I've just been going through the latest uploads on Demozoo and there have been many incredible releases of demos, artwork and music from both the Outline and Sommarhack parties. I'm constantly blown away by what the DHS boys can produce: the video above is of Midnight Sun for the Atari STe which runs in complete overscan!!
Now check out these screenshots for an idea of what the Atari ST #demoscne is cable of knocking out. Remember, YouTube is good, but nothing beats the experience of using a real Atari ST/e computer. #JustSaying :p
P-47 was released in 1988 by Firebird and based on the Jaleco arcade game. There are several levels through a wide variety of landscapes so put on your Biggles outfit because you're about to reach for the skies.
Any shoot 'em up needs decent scrolling, awesome controls and enemies to kill. P-47 has this by the bucket load. It's immediately obvious the teamwork that went into development has certainly paid off. Choose either a 50/60Hz display with smooth parallax scrolling, great graphics throughout and fast sprites that honour the original. Funky chipmusic plays alongside the pizazz sound effects, both of which are great.
The action is hectic as the planes whizz into view and tanks blast artillery - they're just asking for a MOAB!! Other levels have us flying through sunset clouds, pyramids, and over the seas - I love the missiles which emerge from underwater. Strangely, the bosses are easy to defeat by positioning in a safe place and repeatedly dropping a payload of bombs. Each level varies but the concept remains: fly, avoid, panic, and kill everything.
Where P-47 fails is the frustratingly high difficulty - the screen will always be cluttered with many baddies and a collision is inevitable. Stick with it; collect the power-ups, learn the enemy's attack pattern and keep on firing. Sure, this is imperfect but it's also one I really enjoy and a darn challenging shoot 'em up.
Stonish has the game on floppy disk and I recommend New Order #20 Menu CD.
Hard drive installable versions are available by both 8BitChip and D-Bug.
I recently came upon an unreleased shooter called Bold, by Laurent Kermel. I then did something guys don't normally do - I read the documentation!! This listed his website - which still works - and that linked through to an Atari ST section that details unfinished ST games. Just look at these pictures (above) of Slug, Dragoon Twins, Tenesis, and Empire. Impressive STuff I'm sure you will agree / lost to time. O_o
I contacted Laurent to thank him for Bold and another game I downloaded - a Dungeon Master clone called Wiliness 3. I've only just started to play that, but boy is it a cracker. Laurent is a really nice guy who I enjoyed talking with - I urgently suggest fans of either shooters or RPGs, should play Bold and Wiliness 3.
Bold is fantastic, albeit unfinished, shoot 'em up for the Atari ST/e and is influenced by a number of other games. I personally feel it's a cross between Zynaps or R-Type with fast and frantic gameplay as every enemy zooms onto the screen like they're on steroids. Quick reactions are the order of the day.
I love the graphics but it's a shame there's a large part of the screen unused - probably meant for a status panel? Bold isn't controlled using a joystick but instead the mouse and, I admit that the thought of this failed to impress me, at first. I changed my mind after the first play because it's perfect for sharp manoeuvrability.
Any model of ST is compatible but Bold plays better (and smoother) if you have a Blitter chip. Of course, all Atari STe computers are fine but others may need to shop with exxos to fill that empty socket inside their STFM. Sadly, those really old pre-1987 STs might not even have an empty socket so I imagine an extra cost?
Although unfinished, Bold is furiously great with precise mouse control I loved. A thrilling shooter!!
The Bold web page has the download and a nifty walkthrough of each level.
I made a video but I hate YouTube so advise you don't watch and instead PLAY the game :-)
A cheat code is mentioned in the interview with Laurent within Alive Magazine #09.
Chris Swinson, aka Exxos, sells Blitter chips but I've now exhausted my hardware knowledge...
- W I L I N E S S III -
Grab a flask and sword, we're going in!!
Laurent developed a Dungeon Master clone called Wiliness 3 which is shockingly professional and could have been a rival to the FTL classic. The RPG experience is amazing with a familiar user interface as we crawl through another creepy dungeon. Of course, it's unfinished but 6 levels are playable plus I liked the control system and those eerie sound effects. Wiliness had the potential to be a winner. It really did...
This is something I need to spend a weekend on sometime soon. Brilliant dungeon crawler!
The Wiliness web page has the download and a BUCKET load of helpful information!
There are many different boot sector programs to add cool fx onto a floppy. This helps prevent virus infections but we all love the dazzling effects! Some are technically amazing! Bootblock by The Fingerbobs is one of my favourite programs that writes a number of boot sectors and the one above is Bladerunners!!
Credits: Bootblock was coded by Oberje of Fingerbobs with music by Jochen Hippel.
There are many boot sectors to choose from and I love finding awesome programs like this. There are more lurking out there somewhere in ST Land. Let me know in the comments below what programs you find.
I said I wouldn't do it... but... here we are!! Yes, the most annoying game has arrived on the Atari ST and I've played it. Well, tried to as I managed about 30 minutes before I felt like throwing the joystick out my bedroom window. The animation, above, is just a slice of the hell I went through. I hope y'all have a giggle at my pain - it wasn't fun whatsoever lol
Well, I will say one thing about this maddening game, it looks great as it torments you. The graphics are bright and colourful plus it's running in 1VBL which means the scrolling is ultra-smooth. However, I just don't get it so I'm left wondering why the entire world appears to be in love with this flappy little flyer? What are they seeing that I'm not? Or is it me? :o
I never reached a point where I started to appreciate or enjoy this game. I simply hate Flappy Bird so much!!!!
Those who feel brave (or IMHO foolish) can grab the download from the AtariMania website.
The Seven Gates Of Jambala was released in 1989 by Grandslam thanks to many talented sceners at Thalion. I bought this a few years ago and paid handsomely too. Not only because it's by Thalion, but it came sealed and in pristine condition: opening it was immense, especially when I got close and breathed in that trapped 1980s air... Mmm!!
There are some big names associated with this platformer, which I'm sure many will recognise from the ST's demo scene. These talented scenes knew how to get the most from the ST and prove what this computer is capable of - when programmed by people who didn't make excuses. Sadly, as with Enchanted Land, this is another that looks and sounds better than it plays. Don't get me wrong, the basic mechanics are good but there's something "off". I don't like how he shoots plus the momentum/slippy floors are weird. Especially when at the edge of a tight platform!
Am I being harsh? Perhaps I'll return to this for a proper playtest and review? Let me know in the comments! Downloads are available by Klaz (for floppy and hard drive - plus a trainer). You will need that trainer...
- SCREENSHOTS -
We begin in a village but beware the threat of drowning in tiny purple puddles!
Where could these doors possibly take us? Let's knock and find out...
Woo!! It's really creepy down here and there are monsters too. Watch out!
The tunnels reminded me of No Buddies Land! You can find THAT on this website too :o)
Mud Pies is one of the oldest Atari ST games we have and stars a kid called Arnold. He loved the circus - until it came to his town so he threw a pie at one of the clowns. Unfortunately, these clowns aren't known for having a sense of humour and chased after him! There's only one thing left to do - throw more pies!!
Each screen represents a tent in the circus with an invading army of clowns - they're like jelly monsters dressed up as Ronald McDonald! They wander, waving their arms and chucking juggling pins. This invasion lasts forever but the pies won't! Look for an open door to another tent full of mud pies - and more clowns.
Throwing a mud pie at a clown will see them flying off the screen (even more will score extra points). However, try not to get trapped in a corner otherwise, you might receive a juggling pin knockout blow!
I can imagine this is starting to sound insane? Well, check out the 1985 graphics and try not to laugh...
Just imagine the look on today's kids if you show 'em this 1985 game. Will they "get it"?
Simple, yet brilliant!
Challenge rooms are different from the standard tents because they have no mud pies but instead, lots of clowns to avoid whilst grabbing the prizes - for 1000 points. Every 20,000 points, a secret door will appear for the chance to enter into a Mudslinging Round where you have 30secs to throw pies at wandering clowns!!
Don't clown about too much! Getting hit isn't good for your health and dying shows your body being carried away on a stretcher to the first aid tent. That can happen only three times before it's game over. Talented pie chuckers will be delighted that freebie lives are awarded every 10,000 points. A nice bonus.
Keep an eye on the health meter displayed top/left - this is split into three segments with the middle one enabling you to run fast. However, this speed is reduced if you become too hungry or overly bloated on burgers and fries. The trick is to keep your health a nice happy medium throughout for maximum agility.
Come on, let's pause this reading and take a look at another quality screenshot...
Always frantic, always fun and so addictive. This game is eternal!!
Aesthetics
Graphically, this isn't stressing the Atari ST in the slightest. But remember that it was developed and released in 1985 before programmers knew how to push our computer. Having said that, it's got a certain Charley Chuck charm to it and, as a gamer since the early 1980s, I love its retro feel. No, I absolutely love it :)
Spot-sound effects are fine, but it is best to leave the music on. Again, this isn't anything near the quality we are used to hearing but it's still surprisingly enjoyable. No complaints, it's an old game remember!
Come on guys, how a game looks and sounds never really matters. Mudpies certainly proves this...
Oh, just take a look at the high-score table!! Can ya' beat me??? ;-)
The CryptO'pinion?
It's impressive that MichTron (Philip McKenzie and Jeffrey Sorenson) knocked this out for a computer that was practically unknown back in 1985. I can't imagine how exciting that was - and daunting too. But when Mudpies came along it must have been a breath of fresh air to all those rich people that could afford an ST!
Think what you will, but Mudpies is a terribly entertaining take on Food Fight with silly gameplay that transports us back to our youth. Abusing clowns is never boring - I can't imagine a better way to spend an afternoon than slinging mud pies at them. This is so much FUN and that's what matters most. Play this.
Grab a piece of this old skool action for either floppy or hard drive. Enjoy!!
