Electronic Images released the most hilarious Atari ST demo I have seen. I tried to record a video but my emulator messed graphics and the sine scroller (which is beautiful) was jerking like it had a nervous twitch. So I gave up and burned the image to a floppy to enjoy it. Nothing beats the real hardware.
Download this utterly stupid demo from AtariMania then turn up the volume and enjoy the show.
Credits 4mat - Music Count Zero - Music Griff - Code, Text J.C.B - Graphics (Animation)
Menace is one of the few Psygnosis games that I respect. It's a good shooter. Okay, it should have been better with a little effort but, that's an Amiga company for you. Anyhow, it's still a decent game and I enjoy it. But what's with the YELLOW ship compared to that other version? For years, I've hated its bland colour and wondered what they were thinking. And if it was possible to change it for something better?
So I contacted Atari ST wizard Peter Putnik about my dilemma. He's always up for a challenge and open to new ideas. It wasn't long until he came back with a solution that worked well. As you can see in both the video and screenshots, our spaceship now has a new paint job!! The caveat is a change to the (badly placed) status pane due to the 16-colour palette. Of course, the game remains the same but we now pilot a white ship!
You know folks, this is what makes the Atari ST scene a marvellous place. Think about it, I wasn't happy with a commercial game from 30+ years ago. I asked a guy living in another country for his thoughts. What does he do? He fixes it without hesitation. Incredible. What an amazing community we have.
My sincere thanks to Peter for being gracious with my request. This version of Menace is the only one I will play on the Atari ST. Here's the download to the newly designed AtariCrypt White Star (geddit?).
Please watch the video trailer above and gander at these lovely screenshots...
I made this silly image. Can you tell? lol
Here it is, our brand new white ship!
Just look at it. Much better now albeit at the expense of the status bar.
Skimming along through space in my spanky new ship!!
It might not be the best shooter but the graphics are cool.
It has it's haters but this is better than most of the drivel Psygnosis produced for us.
Reanimators #6 features a few simple effects with a superb chiptune (hmm, it sounds familiar). You know me, I love sine scrollers and this one is a belter and displayed using the full range of lovely rainbow colours. On the disk is Thunderstrike, an incredible 3D shoot 'em up with outstanding graphics - it feels like an early Cybermorph ;-)
There are many amazing artists out there and I've always had a soft spot for the guys that make up the incredible YM Rockerz. So here is the wonderful compilation called "wave upon wave" which they released 17 years ago! It features several tracks by their awesome musicians: 505, D-Force, Dma-Sc, Tao, Lotek Style and Milhouse.
It's impossible to pick a favourite, but I do love Shifter by Tao which you can listen to by clicking on the GEM green arrow. Check out the YM Rockerz website ... I think that I'm going to listen to "Seven" again tonight :-)
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!
