is to climb a psychedelic world to reach the top of each level while "reclaiming" the polluted landscape. So, we start at the bottom of the screen and leap upwards using the platforms, avoiding the rising water levels. There are nasties, but our weapon appears to be "love" as we deliver a fatal kiss of death to anything in our way, turning them into harmless organic matter. We plant seeds to grow vegetation, effectively cleaning up the industrial grime. Take no prisoners and enjoy killing loving everything!!
Considering this is full of eco-preservation, it contradicts itself by killing animals. Anyhow, you win when you reach the top, then the screen falls, and you can collect lots of doughnuts and other items before starting the next stage. Nothing new or mind-blowing, but I quite enjoyed this incredibly cr4p platformer!
Before we go any further, let's take a peep at the first screenshot (taken from the ST version)
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Top Banana played on the Atari ST
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That's right, the older STs without a Blitter.
If you have a Mega ST or your newer ST has a Blitter, then you won't have the bland backgrounds.
Aesthetics
This is one of the few games taking advantage of both computers, so kudos to Hex for going that extra mile. However, the ST version is rather lacking with an empty feel. Weirdly, the STe is the complete opposite, with a crazy, over-the-top display of graphical mess! Still, the STe scrolls using parallax-scrolling even though my eyes bleed and my head hurts... I think I'm going to die if I play for much longer!! lol
Top Banana is incredibly unique. Never have I seen a game with such an abstract style. At first, I hated it because it's cluttered, so I would struggle to see the dangers ahead in time. After a few games, I eventually overcame that eye-burst feeling. Well, I must applaud the artists for daring to be different.
The audio isn't worth mentioning when played on the ST, but the STe fares differently. Hex uses the DMA hardware with lots of samples. It's crazy, it's insane, and they will drive you mad. I never expected that the audio would be as absurd as the visuals. This game was obviously designed to inflict pain.
Okay, you've witnessed the ST (above), so here it is on the Atari STe...
Top Banana on the Atari STe. Yeah, it has a background...
Eye-bursting visuals, albeit with parallel scrolling.
Can you see what's going on amongst the visual mess?
The CryptO'pinion?
Top Banana is unusual and offers a weird challenge. It's like a nightmare version of Rainbow Islands!! Regardless, I have nothing but respect for Hex for supporting both Atari computers. In fact, Atari STe owners should take out health insurance because their ears might burst with the incredibly annoying DMA samples. Mix that in with the visuals - bloated parallax-scrolling that will give you a headache or a brain tumour. Be warned.
I do wonder what Hex was thinking when they made this bizarre game. It's one that I fear people will ignore, which is a shame. Why? Well, I ended up liking it (on the STe), and that scares me!!
The D-Bug boys have a hard drive version, and Atari Legend has two floppy disk options you need to try:
- 1) Fuzion #151 (a one-disk download without the intro)
- 2) Pure Energy #6A and #6B (with the silly intro, but it comes on two disks)
- 3) Here is a great video of the game running on the Atari STe.
