Fractal Landscape Generator

It's time to get creative

Fractal Landscape Generator was developed by David Billington who offers us an opportunity to develop mountainous worlds. Now, it's worth stopping to read the disk's doc file before you do anything else - because of an excellent mini-guide. I know, I know, nobody reads the manual... but you should this time!

Making a brand new rugged landscape is extremely easy thanks to the fantastic user interface. Not only that, the results can be produced and viewed quickly, even on an 8MHz computer. Thankfully, the program made great use of my 16MHz Mega STe which is superb. The versatile speeds of Hatari will be a huge bonus!

The 3D part was initially difficult to grasp but don't give up - keep on tinkering and you'll grasp it. Once you're happy, you can then add light-shading, alter various colour parameters, and increase the detail level. Heck, you can even animate a fly-by through your newly created world.

Dabbling in 16-bit creation was fun and it's impressive to see what wonders I could knock out. To think I found it by chance: Floppyshop ART-3647. It's a nice feeling to find something "new" and this is a great program to get started in fractal landscaping. Give it a go and let me know what you think in the comments below!

I hope you enjoy making mountains...

- My Own MEGA STe Creations -

Astro Marine Corps

Creepy monsters are coming to get you!

Sometimes a game doesn't need a longwinded storyline, puzzles, or life-sucking RPG elements. Sometimes all you want is a huge mother of a weapon (with unlimited ammo, of course) and lots of baddies in need of urgent annihilation. Be happy because Dinamic's AMC fits the bill with lots of gratifyingly brutal violence!

This multi-level scrolling shoot 'em up involves nothing more than walking grim alien landscapes to hammer down the fire button to kill everything in sight. Upgradeable weapons use a directional-firing technique and our marine can crouch and leap high into the air (with wiggly legs). We are equipped with powerful bombs, which are needed when the main gun isn't effective. (tip: perhaps you can drop a few into the crater?)

The aliens are an obscene bunch of misfits ranging from man-eating plants to mechanoids that even Robocop would run away from. Don't get close to the unassuming caterpillars, these will suddenly grow in size - with teeth!! I think AMC has some of the best enemies and the monstrously huge Guardian proves it.

Technically, AMC could have been better as the scrolling could have been more energetic, plus the landscapes look rather "unfinished". Thankfully, the joystick controls are excellent. However, it is awkward reaching for the keyboard to throw a bomb - especially when mechanoids are chasing. With a bit of spit and polish...

AMC is crude and predictable but it's thoroughly entertaining with great baddies, crunchy sound effects and tons of action. Loved it and being an Astro Marine is ace because it's fantastic killing alien scumbags!!


Waste no more time! Install AMG onto your hard drive or grab the floppies as Stonish has great Menu disks: Dodgysoft #81 and Flame Of Finland #25.

Even the plant life is out to get you in this crazy game so watch out where you walk!!

Awe look everyone it's a strange little worm... No... Wait... ARGHHH it's growing!!

This thingamabob is absolutely superb. Look at the detail in his eyes and teeth. Love it!!

AMG has some huge monsters but the bosses are even bigger. This beast is ginormous!!

Gribnif Software

Today is a great day!!

Dan Wilga has released NeoDesk and Geneva as freeware that can be downloaded directly from the Gribnif website. I've quickly run through a test installation (within Hatari) and it worked without a hitch. My next project is to install this onto my Mega STe and get this amazing operating running from an SD Card.

What a fantastic opportunity this is but please don't forget to donate whatever you can. I would love to see your NeoDesk screenshots! Let me know what you guys think of Geneva/NeoDesk in the comments below...

- THE DOWNLOAD LINK -

Killing Machine

The killer from Atlantis

Killing Machine is a vertically scrolling shooter by Atlantis Software released in 1992. We're on a remote planet controlled by a giant brain that identifies you (and your sassy spaceship) as nothing less than an invading bacteria. Vermin, that needs to be wiped out!! The battlefield spans three levels and is stuffed full of kamikaze enemies - out for blood.

The first thing that struck me was the graphics which are uniquely colourful using a sweet palette. The smooth scrolling is slow and steady with impressive enemy sprites zipping across the screen. Sound effects go beyond mere bleeps for some rather raspy samples. Okay, they're not the greatest but the grunge works well and suits the styles.

Killing Machine is brutal and requires lots of practice before you get close to beating the first level. That learning curve is nothing less than painful. Keep at it - collecting the power-ups and learning the enemy attack patterns is a must. Or you die a suckers death. This isn't the best shooter, but it's good fun and I've enjoyed playing it. Highly recommended.

Atarilegend has floppy disks (Pure Energy #53)
8BitChip has a version for hard disk installation.

AtariMania has this listed along with scans of the manual.

Rambo III

Everyone loves 80s Action heroes!

Rambo III was released by Ocean Software and is an overhead shooter not too dissimilar to others like Into The Eagle's Nest. I'm incredibly excited to finally own this game that has tremendous Hollywood artwork (and is one of few with a great back cover). So I decided to take a piccy of both and double-up on our love for movie legend Sly Stallone.

Sly is our musclebound action hero and is about to infiltrate a Soviet base that has Colonel Trautman held captive. Our mission spans over three levels with the first parts being the actual rescue, before fleeing for our escape in an over-head game similar to a Gauntlet. The final part is a shooting gallery stage that feels a little like an Operation Wolf.

Let's see a couple of screenshots, starting with the outstanding title screen...

I can't help but admire this superb screen. Yes, it is superb!!

Okay, we're in. Grab your knife because it's time to kick ass!!

Run. Shoot. Kill everything!

The gameplay style, on the first two levels, is kinda umm Gauntlet-inspired. Ironically, you shouldn't run around pretending to be just like Johnny Rambo - this will get you killed! Instead, carefully explore the complex, looking for the best route. Plus any useful items like health, ammo, and Infra-Red goggles to detect the invisible boobytraps!

Enemies occupy each room but they feel more like automated drones than the Soviet elite - they robotically patrol back and forth. I imagine these guys also suffer tunnel vision because they are completely unaware of your presence until you stumble directly in their line of sight. When that happens, an alarm sounds, and nearby soldiers begin attacking. Don't be put off by these silly soldiers because it actually works well to distinguish itself from being a mere Gauntlet clone.

At least you have an awesome health meter! An idea that looks ahem familiar and is freakishly excellent!! 

This is no Gauntlet; I love the careful tactics that are needed. So play more like the real US Army Special Forces instead of the Hollywood claptrap. My only quibbles are trying to memorise the humungous map as it's easy to lose your bearings. Each room will be blindly entered, so try and learn where the soldiers patrol otherwise those Ruskies will gang up to give Sly a kicking. This is what brings me onto pick-ups, there should be more health packs to balance the gameplay.

Want more screenshots? YES, I hear you cry. That's great to hear feedback!!! So here you go...

Tread carefully because most rooms are heavily guarded with many tunneled-vision soldiers!

These guys will patrol back and forth so be slow and make sure you don't set off the alarms.

But is it any good?

Graphically, Rambo has a pretty place to covertly explore - perhaps a little too brash and colourful? There is no scrolling, which is a shame, but this might actually give a close and more confined feeling - which I prefer. I love the sprites, and their movements remind me of a certain WWII shooter!! The music is gorgeous and suits the gameplay.

I understand why Rambo III failed to capture the hearts of most reviewers back in the day. It's Marmite so you will either love or hate it but, I think, it's a belting game albeit with the niggles mentioned above. It's not Gauntlet so remember that. Use a stealthy approach and prepare thyself to spend many hours sneaking about and mapping the level.

Rambo III is challenging and tactical, with arcade action, so be covert and persevere. Now you have a great game.

Tear your shirt off and grab Rambo 3 from Atarilegend or Old Games Finder (Automation #47).
Wanna see maps? Of course, you do: Speccy Screenshot Maps / Hall Of Light.

The back of the box is absolutely awesome. Gotta love Sly!!

Atari ST friends

My new Atari ST merch!

I received my latest "Atari Games" mug by Peter Jørgensen (Enduro Racer / YMT). No, they're not all the same, just scroll down for the reverse side. These cups are superb and it's so kind of Peter to send them. The mouse mat was a gift from my mate Tom, another ST nutter. Both Peter and Tom made the ZombieCrypt mug - probably because they were blown away by that slideshow I released last year. Hmm, probably not lol.

My greetings Peter/Tom - nothing is better than suppin' coffee from my Atari ST mug!! 😎

KillThings

It's killing time!

KillThings, by Orm of Digi Tallis, is a 3D first-person shooter similar to something like Wolfenstein. Alas, it was never finished, but it is still very playable and I'm impressed by the speed of its 3D engine which is both fast and fluent. What's more, is the mapping screen which works just like the one seen in Doom - love it!!

Sadly, there are no audio effects and little to do other than wander stark corridors looking for a bug-eyed stickman to kill. Still, the potential is staggering when you think about what's completed for this unfinished version. Interestingly, there is a level editor if you're feeling bravely creative? Go on, I dare 'ya.

Let's check out a couple of screenshots of the map and level editor...

The game's mapping function works like a dream, much like we saw in Doom!

Why not design your own levels using the editor?

The CryptO'pinion?

KillThings was never going to replace Wolfenstein or Substation but I'm fascinated by oddities like this lurking within our archives. I'm impressed by the hopes and dreams of what this developer wanted to create back in the day. It's a shame his idea died before it was completed. The 'readme' explains a great deal.

But fear not, we have this demo which is neat and shows what might have been if completed. It's rather cool and can be downloaded from their website, along with the level editor and much more.

I hope that one day, Orm gets back to this project because it's funky cool with massive potential.