Do you require a fully-featured web browser for your Atari computer? NetSurf is an excellent choice and something I've enjoyed using for well over a year. You will need a decent spec running MiNT OS (see my virtual Falcon). To download NetSurf (click here) and for the bleeding-edge builds (click here).
Well, maybe! But here is Leaderboard Golf, released in 1986 by Access Software, undoubtedly one of the least technically impressive games to grace the Atari ST. Let's not be too hasty, as this was released all the way back when the ST was just a little baby, and the 8-bit computer's reign was at its peak.
When loaded, the main menu is rather crude but functional, and is used to commence a new game. With each game, the course is rendered in a third-person perspective - we can see ourselves taking each shot. You shall note the golfing jargon on the right, along with basic information such as weather, clubs, distance, and a shot meter. These details should help to get that ball inside the hole as quickly as possible.
The picture I'm painting isn't exactly gleaming, right? I know, but let's view a screenshot...
Select each club carefully and watch out for those high winds!
Slow down and think about it...
With each shot, there is a unique distance to the hole, so a different club is always required. Long stretches require a 'wood' and (from what I can gather) they're rated W1-W9, and a 1W will achieve the greatest distances, whereas the 9W might produce a more acute shot with less power. The 'irons' feel similar to me (a golfing noob), but you might choose a 9I for a more acute shot when in a troubled rough spot.
Finally, the 'PW' is the pitching wedge and is used for those final moments when accuracy is needed to get that little ball into the hole. What a golfing connoisseur, I am. You shall also note a pole in the ground that is casting a shadow of varying angles and lengths. Use that to help determine the current conditions.
Leaderboard has no save game feature, but there are many scorecards inside the box. One of mine (see the picture below) has its pages filled in by the previous owner. I love finding stuff like this!!! I think it's great and a piece of ST history is preserved...
I wonder who David is and how much he enjoyed the game?
It's all about whacking a ball really hard?
Leaderboard is a simple but still challenging. It's all about choosing the best club for the shot at hand, of course. Correctly hitting the ball is a balance of lining it up and mastering the power and snap meter. That determines how far you wish your ball to travel and whether it should go straight or curve left or right.
The weather will affect the direction and conditions your golfer must face. Plus, he has many of the usual pitfalls to contend with, like the rough, trees, puddles of water, and nasty bunkers. It might be an idea for novice golfers to disable those weather conditions while you learn the game's controls and basic mechanics.
Okay, golfing dudes, let's take another gander at another amazingly realistic screenshot...
Get that power and snap meter just right for the current shot and weather conditions
Next-Gen visuals!
Visually, I'm sure many will find Leaderboard far too unrealistic and extremely minimalistic compared to certain others. However, Leaderboard has a nostalgic quality I love; the way it draws each scene so methodically is superb, bringing back happy memories from a time when it would have impressed everyone.
The sound effects are on par with the visuals (see what I did there?). They're more than enough for this quiet stroll through the countryside. Spot-fx are used when hitting the ball, select clubs, and when it drops into the hole. My favourite sound is the mushy thud as it hits the water. Lame yet genuinely brilliant!
I tried hard to get a nice screenshot - so appreciate it and take the time to view it properly...
Oh dear, there are lots of pitfalls to avoid on this hole. Can you do it?
The CryptO'pinion?
I think golfing connoisseurs might foolishly turn up their noses at such an old game in favour of something better. However, this is one of the most charming and entertaining moments you can experience with an old computer. Leaderboard is so easy to pick up & play, and it's extremely addictive. This is one of the best golfers (from the earlier years) that you can play on the Atari ST. Never go off graphics.
Yep, this is nothing less than fantastic. What an odd thing to say when I don't even like golf! lol
Take a swing and download for either floppy or hard disk (HDD is the best)
Road Blasters is an arcade conversion by US Gold that attempts to recreate the speed and thrills of the original. Imagine a Bullrun Rally event through 50 overcrowded highways. You must win each to progress on to the next. Yep, nothing new, but I'm sure you already know that this is going to be tons of fun, right?
What makes this game different from many racers is a combination of driving and shooting. This means your gleaming red sports car has a mounted machine gun. The easiest targets are the yellow cars, which are a quick kill, but the motorbikes are a pest because of their tiny size. Occasionally, several jeeps will swarm around you like something from a Mad Max movie. React viciously; take no prisoners. Oh, yeah!!
It's time to break up the reading with a screenshot. And I want one with a green blob...
Bubble City sounds like a cool place - I must drive there!
Carmageddon!
Watch out for hazards like oil spills, roadside turrets, bullet-proof purple cars and those darn proximity mines. Fortunately, you do seem to have friends. A futuristic aircraft frequently flies by, dropping power-ups such as speed boosts, extra weapons, and shields. However, it takes a lot of practice to collect these goodies precisely!
At your disposal is a limitless supply of replacement cars, but they are all fuel-greedy, so if you run dry, then it's game over. Luckily, fuel pods are available to collect by driving through them for a top-up. Your car is equipped with a reserve fuel tank, which should only be relied upon as a last resort, but the good news is that it's replenished at the end of each race. Well, depending on your performance. So keep practising!
Oh, it sounds very exciting, doesn't it? Well, I think it's time for another screenshot...
Fast cars and guns. What more could you ever desire?
Input & Output!
The controls are sharp with responsive steering that retains the arcade feel. Well, as much as possible, using the joystick. No complaints as I found the car handled excellently and instantly took to it.
Visually, this is an older-generation racer on the Atari ST, more like Crazy Cars 2, if that makes sense. So I never expected arcade-quality visuals, but it retains a good feeling of the original, whilst not being the best you'll get from your lovely computer. It's colourful but needed more decor, but for an older racer, I like it. The sound effects are good and better than those of Lotus Turbo. I enjoyed the excellent music. Nuff said.
Almost there, so it's time for the last screenshot...
Now is the time to drive like Knight Ride to collect those goodies from above!
The CryptO'pinion?
Technically, it's far from being the best racer, but I love this speedster. And we're armed, so that's basically one hell of a bonus (since when has adding a gun not been a good idea!). A much-underrated game that deserves more attention because it's fast, thrilling, and the car is weaponised. A perfect combination!
Racing with guns - what more could you want? Yup, this is an absolutely superb game.
Back in the 90s, Christoph Zwerschke developed a Sinclair ZX81 emulator for the Atari ST. Believe it or not, but I've never actually used this old computer before! From what I know, this computer is mute and makes no sound. Plus, the graphics are actually made up of monochrome blocks rather than pixels.
This might all sound rather lame to people today, but you must remember that this was 1981. Plus, there is a certain charm to the itsy-bitsy flimsy device with less processing power than your average kettle. So I powered on this quirky computer and even took a stab at programming. Well, I say programming...
10 PRINT "ATARICRYPT ROCKS YOUR ST WORLD" 20 GOTO 10 RUN L
The good news is that even the stock Atari ST is enough to play ZX81 games - from either a floppy or (better still) a hard drive device. However, if you feel the ZX81 is running in overdrive, press the UNDO key and adjust the speed limiter. I needed to do just that for Pac-Man, which was otherwise insanely way too fast.
I might never have owned a ZX81, but I was shocked to discover many games that are very playable, albeit without sound or colourful pixels. 3D Monster Maze by Malcolm Evans is a great example and is regarded as one of the best reasons people adore this old Sinclair paperweight. It might even be one of the first survival horror games using a first-person perspective? (see Retro Resolution for a review!).
The CryptO'pinion?
This is a fantastic program, and it is compatible, fast, and robust. It provides an opportunity to play games from an era when fancy graphics and sounds didn't exist. A time when gameplay mattered. Give it a whirl and boot up this surprisingly excellent emulator that flips your Atari ST into a Sinclair ZX81.
Party like it's 1981 and have tons of fun. Scroll down for more ZX81 games that I really liked...
I gotta say, Mazogs is something else!! (Have you played Bugziacs?)
I was also equally impressed by the simplicity of Galaxians.
I've just received a factory-sealed treat, a copy of Alcatraz by Infogrames. I thought about leaving it as is, but within milliseconds, I had ripped it open!! Mint condition, and I love the contents of this hidden gem.
Hostages fans will appreciate it, but surely that goes without saying? The head honcho of a drug cartel has taken shelter in Alcatraz prison, and he happens to be surrounded by henchmen. You've probably guessed that it's your job to sneak in, kill the bad guys, destroy everything, and escape in the nick of time.
In light of that stunning revelation, I think we should take a look at a screenshot...
The first stage displays the coop action and reveals that strength comes from stealth.
Take it easy, take it slow
This isn't a gung-ho game; Alcatraz demands stealth and covert tactics. The starting level appears in the style of an arcade beat 'em up, but it's the opposite. Tread lightly, as firing your loud weapon isn't always the answer! Use the darkness to your advantage by nipping into the background scenery, avoiding any unwelcome attention. It's fantastic being able to hide and watch the enemy oblivious to you lurking in the shadows!!
That won't always work, so you may need to resort to some gunplay now and then. However, it's worth considering your weapon choice: why not silently throw a knife instead of using your BAM-BAM gun? And it's this way of thinking that makes Alcatraz very exciting. It's like you're there being sneaky and covert.
This screenshot is for those who often go out at night and hide in the darkness...
Take cover in the shadows and wait for the best moment to step out and take 'em by surprise!
But is it any good?
Initially, I wasn't sure about this game, if I'm dreadfully honest. The controls can feel a bit fluffy, but stick with it, and you will master them within a few goes. What is immediately superb is the support for two players in coop who play the mission simultaneously, which is fantastic for such demanding missions.
Venturing deeper inside Alcatraz, the game changes to a first-person shooter, similar to a Dungeon Master clone, with a machine gun!! There is a handy map function, which I liked because it helped detail the locations of enemies, rooms, etc. I really loved this part of the game but, I died. Talk about tough love.
Talk about a brilliant surprise! Let's take a gander at a screenshot...
Okay, now we're talking. This Doom part of the game was blummin' excellent!!
The CryptO'pinion?
Alcatraz is nothing like I expected, but what a game that easily eats away at your spare hours. Also, I like what they attempted to construct with the realism element; it works in many ways. What a great game of perseverance, stealth, and tactics, which is best played in co/op with a friend. Brilliant game.
