Lots of games have cool intros, but Domark's Race Drivin' must rank among the best. It may only last a minute or so, but it's a zany mix of Wacky Races and a dollop of Carmageddon thrown in for good measure. A superb intro for what is one of the toughest racers - can you drive in a straight line? Well, I know I can't!!
8BitChip has the hard disk game, and Atari Legend has the floppy: Sigma #1.
The other day, I saw a tweet about the Atari ST demoscene from an idiot who is clearly an Amoeba fanboy. Rather than getting drawn in, it inspired me to write this quick piece, as we know the ST has a belting scene that is alive & kicking! (see recent masterpieces like We Were @ + Strange roboTS). Powerful STuff!!
Additionally, there is a web page by Georges Kesseler of ULM. It details his ST history, which I thought was pure gold. I wonder if it was originally part of an older website? An intriguing read of great ST devs.
Page 6 is a name filled with Atari history, and there’s even a website dedicated to their magazine. Not only that, but their PD Library software is available to download. I remember buying disks from Page 6 when I became an Atari ST addict, but their magazine had been going long before then, continuing until 1998.
True enthusiasts (that I miss).
"Page 6 is remembered fondly by many Atari owners as a unique and invaluable resource, supporting enthusiasts in the heyday of Atari home computing"- I'd say that sums up Page 6 rather nicely!
Superfly is a cunning "avoid 'em" scroller controlled with just one button. As the screen automatically begins to scroll, just press the joystick's button to increase your height. This stops you from crashing into oncoming objects, along with preventing gravity from crashing you into the ground. This might sound familiar to that Flappy Bird, but Superfly is a lot faster, and slicker, and was released way back in 2002!!
Without giving away the storyline, you are in control of a submarine and must rescue your kidnapped girlfriend. Please make sure you read the funny write-up within the download!!
Running at 50fps, Superfly is extremely smooth, and the audio is tremendous with gorgeous tunes. I believe the STe's enhanced hardware is detected, and successful players can unlock features like a gallery and jukebox. This is an insane game which will have you swearing like a docker! Superfly is wicked, yet with an addictive charisma that compels you to play more. Forget frustrating Flappy Birds and play Superfly instead.
LINKS
- Downloads are available for both floppy and hard drive users.
- Want more? Try the follow-up Santafly!!
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)
