Magic Boy

Prepare to be amazed!

Magic Boy was released in 1993 by Empire and is one of the cutest platformers I have ever seen. Personally, it reminds me of Rainbow Islands because of its ravishing visuals and charming style. It's a stunner!

We play as Hewlett, a young boy with a magic wand who accidentally turned all the animals into cute monsters. Seems plausible, but how do these things keep happening? Not to worry, it's our task to restore everything back to normal, so that means venturing forth through many beautiful worlds to tag & bag the nasties.

Firstly, check out this screenshot. Wear sunglasses and take a deep breath...

Magic Boy must be one of the most colourful games on the Atari ST.

Shoot, jump, bag & grab!

There are four worlds to explore (Sand Land, Wet World, Plastic Place, Future Zone), and each offers eight levels. Things begin relatively easily before lots of crafty tricks and traps are introduced. This difficulty is staggered gradually, which helps to keep things interesting - without being too tough to play properly

This mild learning curve is nothing much on the easier levels. It's easy to pick up and play, so you're instantly leaping your way through. Make sure you collect all the power-ups, which will aid your progress. Just watch out for anything that looks oddly cute. It's not, it's nasty - so shoot and then bag it. Great stuff!!

However, the later levels are challenging, and I really mean formidable!! Those cute critters are actually deceivingly mean and seem to know just when to strike with a perfectly well-timed shot. Also, the level layout adds the usual moving tiles, and others might dissolve or randomly disappear. Infuriatingly difficult, which can be a shame sometimes, as the levels are impossible for me to complete (without a trainer!!).

Wanna see another multi-coloured screenshot? I know you do...

Things are now starting to get serious with cunning-level designs!

Aesthetics

This is literally one of the most stunning 16-bit games I have ever seen. This quality is thanks to John Dale and Leigh Christian, who made everything bright and radiant with many comical characters. Nothing has been sacrificed, which includes your fluent movements and ultra-smooth scrolling. Wonderful stuff!!

Sound effects are excellent and best experienced when using an Atari STe. Yes, I said STe, but that doesn't mean the ST is lacking. Not one bit. Accompanying music is perfect with a high-quality tune that remains in your head all day. Yes, Magic Boy is most definitely one of the sexiest Atari ST games I have ever played.

Why couldn't every game have this much love put into it? Let's view another screenshot...

Future Zone has incredible levels to hop through, as does the quirky Plastic Place.

The CryptO'pinion?

You won't be shocked to hear that this is one seriously addictive platformer. Yup, it's near perfect and a genuine pleasure to play because it's so much fun, and I really cannot think of anything negative to say. Okay, okay, that difficulty in later levels is really tough, but something weirdly reminiscent of games from the era.

The controls, game mechanics, visuals, and audio are stunning and make this game a showcase, but one that is also loads of fun and a thrill to play. Doesn't this prove what the Atari ST/e is capable of when in the hands of talented people? This is one of the best 16-bit platformers ever released.

Grab yourself either the floppy disk and there are loads!

This is a version for hard drive/Ultrasatan by 8BitChip.

The codes for those who wanna zip through to the later levels: on the menu screen, press and hold the keys before pressing fire to choose:

Sand Land......(part 1)  =  S + 1

Sand Land......(part 2)  =  S + 2

Future Zone....(part 1)  =  F + 1

Future Zone....(part 2)  =  F + 2

Plastic Place..(part 1)  =  P + 1

Plastic Place..(part 2)  =  P + 2

Wet World......(part 1)  =  W + 1

Wet World......(part 2)  =  W + 2

AtariCrypt box art?

Over the last few months, I've been taking pictures of my own ST games to feature within our box art section here on AtariCrypt. Yesterday, I got quite a shock when a good friend of mine (thank you, Jose Ant) created this fake box using my old avatar (a photo I originally took in Tombstone, Arizona).

You know, the ST world sure has some awesome people, and I absolutely love this image!!

Days Of Thunder

Boogity, Boogity, Boogity!!

Yes, I'm a big NASCAR fan and I've finally got around to playing Mindscape's Days Of Thunder which (I think) is the only stock car racer for the Atari ST. I did wonder how the sport might appear in 16-bits and it started off well with a fantastic title tune by David Whittaker. However, it was soon all downhill... Never have I seen a game look so bad.

The visuals are shocking on the eyes but it's the framerate that is total diarrhoea. The sound effects are actually worse and I truly do mean that. But I could forgive how a game looks and sound for great gameplay. Sadly, this has none. Could this be the worst Atari ST game ever? Well, put it this way, I could not stand to play more than a couple laps before rebooting in anger and utter disappointment. And that's my final thoughts about this disgusting stock car racer.

I wondered how my 16MHz Mega STe might perform with this dreadful game so I contacted Peter Putnik and he created a hard drive version... but even the extra MHz couldn't save it but thanks for trying mate!

Floppy Disks | Hard Drive Version

Elf

Oi, big ears!

Elf was released in 1991 by Ocean Software and is a platformer with simple adventure mechanics for lots of cumulative puzzles. It's not too dissimilar to something Codemasters would crack out. Not only that, but each of the levels appears impressive with lush visuals that appeal to my fickle nature!

We are Cornelius, a cool-looking dude whose girlfriend, Elisa, has been kidnapped by the evil Necriliousr. Armed with his magic ring (stop it!!), you must travel eight incredible landscapes, avoiding strange and wacky creatures, and solving puzzles to rescue the love of your life. That's Elisa and not your Atari ST computer.

Well, hmm... I dunno about that lol. Let's take a peep at a screenshot taken with my phone...

Upgrades are great - I'm flying!!

Finders Keepers?

Playing Elf is never boring, thanks to the world we have to explore and everything in it. That includes the puzzles that must be figured out logically and in order. Oddly, I'm reminded of the old ZX Spectrum games by David Jones. You know, trading items with NPC characters who require the silliest of items before providing something you require. It's brilliant, but only experience and perseverance will grant success.

However, that's not easy thanks to a barrage of critters constantly invading the screen, think Black Lamp. They are often relentless and try to stop you from solving the puzzles. So, look for anything that might help along the way? Heck, items and even animals, to collate as "pets" that will be used as currency to purchase an assortment of power-ups - including firepower, extra lives, the ability to fly and much more.

Elf is a fascinating and long-winded game that won't be easy to finish. The quest is massive but will entertain you every step of the way with humour and cool ideas, like when you are chased up a ladder (impressive AI). Finally, and in true Atic Atac style, a tombstone is erected when dead. It's rumoured to be haunted!

This game is huge and brilliant in almost all respects, so let's view a clearer screenshot this time...

Beautifully drawn graphics with tons of extra colours thrown in. Look at that sky!

Aesthetics

The graphics are tremendous, with outstanding attention to detail for the scenery and characters. The baddies are some of the most detailed sprites I've seen, so killing them almost makes me feel bad (almost). They have cute expressions with integrated novelties, like rocks that watch your every move. Lovely extra touches throughout. I feel confident saying this, but the visuals are some of the best I've ever seen.

The audio is great with amazing sound effects. However, it's the music I love the most by Matthew Cannon (remember Navy Seals?). Awesome tunes throughout, thus proving once again that chip music is immortal!! In fact, I'd describe them as bewitching, so I prefer playing this game with the music on.

This final screenshot is something I see a lot of...

The screen you hate, and in stark contrast to the jolly feel of the game.

The CryptO'pinion?

Here we go, nothing is perfect... yadda yadda! Well, that's true, and it applies to Elf. I felt the number of lives was too restrictive, considering the task at hand. I also found it a little annoying when some critters would walk onto the screen just as I was about to walk off, thus zapping valuable energy. Arghh, irritating!!

However, Elf is a brilliant platform/adventure/puzzler. It will sap the hours whilst you shoot the cuties, trade, and try to figure out how to bribe your way through the game. This is something that you need to experience and is very rewarding. Elf is excellent, and I cannot recommend it enough. Make time for this game!!

8BitChip has a version for hard disks

Floppy disks can be found via Old Games Finder.

Here is a walkthrough, but don't spoil this awesome game!!

--> MY HANDY TIPS <--

Tweet Tweet, that cute little bird is hungry. Easy!

Red Indians love feathers...

Toilet paper? Ahem, surely too easy to solve?

That big guy? Well, he just loves roast chicken.

If you must, type in CHOROPOO during gameplay for 99 Pets.

1632 ATARI podcaST

It's always nice to see someone doing something creative for the ST scene and here is Atari 8-bit legend, Wade with a new podcaST. Obviously, this is about the Atari ST and by a guy that didn't originally care for it. Interesting? Maybe, so let's check this out and his re-discovery of the best 16-bit retro computer! <clickety click>

Big Nose The Caveman

Big hooter!

We are Big Nose, a fella from prehistoric times, when it was perfectly normal to live in cave squalor. However, once a year, he and his family strangely celebrate Thanksgiving, which means one thing: a yummy Pterodactyl roast dinner. Fortunately, one of these birds was just spotted flying by - now isn't that lucky? So this Jurassic journey takes you through dangerous dinosaur-infested lands looking for that tasty bird to kill, cook and eat with your fellow big-nosed family.

Code Masters released this humble platformer back in 1993, and it was programmed by Neil Hill. The game has us clubbing anything that looks likely to cause harm, plus lots of platform jumping and fighting lame end-of-level bosses. The controls are excellent and very responsive, plus I love the cartoon-like graphics with amazing sprites and decor. However, what I don't like are the bland backdrops, which desperately need a splash of rasters! Sound effects are sparse unless you jump or hit something, but thankfully, the title music is fantastic (what a shame it doesn't play during the game).

Big Nose is a budget platformer, so with that in mind, it feels a little cheap in places, and I'm sure the Atari ST could have done much better. Thankfully, the gameplay is superb and very addictive - it's this that matters the most. I'm sure you might complete this within a couple of hours, but that proves how playable it is. So why not kill a little time and play it?

Big Nose The Caveman is a bucketload of fun, and I think you will all enjoy it a bunch. Fantastic game.

Go on and grab the download of Big Nose the Caveman for floppy or hard drive.

Argh, a dinosaur!! What shall I do...?

Take that, you dino freak!!

Those snakes are pesky things but easy to kill.

The spiders are so cute and have a cunning edge to them too.

This is access to a secret place that allows you to skip through level one. Weird...

This is another secret place that grants you a brisk walk through the next level. Ugh, no thanks!

Chicago 90

DRIVER

Let's start by saying that I'm sure every kid played cops and robbers growing up. Now that we're grown-ups (aka BIG kids), we can do the same using our favourite retro computer. This is thanks to Microïds and their 1989 hit, Chicago 90, which allows us to drive the streets as either the good or bad guys. Easy choice, I say?

As a cop, it's our job to do the chasing, but that role didn't really click with me. It's more fun being the bad guys whenever you get the chance, and it's a good job too because being the bad guy in Chicago 90 is fantastic!! After all, what's better than a car full of swag as you rush to flee the city limits? Gotta earn that freedom!

That's enough reading for the moment, let's take a look at the first screenshot...

You could always be a good guy instead of running from the law? Yeah... that's what I thought!!

Read the flipping manual

Initially, the in-game user interface is rather complex and confusing, especially as a copper. It's a cumbersome design - down the left are many icons, most of which I have no idea what they mean. Also, at the bottom of the screen are two windows; the first is an overhead city map displaying the location of the fuzz. The other is a first-person view that should help avoid crashing into law-abiding citizens. Well, in theory!

So, ignoring the complexity of being a copper, let's be a baddie! This is a game of escape. Ie, can you escape the city and break free of their jurisdiction? The cops chasing are a little daft, with naive AI that isn't exactly Einstein-level, but good enough for a chase. If caught, you're presented with a rather dodgy-looking image representing the scene. I shall say no more about this, but you need to see it for yourself.

At first, the controls feel a little flaky, but after a few practice games, you will be ripping around Chicago in no time. Sadly, collision detection is often suspect, and hitting the landscape causes the car to oddly bounce during that bump. That's not a big deal, really, and certainly adds a dollop of silliness to the chase, without stopping you dead in your tracks. This is brilliant, so the game's momentum isn't halted, nor the fun!

Bouncy, crashy, messy, funny... I don't care! So let's see another screenshot...

Success!! We've finally found the way out of this urban jungle. Now, HIT IT!!

The CryptO'pinion?

Chicago 90's downfall is its weak Police role, which is cumbersome and rather boring. So, that left me with the gangster role, which thankfully, is tons of fun! Driving through the city, running from the cops, is surely an early glimpse into an early GTA experience? It's pretty much fantastic, and I've loved every second.

With a little thought for gameplay objectives and a better UI, this could have been a fantastic venture into a life of crime prevention. As it happens, the cops suck, so we're stuck playing the bad guys, and the only objective is to escape the Chicago maze. Regardless, racing from the cops is always going to be a thrill.

All things considered, I really enjoyed this, so I ended up buying it. A superb game!

Visit Chicago - Driver & GTA style!

8bitchip has a hard drive installable version

Atari Legend has the floppy disks!

Atari Greenlog now has a cool gameplay video.