When I first loaded Zaptastic, I immediately assumed a cheap Robotron ripoff but it's actually based on an old Jeff Minter game called Ancipital. Lee Burrows not only coded this conversion but did all the graphics and sounds. It runs on both models of ST but is intended for the Atari STe as it uses the Blitter for the sprites and DMA effects. Sadly, I couldn't get it to work on my STFM without getting two nasty bombs popping up!
We're in control of a Dolph Lundgren dude with spiky hair and shades who must frantically clear 64 rooms infested by an array of nasties. He gets around using the screen's four sides and can escape the hoard by leaping across to the opposite side - but be careful because your shield won't last forever! Firing is constant and in the direction last used but can be temporally frozen by holding down the fire button <cough> Llamatron.
Visually, things are amateur but it works great with lots of silly sprites filling the screen. The audio is insane thanks to the DMA coprocessor pushing out funky samples to keep everything loud and exciting. Overall, this is one incredibly addictive and psychedelic shoot 'em up and I loved every zany minute of it!!
Zaptastic can be downloaded at ST Format (disk #81)
Well, no but this is the next best thing. Well, no it isn't lol. Regardless, you guys might like this if you appreciate slideshows of digitised pixel art? After last year's mega-hit, ZombieCrypt [yes, sarcasm!], I have made another slideshow. Of course, this time for the incredible Half-Life II games using the engine created by my friend, Peter Jørgensen.
I've added a superb chiptune by TAO called Line of Fire, which suits the theme perfectly with a fast upbeat feel. Each picture is actually a screenshot from my gameplay - I then converted each to Degas format using Imagecopy 4. The entire process took me about six months to compile. I hope you enjoy my lame release? [download]
If you wanna see more of my Atari ST creations then there's a link on the right and also back there 👈
- A Few Sample Images -
Sadly, a couple didn't make the cut as I ran out of floppy disk space... Doh!
Everyone knows Peter Putnik has adapted hundreds of games for hard disk installation. These include extras, like bug fixes, TOS compatibility, 4MB patching, Mega STe/Falcon support, etc. However, some are also super-charged with cool coding that utilises the Blitter coprocessor and DMA for audio that will blow your mind.
Are you interested being better on your Atari STe? You should be!
So I thought it would be nice to have a brief round-up of the enhanced games as a compilation here on AtariCrypt. Oids and Uridium are particularly impressive because both improve tremendously on their original counterparts. I also enjoyed playing my own music during a game of Xenon 2 (you can convert your own music).
There is something here for everyone and I hope you find this useful. Let me know what you think...
Let's play...
Okay, let's take a look at some of these enhanced games that you can download and play right now...
+ Xenon II - updated for the Atari STe and features DMA streamed music. Turn up the volume! + Cannon Fodder - enhance this lame port with your chosen DMA streamed music. + Prince Of Persia - allow the DMA hardware lurking inside the Atari STe to replay the game's sounds.
Did you enjoy that? Well, here are three enhanced FTL games that are nicely improved...
+ Dungeon Master - far cleaner samples are heard thanks to the DMA hardware within the Atari STe. + Chaos Strikes Back - Again, the DMA hardware allows cleaner sample playback for this awesome sequel. + Oids - the potential for double framerates deliver a smoother experience when rescuing the stickmen.
Right, let's take a peek at three more which aren't exactly favoured well by the average ST gamer...
+ Jinks - this jerky game is weird but at least it now uses the smoother STe scrolling [original disks still required] + Menace - I cannot thank Peter enough for replacing that horrendous yellow ship with a white one! + Uridium - Blitter-boost that sluggish ship and add DMA-streamed background music while you're at it!
Now let's take a little run-around with these three you might never have expected to boot up...
+ Giana Sisters - this Zamuel_a enhanced game now also comes with optional DMA streamed music!! + Hard 'n' Heavy - gone is that embarrassing flip-screen gameplay, all thanks to cool Blitter programming. + Road Runner - Improved and also Blitterized for faster scrolling - but it's still a rubbish game (sorry!)
Okay, let's end in style! Here are two ST classics and (wait for it) a PC classic too! Ooh, nice...
+ Goldrunner - Some might not like this, but I love hitting the F3 key to disable that fuzzy speech! + Gauntlet - this sluggish hack 'n slash arcade game gets big improvements but still needs extra CPU grunt. + Wolfenstein 3D - Ray's jaw-dropping FPS now has bugs removed with decent save game support.
I loved Monty Mole on my ZX Spectrum so I had high expectations of Impossamole. However, I was soon shocked to see a number of critical changes had been made and not always for the better. Why do they do that?
There are five huge levels to explore and you can begin on any of the first four, the fifth is locked until these are completed. Each is very different with its own unique environment, bad guys and cruel traps. Weirdly, this is now a scrolling platformer rather than the original flick-screen as seen in most games from that era.
However, the most shocking of all is that Monty can now fight back using karate kicks and weapons. It's a nice idea if the kicks had much effect and the weapons were plentiful and fun to use. Guess what, neither works and having Monty suddenly turn into a Mole version of Chuck Norris doesn't fit in with the original theme.
At least there's no Arthur Scargill
My first game began as an exciting stroll through memory lane with many familiar sights in a similar mining environment. However, my fun ended thanks to the basic mechanics which failed miserably. Things might appear nice but each level is impossibly tricky with enemies that know your every move - before you make it.
Monty only has one life and it's not long until a couple of monsters have zapped your energy bar and "Game Over" comes all too soon. Sure, Monty can try to fight back with his kicks but those legs are way too short to be useful. The weapons are a neat idea but they're too few and far between. Nice idea, badly executed.
My thoughts? As I said earlier, fighting back doesn't work here but it goes against the grain of what makes a Monty Mole game. The weapons are rubbish and his kicks are too short - well - moles have little legs! This whole concept feels like an idea bolted onto the game. It does not work.
Impossible Mole!
It doesn't matter which level I chose to play, the name Impossamole lives up to the expectations of being literally impossible. Every level will need to be pre-played to learn all the unfair and irritating traps that make no sense. Not to mention the enemies which are often impossible to kill and can appear from nowhere too.
That might sound 'fair' for a platformer but it doesn't work; the weaponry isn't good enough and the difficulty is constantly off the scale. Terrible, and incessantly far too tough. Whoever beta tested this game and then thought to themselves, "Yes, it's ready" needs to be shot. Okay, I'm 30 years late - but shoot him anyway!
Can you tell I am absolutely gutted that I'm whinging about this? I was really excited too.
Graphics and Sounds?
Visually, this is beautiful with each level looking absolutely incredible. The attention to detail is stunning with highly detailed areas and sprites plus everything moves along smoother than a hot knife in soft butter. To say it's impressive is an understatement because it's brilliant in every respect. I have zero complaints.
The scrolling... Well done @Andy Green!! Nailed it. No lame Amiga port here, folks.
The title music is a rendition of the Rob Hubbard classic and is chiptune magic. This is something I can leave playing in the background all night long. The same cannot be said for the sparse sound effects!
The CryptO'pinion?
I don't know what to make of Impossamole. Technically, it's well-programmed with great visuals and interesting levels. It appears to have it all. However, it's simply far too difficult thus infuriating and without enjoyment. Fancy doing the opposite of what was needed and releasing a game that's no fun? What were Core thinking?
Impossamole could easily have been another Rick Dangerous but, alas, it's the weakest Monty game in the entire series. I'm tempted to add Impossamole to my list!! Arrrgh, I hated it but, I hated hating it!!
If you're curious, then floppy disks can be found here with a hard disk version by D-Bug.
I've got quite a collection of Atari ST magazines and coverdisks but this disk has to be the best of the bunch. The text is something that I didn't really take any notice of at first. Subtle wording. But I've been giggling to myself over it today: "Visit interesting places, meet new people... and then kill them!". So funny!!
Doubt they'd get away with it today; which sums up today's woke world. Sadly.
Yes, there are already several examples of cracking Pacman games for the best 16-bit computer on the planet. This Pacman really needed to bring something extra special to the table. Well, the game has been developed specifically for the enhanced Atari STe and, unlike so many lost shareware titles, this download is actually the legit registered version! This comes with lots of cool gameplay/aesthetic extras which will impress!
The Pacman genre is timeless but this version takes the familiar theme to a new level thanks to its furious speeds. There are 100 levels, zany visuals, funky music and a range of stereo samples: like the Road Runner's "meep meep" and the buzzer from Family Fortunes. Digital Dreams utilises the STe's extra colours, Blitter and DMA Audio. Interestingly, the Function Keys can change the bass, treble, volume (and more).
Credits
Stuart Innes - Programming/Graphics
Robert Thompson - Graphics/Sfx
Alasdair Macmillan - Graphics
Come on, play the game
PacMan On E's can be fully enjoyed solo for the most hilariously challenging take on the original concept. It's tripped out, and stuffed with colourful visuals and a bucket load of whacky sound effects. The action and fast and exciting so never gets boring, which is how the original becomes. Well, after a while.
Best of all is the simultaneous two-player support especially when hunting for the power-ups. There are a variety of silly effects and my recording shows myself and my daughter playing it together in coop. Absolutely superb!! (When she lost, she decided to cheat by covering my eyes with her hands. Hmm!)
Download me!
You can grab this belting Pac-Man game from most ST websites but Peter, aka 8BitChip, has adapted the registered version which you can download from my Dropbox (while his website is currently offline as I type). My personal greetings to Stuart Innes, Robert Thomson and Alasdair Macmillan for this wonderful game!!
Wait, don't go just yet!! Let's see some screenshots before you download this fantastic game...
An iconic opening intro. Love it!!
Oh yes, lots of STe-only features that you can tweak.
Super-duper colourful graphics to jazz up boring old Pacman.
Fine design spruced up using fantastic colour work.
What? This screenshot looks kind of dull. But the action is furious!
The final screenshot is here to send your eyeballs crazy with its psychedelic design!
This is a short video of the Atari ST emulating the ZX Spectrum and running Matthew Smith's classic platformer. Please note, that this emulator struggles on a stock 8MHz ST when it comes to audio and scrolling the screen. Of course, this game doesn't scroll but the background tune pushes its luck, so I turned it off for better performance (it's then at the speed of the original, almost). You can find out more about Speccy Emulator by clicking here. Enjoy my video recording :)
