Automation #496

Press 1 for...

Nope, there's none of that with Automation #496 because this intro is based on Rick Dangerous. Well, there's no actual interaction and little to do other than walk and climb ladders. But it's a cool alternative compared to the usual menus we would have seen. Just control Ricky D. with the joystick, and enter a doorway to select a game to play!!

Credits

E.G.B. - Code

Count Zero - Music

https://demozoo.org/productions/65222/

Roger

Another Atari STe game, anyone?

Spot... Erm, sorry, Roger is a fast-paced 25-level platformer released by Tobe of MJJ. It offers a frantic run through various Sonic-like levels collecting jewels for a demanding girlfriend, Georgette. This "platformer" has many jewels - without any ladders and few ledges. So how will Roger complete this task?

Bubbles, of course! All he needs to do is jump on one and, when it bursts, the force thrusts him upwards. If there's another bubble, then the cycle continues and he uses that momentum to reach each other jewels. Roger has limited health, so it's advisable to avoid the sharp spikes that burst on contact to drain valuable energy. Thankfully, power pills can be collected to compensate for that but they are few and far between.

Okay, let's take a break from the reading as I've a sexy picture to share...

This is what it's all about and Georgette is pretty much a babe with her luscious red lips!

Quick Reactions R Needed!

Use the joystick to walk left or right and the fire button helps Roger leap with joy via the bubbles. Once you begin bubble-jumping, it's a matter of altering your trajectory towards the next bubble - whilst collecting the nearby jewels, as you zoom through the air. Burst bubbles reappear after a second or two, and that aspect cunningly allows you to revisit the areas you might have previously missed during this insane journey.

Want a tip? Gotta learn the level layout as you are hopping about like a crazy fool!

Are you getting a little worried about how deranged this game sounds? It's not nearly as stupid as you think because the mechanics of bubble-hopping work brilliantly. In some ways, I got a Sonic vibe from it but, unlike that hedgehog, Roger is zooming around your screen in all directions with one primary goal.

It's a maddening thrill being Roger and you'll love it, so let's see another screenshot...

Check out that stride - gotta love those lanky legs!

What about the aesthetics?

The graphics are a mixed bag; Roger's sprite is superb with side-splitting animation - I could watch those lanky legs for hours!! The framerates are frighteningly fast with smooth scrolling thanks to the Blitter. Sadly, the in-game decor is quite a disappointment with drab backgrounds that only change every 5 levels.

Sound effects are crisp and perfectly suited to the style: I like the explosion sound for the spikes and magnificent chip music plays throughout. Well, I say magnificent but that's because I cannot think of a better word - I could listen to them all day!! This certainly proves that chip music will last forever and rightly so.

Right then, let's see one final screenshot before the gripping climax...

Finally, a different background after the first few levels and it's much nicer too.

The CryptO'pinion?

Roger is quite a unique experience and feels like an airborne Boulder Dash meets Sonic. It's weird and something I would never have expected to enjoy. It's easy to pick up and play and I guarantee you won't be able to put down your joystick. Hopping from bubble to bubble is stupidly frantic and I loved every second of it.

Roger's gameplay is legendary. Enormously addictive with an extreme adrenalin rush!! Play this.

Roger can be found on Demozoo and Pouet for floppy disk and hard drive installation.

Tobé's archive is detailed on Demozoo, although he did stray a little ;-)

BLAT

Block Blasting!

I enjoy the occasional brain teaser and Blat is a twist on the Columns genre which was released for the Atari STe by The Infamous Cabbage, aka Chris Vance. I'm sorry STF dudes but this game is only playable on an STe because of the cool samples played via the DMA hardware. Interestingly, this brain-blaster was released on June 17th, 1992 so is 25 years old today. So let's sing, "Happy Birthday, BLAT"

Falling columns of coloured blocks need reordering during their descent and, if we can successfully match them up - it's KABOOM!! This explosion earns us points and helps clear the board space for the oncoming blocks, so the more we match the greater the points. Diagonal rows are the most rewarding and you will receive a smart bomb when matching five or more. It's advisable to keep these until the later (faster) levels!

There are 15 levels but it won't be long until you're grateful for keeping a stockpile of smart bombs because this isn't an easy game - it soon picks up the pace for an extremely harsh difficulty. Thankfully, there are items to help, like the clocks which can slow the pace right down - two is good but three is much better. There are also sticks of dynamite, lightning bolts and even indestructible blocks. Many of these can be paired so try positioning a light fuse next to the dynamite for a massive explosion that conveniently destroys many blocks.

This is a polished product with gorgeous sound effects and is so addictive. Actually, I'm surprised it's PD and not shareware. I've thoroughly enjoyed playing BLAT even if I couldn't get anywhere near level 15 - and it's doubtful I ever will. Highly recommended, especially for those wanting a REAL challenge!!

Stonish have Serenade #1 floppy disk (it features Teserea, another which you may like).

AtariMania has Blat listed in their database with the readme conveniently available.

Amiga!!

Hell froze over!

Sorry guys, I'm leaving the Atari ST because I prefer a slower computer and have decided to switch. Okay, don't sweat it, I'm joking!! The image above shows a clip from the infamous "Amiga Emulator" by Philip Nelson. This is nothing more than a bit of fun and found on the Stonish website - I recommend Quartet #30.

Right then, enough of this silliness... let's boot up my ST to enjoy a better 16-bit experience!!

Whipper Snapper's Race

Hang on, this ain't Cannon Fodder!

What do you get if you merge together "Horace Goes Skiing" with Cannon Fodder? Easy, it's called Whipper Snapper's Race by Petr Sumbera of New Design using Omikron Basic. The game stars Max - a dude who goes skiing down many vertically scrolling levels in places that look (umm) spookily familiar...

Navigate left/right to pass each obstacle as you ski—but don't bump into anything else; you'll fall flat on your bum! Pushing up will reduce your speed, pulling down will increase it, and firing will perform a leap into the air. Passwords are used to access the "missions" without starting over from the beginning!!

Graphically, I could never complain because it is Cannon Fodder with superb attention to detail. Of course, it's all ripped and unoriginal but I do not care! The funky music is in stereo by Tomas Kucera and I'm sure you will leave it playing for a long while. In-game sound effects are ace but I won't spoil that surprise for you!

Sing with me - Skiing in Cannon Fodder... Never been so much fun....... (sorry!).

Okay, this is an easy one to rate, I'm sure you've guessed already what I think. Well, thanks to the great controls, this is effortless to pick up and play but that doesn't mean it's easy. Later missions are challenging yet always fun. Whipper Snapper's Race is a very silly skiing game and shockingly addictive!!

I've made a floppy for those stuck in 3.5" hell :^)

Download the hard drive-installable game @Demozoo!

Petr's website is still up and running after all these years!!

Virtual Escape

Jaw-Dropper

After about 6 years, Equinox eventually released Virtual Escape in 1999 and it's one of my favourite demos. The tunes are utterly sexy and there are also some of the most incredible visuals that will blow your socks off!! Those swirling dots are gobsmackingly beautiful and I love the super-duper fast 3D. It's hard to believe this is all on a stock 512KB 8MHz Atari ST. An incredible production that oozes class and is definitely one of the beST 16-Bit demos out there.

Don't emulate - experience this using a real Atari ST and crank up the volume!

Credits and Downloads

Furax - Music

Jedi - Music

Keops - Code, Graphics (design)

Mad Max - Music (endpart)

Nova - Graphics

Starlion - Code

You can download Virtual Escape right now off Demozoo.

Democyclopedia mentions each effect, along with the awesome Skyline (see above).

Jetpac

16Kb is all you will need

I'm sure everyone knows that Jet Pac was originally released in 1983 for the ZX Spectrum by uber-gaming legends, Ultimate Play The Game. It's one of the most iconic 8-bit games from the era and still plays brilliantly today. Our remake/conversion was developed by Pete J. Whitby in 1992 for Budgie UK. Heck, he also designed all the graphics and sound effects, very impressive. Talent like this never ceases to impress me.

Interesting tidbit? I owned Jetpac on both cassette and cartridge (ZX Spectrum). I also had a huge Speccy collection that dated back to 1981 plus others like an Interface II (I'm such a geek). Sadly, I sold the lot when we got our first house/mortgage. :( ....I need a time machine!!!!!

Right, what's the story? Well, our Jet Man is a lucky fella working as a space pilot for Acme Interstellar Transport Company. They're sending him to fifty planets to assemble (and playtest) their technological creations. Sadly, his luck ran out as each planet was bombarded by hostiles ranging from fiery comets to fluffy aliens.

I thought I'd never see Jet Pac on the ST yet here is a screenshot to make us all very happy...

There are so many different baddies to blast and many new ones too...

Planets, aliens, and lasers!!

Playability is impressively legit from the start. The controls are tight, responsive, and instantly familiar - albeit a tad quicker than I remember. Jet Man's movements are exactly as you would expect but he oddly cannot wrap around the screen. However, he compensates for that lost ability with a new one - shield power-ups.

That's right, the fuel pods aren't the only thing dropping in from the skies. Collect one of the bubbles and you're protected from harm. It doesn't last long but that grace period is good enough during the heat of battle.

Those space nasties use differing attack patterns that help keep the arcade action very engaging. Many are new and some require several shots whereas others are invulnerable. Also, watch out for deadly platforms that can zap Jet Man into an early grave. Heck, there is even an end level - this is something missing from the original. If only I had better gaming skills to witness that for myself? Yeah, I know. Not gonna happen!

Let's view another screenshot and this time I've beaten the hoard and escaped in my rocket...

Jet Man is one lucky dude who gets to play with all the cool new rockets!

Aesthetics

Visually, there wasn't much to the original but it wasn't needed and the same applies here. The Atari ST remake follows the same format albeit with smooth-moving sprites and extra colours. The only thing I didn't like was the new background, which I felt wasn't needed. I wonder if there can be a way to remove it?

The audio is good but not great. You can play with either the sound effects or chip music by Mad Max. Personally, I would recommend you leave that exceptional music playing because the sound effects are bland. Actually, it's humorously disappointing to hear the Atari ST out-bleeped by the inferior ZX Spectrum sound effects.

Okay, it's time for one last screenshot and this one represents the action nicely...

Zip Zap (geddit?) the aliens the best you can!! And refuel that rocket!

The CryptO'pinion?

Jetpac is Jetpac and this game will always be magnificent no matter the year. Admittedly, our remake wasn't going to beat the original but, I feel, Pete has done enough to capture the authenticity whilst also successfully implementing new ideas that work well and set it apart from being a mere clone.

What's not to love about frantically rushing about the screen, zapping a relentless alien hoard whilst gathering fuel pods? I loved playing it and enjoyed the new features. The boring sound effects aside, this is an utterly excellent game that I highly recommend. Let me know in the comments below what you think.

+ Waste no time and get it downloaded for floppies and hard drive.

+ Play the original game on your Atari ST using an emulator:
     > Artemis is a unique (albeit colourless) emulator that works only on 8MHz Atari ST/e computers. Recommended for those wanting to experience something different.
     > Speccy is another emulator with full support for colour and supports faster Atari computers. What a class emulator this is!!