Chubby Gristle

Oi, Fatso!!

This is a story of a fat, obnoxious parking attendant who loves to eat food - a pillar of the community! Chubby Gristle is always hungry and will roam looking for grub to nosh on in Grandslam Entertainment's 1988 platformer. This is a platformer and feels like games I played on my ZX Spectrum. Never a bad thing.

Each screen is designed in a fashion similar to Monty Mole. Chubby Gristle is incredibly tough and perhaps too difficult for the average gamer? As with all platformers, each screen has ledges, moving platforms, ropes, and the expected angry sprites zipping back n' forth (awkward to avoid, without losing a precious life).

Visually, it's perfectly 8-bit with 16-bit enhancements. And I mean that in a good way because it happily blasted me back into the 1980s. The sprites move smoothly and are animated using a style Peter Harrap would be proud of. Sadly, I'm disappointed with the audio which plays the same tune over (and over). It's great, but we really needed a varied selection and I found no way to replace that with the sound effects?

Chubby Gristle could have been a hit, but the joystick controls fail, making it too hard. There's so much going on and it's too easy for the fat man to bump into something or fall flat on his face. Many extra lives are needed to balance it out. There are some great screens but you won't get to see them without cheating.

This is a game that loves to see you suffer. Whoever playtested this should be shot!!

* Klaz' Hideaway who has the floppy and a hard drive installable game (with lives cheat).
* I've recorded a video of my dispare, dare you view it?

* Cheating is never good but Chubby needs extra lives like no other game on the planet. To enable infinite lives, type "buuurrp" on the title screen. You will hear a burp that confirms success. (untested by me) 

Microprose Golf

Another good walk spoiled?

Microprose Golf is a bit of a show-off if truth be told. It's like the rich and successful younger brother of poor old Leaderboard, who is green with envy! Now, I'm hardly a golfing connoisseur, but the developers have done a blinding job and created an involving game with a vast array of mind-boggling features that take it into the realm of a serious sim. But, don't panic, that doesn't make it boring!! Oh no, not at all, so read on.

Golf fans will shriek with happiness as several game types are on offer. Each is affected by an array of realistic variables that can alter every aspect and the outcome of your shots. Yes, just like the variables that real golfers have to think about: the type of ground, your stance, weather conditions, and so on. I'm sure experienced golfers will be drooling over the intricate settings long before they even consider teeing off. Heck, even as a novice, I was mightily impressed and blown away in equal measure.

One of the things I loved was seeing each hole before playing it. Just like in this screenshot...

Take a look at the course to get a brilliant perspective of what lies ahead.

Whack that ball!!

All control is made using the mouse, of course. The game's GUI is well-designed and intuitive to drastically reduce any learning curve. So setting up a shot isn't a chore when perfecting control and direction.

Microprose has taken 16-bit golfing to a whole new level by introducing its camera-angled viewpoints. That's right, it's like the camera is mounted to a drone that follows the ball along its airborne path. I sat in utter amazement as I watched my first shot in action. It's a gob-smacking moment!! There is also a selection of other cool camera angles, and all benefit from smoother framerates on faster computers - like my Mega STe.

Don't run away green with envy! Stop and read some more after this screenshot...

Take the shot and let's see how good you really are. Whoosh... SPLOSH!!! :D

Aesthetics

Graphically, this easily stands head and shoulders above anything else I've seen on any 16-bit computer. The artwork is superb throughout and is also nicely detailed with bold colours and designs we've come to admire from Microprose. However, it's the 3D aspect that absolutely blows the competition away. Jaw-dropping.

Sounds are excellent, but I do feel more ambient effects would have been nice during the times you're setting up a shot. It would have been good to hear birds chirping, a little breeze, or background crowd chatter.

There's always something, isn't there? Never mind, it's time for another screenshot...

This is superb, how I can get a feel for how my shot might go with a little practice...

The CryptO'pinion?

Microprose has done what they always did and released an Atari ST game that blows your socks off. At every level, it's beautiful and comes with a perfect blend of strategy and arcade to lose yourself in. Whether you're a casual fan or a golfing expert, I'm positive you will love playing what is a superb game.

You can grab the floppies but this is best run from a hard drive/Ultrasatan. Wasabim has recorded a fantastic video and AtariMania has neat scans of the manual.

Terry's Big Adventure

It's-a-me, Terry!

Terry's Big Adventure was released in 1989 by Gary Walton for Shades. It plays with more than a pinch of Mario (how did moneybags Nintendo let them get away with it, but I'm glad they did). His adventure takes us through twelve lands and, like his Italian cousin, he is stuck within a 2D world of silliness. Get your joystick ready because this means lots of platforms, gaps to jump, magic mushrooms, and iddy biddy critters.

Terry isn't a mean guy, and he doesn't like squashing cute creatures, so instead, he has brought a different weapon. Now, if you're expecting something like a shotgun or a sword, then you might be disappointed because it's actually a yo-yo. That is unlikely to impress the girls, but it's different and works well, too.

Power-ups are frequently available, plus you can swap the yo-yo for pebbles by hitting the space bar. Terry is such a badass, right? Many kills reward a random letter in a tiny parachute; collect 'em to eventually make "terry" to earn a temporary shield. This comes in handy, allowing you to plough through the horde.

Fancy some big tips? Well, it's always worth collecting the mushrooms for juicy points. Also, an extra life awarded every 20,000 points, which you will be glad of. Finally, there are bonus levels stocked to the brim with even more mushrooms - just don't get yourself addicted!

Fancy a screenshot? No? How about an animation? Better check this out then...

The Atari ST cannot scroll, right? Well, that's what the talentless programmers say...

Visuals, Sounds, Controls.

The graphics are very "NES" in style with tiny sprites, but these suit the console experience perfectly, and everything you see is colourful and detailed. Scrolling is silky smooth, and it's obvious Gary took pride in his work and achieved beautiful results - using a computer without any hardware scrolling.

The audio is a little disappointing, with the option of chip music or sound effects. The tunes are cute and my preferred choice in comparison to the dullness of the sparse sound effects. Don't get me wrong, the effects are okay, but few and far between - so much of your gameplay will be in silence. Stick with the music!

Any Mario game needs responsive controls, and Terry has a precise feel that is great. It's perfectly "console", which I know sounds odd, but it's true! This works hand in hand with the laws of physics, which means how and when to use the Yo-Yo. That weapon has a knockback that affects Terry, so watch out if near water.

Splish... Splash... Splosh... let's see a screenshot...

Terry's world is filled with colour and cute things. But even little things can hurt!

The CryptO'pinion?

Terry's Big Adventure is a superb game and one that will appeal to those who enjoy Giana Sisters or the Stario games. It might be a rip-off, but Terry has enough personality of his own to make this different and entertaining. The only kicker is never knowing about this wonderful platformer back in the day...

I thoroughly enjoyed playing yo-yos with my new spiky-haired friend. What a fantastic platformer!!

Download for floppy or hard disk.

"Metroid"

Talent + Atari STe = another new game

Samuel (aka Zamuel_a of Pac-Mania and Giana Sisters fame) is working on a third game for the Atari STe. This time it's based on "Metroid". Bear in mind, this is a WIP - we can walk, jump, fire, and explore the levels using a 16-colour-limit-busting display. The Blitter will handle the sprites with hardware scrolling being utilised for a silky-smooth display. Heck, even the analogue ports will be used (where's my Jag Pad?)

As you can see, it looks fantastic but Samuel is also asking for help: with music, sound effects, sprites, and level design. If you can help, please contact him directly via the Atari-Forum website. I wish him luck.

It looks like Samuel might have another winner on his hands! I cannot wait to see how this develops over time; it looks great so far!! Check out a couple more screenshots below and... watch this space...

Circus back²STage

Circus back²STage demo for the Atari STe, by BlaBLa, Cocoon & Sector One.

With such an unusual style, Circus back²STage is a fascinating Atari STe demo. It features a bucket load of crazy, colourful effects in overscan with the most wonderful chip music. Some people hate clowns but get over it - this is literally one of the best demos I have ever seen. Okay, it's hard drive installable and downloads are available via Demozoo.

Test Drive

I fancy a road trip!

Accolade's Test Drive was released in 1987 and is one of the games I got free with my Atari ST, so I have fond memories of it during my early 16-bit days. It begins with an intro of a dude sitting in his Porsche, before winding down the window to display his very-cheesy grin. Then he speeds off into the sunset!!

There are five sports cars, and each is on the main menu with lots of technical details (that I've never read). Their artwork is gorgeous, and I personally think the Corvette is the best of the bunch for a road trip.

It's time for some screenshots, so let's check out the choice of smooth riders on offer...

I've never really been much of a Porsche fan... More of a girl's sports car, right?

Okay, it's not a Ferrari 308, but that doesn't stop me from thinking I'm Magnum P.I.

I can't say I'm a fan of this, and the handling never really excites, more terrifying!

(Insert James Bond theme now). Okay, it might not be that fast, but we love British muscle!!

I'm more of a muscle car fan myself, but the Chevrolet Corvette is a beauty in every respect.

An oldie classic?

Test Drive is a race against the clock with points awarded for faster times along a seemingly endless mountainside highway. Driven from an in-car perspective, you will notice that each car has a realistic dashboard. I love that, and it includes the manual gearbox controls, which briefly display with each shift.

I found the controls a little wooden, but I soon got the hang of them after a couple of races. A red dot on the steering wheel helps pinpoint an indication of your turning and direction. It's helpful, albeit crude. However, I admit, it does make up for the lack of analogue controls nicely. Considering that, it feels natural.

Like cars? Like rocks? Then you are gonna love this next screenshot...

Ahh, the open road of a road trip. Wait, another car? Argh, it's suddenly gridlock!! ;^)

You're not alone!

Beware, you aren't actually on a race track; it's a highway. So, with that in mind, you should watch out for other people. I'm talking about those annoying civilians who are driving on these (once-safe) roads. They seem to love head-on collisions!! There are also cops, so it's a good job that your car is fitted with a radar to help signal when they are nearby. Either slow down or hit the pedal to watch them disappear in your rearview mirror!

I treat these moments as a green light to push the pedal to the metal, but that's just me! Don't forget to refuel at the gas station checkpoint before continuing with your Bullrun Rally. Petrol doesn't last forever!

Honestly, I'm a good driver. Especially after a few beers, as shown in this next screenshot...

Sometimes your road trip can go terribly wrong!

Old school aesthetics

Test Drive runs at a nice framerate and has some funny characteristics, like the grey fella driving his truck. How about the steering wheel without hands? Or the slo-mo effect as your windscreen breaks up after a crash - it's almost worth slamming into an oncoming vehicle just to see that. Also, the dashboards are superb, with the Corvette being my favourite, but all cars feature equally great graphics.

Musically very nice with lots of jingles and tunes during the menus and screens when filling up with fuel. The car's sound effects aren't the best; it's all buzzy compared to other oldies like Turbo Cup. Shame.

I love how the game looks, even if the cars sound like a bee trapped inside a drum. Screenshot time...

It's time to fill up before hitting that open road.

The CryptO'pinion?

Test Drive offers an enjoyable drive without the rush of a speedster like Vroom or Crazy Cars III. It's more like a charming Sunday drive without that thrill of speed. But don't let that put you off, this is a great driving game and one I have a soft spot for. This cliffside road tripper is the beginning of the historical 90s series.

To think that this series began on the Atari ST. Yep, it's a grand racer with loads of great cars for the rocky American roads. I wouldn't say it's the ST's best racer, but I love it to bits!! Fantastic game.

8BitChip has a hard drive version, which I recommend!

Atari Legend has floppy disk images.

Update: There is an excellent new video by Wasabim.

Over the years, there have been many Test Drive games, and I loved playing the fifth on the PlayStation back in the day.

Giana Sisters

Turn your ST into a Nintendo!

The Great Giana Sisters was released in 1987 by Rainbow Arts and is a platformer with (umm) more than a hint of Italian plumbing. The commercial game played well, but suffered from flip-screen scrolling that soon became tiresome. Ultimately, it was a lame port and spoiled what should have been an excellent release.

Don't give me the old excuse that the ST cannot scroll. It can scroll: Viking Child, Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Enchanted Land, Stario, Alien World, Zone Warrior, Onslaught and many, more!! Yes, it bugs me when I see people's daft comments claiming that the ST cannot scroll. Blame the programmer - not the computer! /rant

It looks like I wasn't the only person to hate our conversion because Samuel (aka Zamuel_a of Pac-Mania fame) decided to convert it to the Atari STe. He makes use of the hardware scrolling so the entire screen scrolls rather than flipping - and it's smooth, 50fps smooth. To say that this update is jaw-dropping is an understatement, and it certainly beats the pathetic commercial original. Where was Samuel back in the 80s lol.

The game is the same, but it now scrolls. This transforms your experience, as he has put the Atari STe to great use, which proves the power of this wonderful computer. Finally, we can play Giana Sisters as it was meant to be enjoyed! Waste no more time and download this wonderful version (improved by Peter Putnik)

Watch the above video and check out these screenshots...

It looks basic, but it also looks console-cool, too. I like it, very NES... to me.

Happily walking along, and then something falls on your head!

I really hate that horrendous big bug, so let's jump over the sucker and run!