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 included 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 (check out my virtual Falcon). To download NetSurf (click here) and for the bleeding-edge builds (click here).
Well, maybe! But here is Leaderboard Golf which was released in 1986 by Access Software and is 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 baby one year old. And the 8-bit computers reign was at its peak.
When loaded, the main menu is rather crude, but functional, and is used to commence a new game. Each game, the course is rendered and played via a third-person perspective - we can see ourselves ready to take each shot. You shall note the golfing jargon on the right and basic information like weather, clubs, distance and a shot meter. These details should help to get that little ball inside the hole as quickly as possible.
The picture I'm painting isn't exactly gleaming, right? I know, 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 distances will 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 this golfing noob here at AtariCrypt 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 its 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 curved to the left/right.
Weather will affect the direction and conditions your golfer must face. Plus he also has many of the usual pitfalls to contend with, like the rough, trees, puddles of water and those nasty bunkers. It might be an idea for novice golfers to disable those weather conditions whilst 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 other ST games. However, Leaderboard has a nostalgia that I love; the way it draws each scene so methodically is superb - bringing back happy memories during a time when it would have impressed everyone.
The sound effects are on par (see what I did there?) with the visuals. They're more than enough for this quiet stroll through the countryside. Spot-fx are used for hitting the ball, selecting the clubs, and hearing the ball drop into the hole. My favourite is the mushy sound as it falls into 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? I would say stop and think about that. This is one of the most charming and entertaining moments you can experience with an old computer. It's so easy to pick up and play and incredibly addictive.
I hate most sports games and I don't like golf - yet I adore Leaderboard. This is one of the best games - from the earlier years - that you can play for the Atari ST. Truly this looks poor but is superb!! A fantastic game.
Take a swing and download for either floppy or hard disk (HDD is the best for this game)
Road Blasters - 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 with power-ups: speed boost, extra weapons, shields, etc... However, it takes lots of practice to precisely collect these goodies!
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 of course. So keep practising!
Oh, it sounds very exciting, isn'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 an arcade feel - as much as possible with a joystick. No complaints as I found the car handled excellently and instantaneously took to it.
Visually, this is an older generation of racer on the Atari ST, more like a Crazy Cars 2 than the third. I never expected arcade-quality visuals but it retains a good feeling of the original whilst not being the best you'll get from an Atari ST. It's colourful but needed more decor. But, for an older racer, I like it.
The sound effects are good and better than Lotus Turbo. I really enjoyed the music. Nuff said.
Now is the time to drive like Knight Ride to collect those goodies from above!
The CryptO'pinion?
I love this arcade speedster, it might not be perfect but at least it's nothing like that dreadful Outrun. And we're armed so that's basically one hell of an added bonus and probably the best of that ilk on the Atari ST. A much-underrated game that deserves more attention because it's fast, thrilling and the car has a gun.
What more could you want? Absolutely fantastic fun and I love playing it.
Back in the 90s, Christoph Zwerschke developed a Sinclair ZX81 emulator for the Atari ST. Believe it or not but I've never actually owned or even used this old Sinclair computer before! From what I know, this computer is mute and cannot make a sound! Plus the graphics are actually made up of monochrome blocks rather than colourful pixels. Yikes!
This might all sound rather lame but there is a certain charm to the itsy-bitsy computer with less processing power than your average kettle. So I powered on this quirky computer and even took a stab at programming... Well...
10 PRINT "ATARICRYPT ROCKS YOUR ST WORLD" 20 GOTO 10 RUN L
The good news is that even the stock Atari ST should be able to run any of its games perfectly fine - from either a floppy or (better still) a hard drive device. However, if you feel that the ZX81 is running in overdrive, then hit the UNDO key and adjust the speed limiter. I needed to do this for Pac-Man which was otherwise insanely too fast!
Yep, I might never have owned a ZX81 but I was shocked to discover many games that are surprisingly very playable. Albeit without sound or pixels... For starters, 3D Monster Maze by Malcolm Evans is a great example and is highly regarded as one of the best reasons why people many adore this old paperweight. Truly, this game is way ahead of its time and perhaps even the first survival horror game using a first-person perspective? (check out Retro Resolution for a review!).
I gotta say, Mazogs is something else!! (have you played Bugziacs?)
The CryptO'pinion?
This is a fantastic emulator and one that feels complete and robust. It provides an opportunity to play games from an era when fancy graphics and 3D sounds weren't necessary. A time when only gameplay mattered (tell that to today's millennials). Give it a whirl and boot up this fantastic emulator to flip your Atari ST into a Sinclair ZX81.
Party like it's 1981 and have tons of fun. Win, Win!! :^) Scroll down for more ZX81 games that I really liked...
I was also equally impressed by the simplicity of Galaxians.
I have 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? This time, the head honcho of a nasty drug cartel has taken shelter in Alcatraz prison and he happens to be surrounded by many loyal henchmen. Yep, you've probably already guessed that it's your job to sneak in, kill the bad guys, destroy everything and escape in the nick of time.
Well, 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 careful covert tactics. The starting level first appears in the style of an arcade beat 'em up but is actually the complete opposite. Tread lightly because 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!!
This won't always be the answer of course, so you may need to resort to a little gunplay now and then. However, it's worth considering your weapon choice: why not silently throw a knife instead of using your BAM BAM noisy gun? And it's this way of thinking that makes Alcatraz very exciting to play. It's like you're there being sneaky and covert. Love it.
This next 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 fun?
Initially, I admit 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 that within a few plays. What is immediately superb is the support for two players in coop who can enjoy each mission simultaneously. This really makes a difference compared to going solo for such demanding missions.
Venturing deeper inside Alcatraz, the game changes to a first-person shooter, similar to a Dungeon Master clone - but we have a machine gun!! There is a handy map function which I really liked because it helped to 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 initially expected but I'm really enjoying it. What a game, especially with a friend in co-op, which is exhilarating. 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 will eat away the spare hours. For all its niggly flaws, I love it.
Downloads are available as floppy disk images with a better option for hard drive owners (D-Bug).
Wait, don't go as I made a video and I wanted to show you what's inside the box...
Here's the back of the box cover that advertises the original game, Hostages.
The floppy disks were protected and unused for three decades. Yes, they work!
Codes! Fuzzy to read and will pop your eyeballs if you stare at it too long!
No, I'm not going to post this. Can you imagine their faces? lol
Short but sweet manual but it has a decent map of the island.
This was interesting to find. If anyone wants better scans of the pages then just holla.
I've stumbled upon a nifty resource for lots of Atari ST goodies waiting to be downloaded. It's the leftover remains of what used to be a popular German BBS called Traveller-Box, by Alexander Bochmann. His hard drives have been recovered and their BBS contents have been uploaded for the Atari community to use again.
Look, stop reading this lil' article and go and check it out for yourself... Enjoy!!
