Joust

Let's go medieval!

Joust is a cracker - whether solo or with a mate - and all you need is medieval chainmail and a flying ostrich. I think this is one of those games that everyone loves, so I figured that I should record a video demonstrating different versions? This also includes Winglord, an awesome take on the theme for the Atari STe.

Note: I used OpenEmu to emulate the Atari 2600/5200/7800 and Hatari for the Atari ST/e computers. My recording is best viewed directly on YouTube as each part is linked within its description.

Okay, let's start at the beginning and see what's what in the jousting world...




- A T A R I  2 6 0 0 -
First up is the Atari 2600, which I'm saddened to report I did not enjoy nearly as much as I was expecting. I don't know what it is, but I didn't gel with this version at all. Yes, the gameplay was quick and fun, but I was also left a little baffled as to why I wasn't enjoying it that much. I guess that I never felt totally comfortable with the controls.

However, I will say that the sound effects are typically 2600 and very raspy! This is what I absolutely love about the machine because it's so cool. Ultimately, I came away feeling cold, so this isn't something I'll return to.

- A T A R I  5 2 0 0 -
I'll always be the first to admit that I'm a noob concerning old consoles, but the Atari 5200 never seems to disappoint me. Once again, it delivers the goods with a fascinating conversion that is fast and frantic but always fun and well-balanced. And it's that what I enjoyed the most, for maximum, fair and balanced gameplay.

Okay, the graphics aren't exactly pushing this machine, but that doesn't matter at all. The sound effects are a brilliant step up from those on the 2600 (which I loved). The 5200 knocks it out of the park with a killer and zany experience. Looks bad, sounds great, and plays even better. What a fantastic version of Joust this is!!

- A T A R I  7 8 0 0 -
Next up is the obscure Atari 7800, and what a tough conversion this machine brought to the table. It's pretty much as you would expect, so more of the same Joust'y goodness. In fact, it looks, sounds, and plays superbly well, but is it a hard nut to crack. Over and over (and over again) I would fail miserably, and I began to question why I bother!

Like the 5200, I found the controls perfect, even if I failed to progress much (and that's an understatement). This version could/should have been the best of the lot, but it's just so darn difficult. Make sure you watch my video for a hilarious end to this game - I think this sums up my luck rather well with this game?

- A T A R I  S T -
Onto the Atari ST, and the boys did a fantastic job. After a peculiar title screen, we are greeted with detailed sprites and lovely animations - they sure look the part!! The gameplay is spot-on perfect thanks to awesome mechanics. This is a belting conversion that I find hard to fault because it's fun to play without the irritation of being too difficult.

I'm trying not to sound like an ST fanboy, but I genuinely had the most fun here. A perfect 10/10.

Floppies can be found via Old Games Finder, but install to a hard drive if you can.

- A T A R I  S T e -
Winglord by Victor Bruhn is something possibly unknown to many and it runs on both ST computers - but is best on the Atari STe thanks to Blitted graphics and lots of funky DMA sounds. There are a number of changes, like unicorns and yellow jackets so it's hardly an authentic clone. Which I'm glad of. Plus I love how the unicorns strut their stuff and did I mention that we have missiles? Oh yeah!! Winglord is a magnificent alternative to Joust.

Updated May 2021 - https://ataricrypt.blogspot.com/2021/05/winglord.html

Alien Vs Predator

Don't tread in the slime!

Rebellion's Alien Vs Predator is a 64-bit masterpiece and also the main reason I bought an Atari Jaguar. It offers a fascinating first-person experience set in outer space onboard an alien-infested spaceship. Rarely did I play as either the Alien or Predator because I almost always chose the Colonial Marine, Private Lance J. Lewis.

This marine is a bad boy who awakens from stasis in the Brig. Wondering what's going on, he conveniently finds a dead body and picks up a shotgun before speaking the line: "What on earth got hold of this guy?". Lance is very hungry and heads to the canteen on sublevel 3 only to find the place is swarming with vicious aliens!! I think it's Shotgun time?

What a storyline! I love it but we need to pause the reading for some screenshots from the intro...

  
  

  
Original and gripping storyline? Well, at least the artwork is gorgeous... Hang on, is that a pink ship?

All I need is a big gun!

Don't be scared - the ship might be overrun but we have a shotgun and there are plenty of supplies to pick up. Sadly, your clearance level is pretty lame but fumbling dead bodies could reveal hidden treasures and possibly better keycards. When all seems lost, follow in the footsteps of Gordon Freeman and use the vent shafts for a sneaky way to get around. Finally, don't ignore the computer terminals as they often contain helpful information and mapping details.

This adventure is yours to enjoy how you see fit but it will be hard unless you make a map - especially for the vent shafts which are tricky to navigate. Upgrading to the Pulse Rifle is a must and it sounds superb. I love the Motion Tracker which is really handy but don't dawdle because reports suggest another alien ship docking!! This game is big.

We aren't limited to simply being human! Choose your character race for a unique game...

Wanna be a Marine with a big gun? Of course, you do!!!

   
Or a sleek alien with speed and power? Or a big wimp who hides behind his gadgets?

The CryptO'pinion?

Alien vs Predator is all about taking the time to explore and tactical thinking. There's nothing like crawling the air vents looking for secret places or just places that aren't accessible the usual way. The game is massive and the excitement you feel when first firing that pulse rifle is legendary. These are nasty times so find the keycards, kill as many aliens as possible, and activate the self-destruct before it's too late. Be brave and don't step in the goo.

I highly recommend this wonderful FPS - just don't forget about the escape pod otherwise it's "Game over, man"!!

Did you enjoy this? It wasn't related to the Atari ST but I hope to feature more for the Atari consoles.

My apologies for the speed & quality of the video. Doing both the recording and running the emulator was a struggle for my old Mac. I had lots of fun but regret selling my Jaguar!

No Buddies Land

When the demoscene becomes the game industry!

Eternal's No Buddies Land was released in 1991 by Loriciel and programmed by David Boshoven, who is better known as Lair from the group Hotline. Okay, the story is silly, but let's roll with it: the land is flooding, and Bud is the hero of the day who must climb up into heaven to ask for help before everything is destroyed.

Five dreaded levels are about to be flooded - our adventure begins in a dingy castle before heading outside to hop his way through the trees and then up into the clouds. As each level begins, the waters begin to rise just as in games like Flood, Goin' Down With The Captain, or Killing Game Show. So, be quick and get moving!!

Before any more waffling from me, let's take a look at the first level...

Level one is pretty cool, but it also introduces you to the cruel mechanics and an overpriced shop!

Prepare thyself!

...for a world of hurt! This game features cruel, wicked environments, many traps, and frustrating jumps. We must also contend with moving platforms, acid droplets, spikes, disappearing ledges, and much more. Not only all that, but the local wildlife is never friendly and will zap your energy with a single touch.

Thankfully, there's nothing better than arming yourself with a weapon. It's natural to see a kid carrying a pistol in any 16-bit world! Best of all, this can be upgraded (along with health and more). Yep, you heard me, there are actually shops on the way up to Heaven. Who would have thought that? Well, brace yourself because I'm told there are also hidden side games and annoying puzzles (Grr!!). Something for everyone.

Want more screenshots? Of course, you do! Here are a couple from the second and third level...

I liked level 2 the most, which also reminded me of Elf, but I found level 3 a killer and really annoying!!

Platforming never looked so good!

The visuals are by Bram Leyten, aka Sense of Hotline, and are stunning with incredible attention to detail for both the environment and cute sprites. This game looks incredible! Animations that are nice, but Bud walks like he's rushing to the toilet - gotta laugh at his zippy legs!! Not only do these graphics knock you for six, but they slide down your screen at a graceful 50fps using sync-scrolling. Thank you #demoscene!!

This method screws up my VGA monitor (real ST hardware) each time it attempts to scroll. It works dandy using a standard CRT monitor/TV. So, I guess it must be a VGA issue with my current setup?

Audio has not been forgotten, and if you remember Monster Business's outstanding tunes, then you're in for a treat. Laurens Tummers, aka Lotus, has done it again to provide stunning examples of timeless chip music. In fact, I would say No Buddies Land has some of the best tunes I've heard in any game. Stunning results.

Both levels 4 and 5 feature disappearing platforms, which I really, really, REALLY hated!!

The CryptO'pinion?

Technically, a masterpiece that proves what the Atari ST is capable of when in the hands of talented people. However, No Buddies Land isn't perfect. The controls are great, but jumping diagonally can be awkward unless Bud is currently walking (YMMV). Also, knowing which ledges to hop onto isn't always obvious when some blend into the background scenery. Ultimately, with a little tweaking, everything would have been perfect.

Having said that, this is a belting platformer and I've really relished playing it. It's nothing like I first expected and is actually enjoyable, unlike that disappointing platformer by TCB (sigh). The range of levels is extraordinary, with each featuring different environments that are as challenging as they are gorgeous.

A belting game, with a few niggles, but otherwise thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.

Download the floppy or HDD versions.

Hibernated 1 - This Place is Death

WooHoo a new Atari ST game!

Hibernated 1: This Place is Death is a sci-fi text adventure by Stefan Vogt and released for a variety of different platforms along with our beautiful Atari ST. We are Olivia Lund onboard the intergalactic spaceship, Polaris-7 who has awoken from stasis. The ship appears abandoned and has been caught by an alien tractor beam.

Text adventures aren't often my cuppa tea - my brain needs to be fed visual wonders otherwise, it wanders. But, I've enjoyed myself with this rather splendid adventure with its fantastic sense of humour. The parser is easy to use with a two-word command system using Examine, Get, Open, Search, Move, etc. There are shortcuts: I for Inventory and R to re-describe the current location. Medium resolution is supported but oddly not monochrome... The docs advised making a map and that is a very good idea!!

Hibernated 1 is possibly the first of a new trilogy that can be downloaded and bought. Name your own price - which is a wonderful idea - thus play before you pay. Are any interested adventurers lurking?

UPDATE: You can now purchase a physical boxed release! :-)

This adventure has a great personality with cheeky remarks using buckets of humour!

A droid is punching me and I try to examine it. What was I thinking? A nice response though!!

Yikes, what is on that computer? The last thing we need is to be quarantined for four weeks!

PONG

Ping!

I love finding something "new" and yesterday I saw a version of Pong on Atari Legend but one I had not played. It's by Construct Developments but I couldn't source a download from anywhere until ST Graveyard, aka Maarten Martens, kindly sent me the disk image. (Download also added into AtariMania for safekeeping)

Pong works on the Atari STe with stereo tracker music, but the gameplay isn't exactly what I assumed. Forget your friends and family because this is a one-player conversion using the joystick to control both paddles simultaneously. So, as you guide the left paddle, the right will automatically move in the opposite direction for a brain-busting experience! It's tough to fully master - but Pongtastic and bucketloads of fun!!

Sadly, it appears Pong wasn't finished so there are a few minor niggles. The only thing that bugged me was how the ball becomes difficult to follow as it passes over an area of similar colour. Nothing is perfect and finding new Atari ST games is always good, and this game certainly offers a neat twist on the format.

Thunder Jaws

Big guns and a pervy boss!

I'd seen pictures of this underwater shoot 'em up but didn't know what to expect from what seemed a naff James Bond wannabe. Released in 1991 by Domark, our villain is the busty Madame Q, who desires nothing less than to rule the world. She's gone and kidnapped lots of gorgeous girls who are to be experimented on and turned into monsters. Our task is to find her secret base, kill all the baddies, and free the hostages.

Grab something rubbery to wear because her base is deep underwater, which reminds me of Scuba Dive on my old ZX Spectrum! But these dangerous waters are patrolled by armed guards and robotic sharks. Harpoon anything you see, destroy the automated defences, and blast open the lair's entrance.

Yeah, I like how cheesy this is, so let's check out the initial screens...

A cool loading screen, but where's the intro gone to??

Still, at least a 2-player co-op is included, which is ace!

The opening scene is underwater, heading to the evil lair...

Inside are lots of baddies and some great weapons to pick up - the punk girls scream lol

Wear your best flippers for the girls!

Once inside her lair, the game changes to a scrolling platformer similar to Rolling Thunder (yikes, we all remember that dreadful conversion). This stage is better with henchmen and other strange characters chasing you. Weaponry remains the same and can be upgraded to a flamethrower, uzi, rocket, and more. Finally, battle a boss and rescue yourself a few gorgeous babes - who will be extremely grateful.

Once completed, it flips back to the underwater stage, and we repeat for similar missions. The difficulty increases as we infiltrate deeper into the base - it's now that I need to activate a trainer because the later levels are crammed with an insane amount of baddies!! Also, the end-of-level bosses are tough and made worse by tons of other bad guys turning up to help. Argh, my screen is littered with too many brawling sprites!!

Gimme a flamethrower, a zillion extra lives, and I'm happy...

Yikes, our evil villain looks freaky like something from Twisted Sister!

Rescuing the sexy girls produces lots of kisses and hugs for our hero!!

Later on, we're in dirty waters with toxic waste barrels.

This leads to a scary rock monster and naked firewomen. Nice!

Graphics & Sounds

The visuals use many different styles with gorgeous backgrounds, and each level looks stunning. The sprites are superbly drawn, and nothing beats the girls falling to their feet for lots of comical kissing!! The scrolling is smooth but feels a little lethargic on later levels when there is much action, but I'm being very picky.

There isn't a chiptune bopping away in the background, but the effects are good. Actually, no, they are crude, but the grunts are deranged - I loved the haunting female's scream of death. Sonically superb!!

Check out these screenshots that demonstrate this game's stunning artwork...

The end boss battles are rubbish if I'm honest. You are forced to cheat, which is a bit daft!

This is basically because there are far too many enemies. It's impossible!

Finally, we get to meet the flame-haired temptress. Gorgeous pixel art!

But it isn't long before she morphs into something hideously ugly. Like a dog turd with hair!

The CryptO'pinion?

I'm a little unsure what to make of Thunder Jaws. It's predictable fun, and the addition of a two-player co-op is exceptional. However, the later levels are impossible without cheating, and I got a whiff of a lame port when things slowed down. Having said that, it's not the disaster Rolling Thunder was, and I enjoyed pretending to be James Bond, rescuing sexy girls, and saving the world from a busty flame-haired tyrant.

It's not perfect, but I really enjoyed Thunder Jaws. I played through to the end and loved every second!!

You can download the floppy or hard disk, but only if you look good in a wetsuit! Note that faster computers will certainly benefit from smoother framerates when running on a hard drive - thanks to 8BitChip.

Here is the end screen... It's probably best I don't remark :)

Ikari Warriors

The battle of the Atari's?

Ikari Warriors brings back many special memories for me because it came free with my first Atari ST and was something I loved from the moment I loaded it up that Christmas morning (yikes that was 1988). I don't think anyone forgets the first time they saw how superior the ST was compared to their old 8Bits...

Anyhow, I admit it's hardly perfect but Elite delivered the goods for a brilliant arcade conversion which is one of my favourite ST games. Now, unlike my dreadful progress with Commando, I am actually pretty good at Ikari Warriors so figured it a good idea to check out the Atari 7800 game alongside the classic ST version.

Now, before you moan, this isn't a MCIBTYC comparison! I wanted to see how the games compare...

  
The 7800 has superb scrolling, albeit surprisingly very blocky unlike the Atari ST

Graphics or Music?

After watching the 7800's intro swoosh by, I instantly wished Atari would have released the STe back in 1985. Anyhow, once the game began, the first thing that struck me was its sexy-smooth framerate. However, the sprites themselves are crude in comparison with blocky heads? Yikes, what's wrong with the resolution?

Graphics aren't everything nor is the audio which happens to be as good and exactly what I expected. Those grenade throws are excellent but I missed the sound of the tank. Background music is okay but I don't think anything compares to the legendary ST tune by Jason C. Brooke which is bleeping excellent.

  
The 7800 looks poor but I really like that chunky look plus it won't slow down like on the ST.

Pros And Cons?

Enough of this talk about aesthetics because what we want is great gameplay and the 7800 certainly produced the goods. Okay, my console might be virtual, but I'm still able to use BOTH joystick buttons which means the machine gun and grenades are separate and that beats the ST's one-button method hands down.

Also, firing can be locked in any specific direction thus rapid - independent - shooting is possible until you decide to release the button. This takes a little getting used to but it's certainly worth mastering because it works extremely well - especially when making use of the superb power-ups always being offered.

Sadly, I admit to struggling with this conversion because I found it shockingly difficult. Perhaps it's just me and my lame joystick skills? But, no matter how much I tried, my progress was always weaker in comparison. YMMV but I personally found that excess difficulty promoted how balanced the Atari ST game is.

  
The console struggles with visual definition but this is a beast of a port! Just like the ST.

The CryptO'pinion?

Ikari Warriors is a class act on any platform. The 7800 and ST succeed in delivering a great arcade conversion that is great fun. All that's required are quick reactions and a love for guns and violence! So, enjoy what is nothing short of a cracking shoot 'em up for either your 7800 or Atari ST [floppy or hard disk].

I hope you enjoyed this sway from AtariCrypt's dedication to the Atari ST? Let me know what you guys think in the comments below (because I was quite smitten by the mostly unknown Atari 7800 if I'm honest!)