I love finding Atari ST/e demos I've not seen in years and here is one I enjoyed. It's called Van Eijk Collection, developed in 1994 by Van Eijk. A time when most of us had powered off the ST to play Doom...
Anyhow, this is a collection of GFA Basic screens featuring dots, colour cycling, and a familiar tune you will simply adore. The presentation is a little sluggish and a few screens are dated, but there are many that I did enjoy - that morphing is superb. All text is in Polish so don't expect to read anything. Well, unless you're Polish, of course!
This and many other Atari ST videos are on my YouTube Channel.
Credits & download links can be found on Demozoo or AtariMania. Crank up the volume! 🎧
This game is basically an old skool-styled shooter and the idea is to blast many aliens, use power-ups, kill the end-of-level boss, and repeat. These aliens are constantly invading the screen in waves using various attack patterns - and from three sides of the screen. Our spaceship can only fire upwards but can move in all directions rather than being limited to just left/right, ala Space Invaders. It works brilliantly too I might add!
Righto, let's quit the reading for a few screenshots...
Each type of alien is unique and the power-ups will help to recover lost lives and much more!
Sardonic is an arcade-style shooter so I loved it from the start.
Hey, check out that funky mothership!
Interestingly, our Atari ST conversion has a few enhancements = extra power-ups, different enemies and new attacking styles. This is pretty cool and even more so when you remember than this is Jose's first Atari release!! Hold onto your hat because he's also implemented support for both ST models making use of the Blitter and the STe's hardware scrolling = ultra-smooth 50fps action!
Boy, is this a tough game? At first, I didn't last long and it took a few more attempts before I came close to reaching the first boss! The action feels familiar but it isn't some cheap clone of Space Invaders, Phoenix or even Galaga, but instead feels more like a game of dodgeball - in space! You can only fire a couple of shots at once and the enemy will come at you using some seriously wacky patterns so be prepared to battle hard.
Blasting five of these blighters into smithereens will result in a random bonus for speed, armour, bombs and so on. This will help newcomers and thus I eventually got into the flow and reached the fourth guardian - which you can see in my video recording. Hint: if I was you, I'd save all those bombs for these bosses!
Wimps need not apply. Hey, come back!!! Here are some more screenshots...
After attacking from all directions, their boss shows up for some gun love!
I hate Stealth ships, they're so tough to destroy.
...and then their Mummy Stealth turned up to the fight!
16-Bit Aesthetics?
Well, no. There's not much to see beyond a black background populated with a few stars, so quite disappointing. The enemy sprites make up for that with nice colours and brisk movement and I'm talking 50fps which is gloriously smooth. Love it, I just wish the background had "more" to it other than a few stars.
The title screen is great with funky chiptune music but it's less impressive afterwards. The in-game sound effects are insufficient with the YM chip having only three uses: firing, pickup, and explosions. That is it! I personally think more could have been done to dazzle? Especially, for the Atari STe using DMA samples.
It's hardly another Xenon II in terms of aesthetics but who cares about that...
Can you believe this? I made it to level four WooHoo!!
Until the boss turned up and whooped me...sigh!
So cruel... LOL
The CryptO'pinion?
Sardonic is a good shooter alright. I love how the aliens attack in many different formations and the frequency of power-ups is excellent. It's quite repetitive, but this is a fun arcade blaster and addictive. It's impressive to think that one guy was behind all the development and also supported Atari STe graphical hardware.
A slick shooter and something new that I have really enjoyed. So go and grab Sardonic now!!
Zynaps is a Nemesis-Esque shoot 'em up that spookily reminds me of another Hewson title, Slayer. We pilot the Scorpion Mk1 Fighter through the heavens in search of a secret alien base. Along the way, are hoards of alien scumbag - some in ships, or a variety of ground-based defences, and even motherships. Very original, right?
Update: you know, to this day I have never played Slayer. How odd is that!
Hewson released Zynaps in 1988 and it was developed by Howard Ball of Microwish Software who was responsible for Ikari Warriors, Victory Road, Slayer and 5th Gear. I've always felt this was a game coded by someone who knew the Atari ST hardware very well but Howard only ever made this shooter and nothing more. At least it's quality!
Hey, why aren't you watching the video above? Ah well, perhaps just a couple of screenshots instead then...
The first level is cool but it isn't long before a guardian appears!
That thing bounces around the screen like an old-school demo!
Shoot! Kill! Shoot some more!!
Our Scorpion spaceship is pretty snazzy and comes with different levels of propulsion along with various weapon upgrades. However, we do start off quite limited with sluggish movements and firing - so shoot that first wave of bad guys to collect their loot for speed-up. Then look to improve lasers or even bombs and missiles. It's simple - pimp your ship!
Activating these power-ups is a little strange. When a group of baddies snuffs it, they leave behind a pod. Collecting that changes the power-up being displayed in the status bar. So when something appears that you like the look of - hold down the fire button during the next pick-up to be granted permission to use it. To be fair, this is a bit weird and rather naff - especially during the heat of battle. Surely this could have been designed much better?
The enemies attack in predictable formations, which kinda reminded me of Wizball oddly enough. At first, firing accuracy is difficult so hitting the bad guys feels a lot harder than it should be. This learning curve I found to be massive - it took a great number of attempts before I started to destroy an entire wave and then begin collecting the pods!
Sigh, that's annoying, isn't it? Well, let's cheer ourselves up and see some more screenshots...
Woo! What's happened to the landscape backgrounds on the next level?
Getting past those asteroids is tough but now it's a boss fight and he's a bit weird...
Practice makes perfect!
Most levels take you through beautiful environments whereas others might take you into an asteroid field. No matter where you are, watch out because the slightest collision loses a life which is easily done too. This is made worse by ultra-cramped areas thanks to the bulk of that scenery (and the status bar). Fly like Buck Rogers... or die.
Eventually, you will reach an end-of-level boss and most are really tough so it's doubtful you will see many victories on your first go! The first boss hops around the screen like a sprite from an old skool-styled demo. Rarely did I see the end of the second level (without using a trainer) but, YMMV. Just don't give up, you wimp and keep playing!!
Wimps only ever see the first level so practice and you might see more! Screenshot time...
Things get freaking on level 3 but it's a good kind of freaky :-)
Well, except for the boss(es). Very lame!
Graphics
Zynaps is a gorgeous shoot 'em up, it really is. Sure, I know games like Xenon 2, Magic Boy, Gods, Deathbringer, and others blow it out of the water but, this old shooter (from 1988) holds its own thanks to the efforts of Pete Lyon!! The title screen is wonderful - pure art - and many of the levels feature a Menacing array of beautiful environments.
But that's not all, the sprites move fast and very smoothly following those incredibly difficult flight patterns. But what about the scrolling? Programmers without talent tell us the ST cannot scroll. Well, don't worry because it's nigh-on perfect and very smooth so feels just dandy during gameplay. Yep, this is another quality Hewson product.
For me, Hewson where a company that was always consistent without resorted to lame ports...
Things get a little Menacing for the fourth level.
It looks stunning - if deadly. I never beat it...
Sounds
Zynaps theme tune is outstanding thanks to the talent of one of my favourite musicians, Dave Rogers: a man responsible for many of my ZX Spectrum memories, not to mention ST beauties like Ranarama and Cybernoid.
Okay, the sound effects might pale in comparison to the music but they're still excellent and offer an arcade-like style which I really admire. I love that sharp "zing-zing" when you shoot, the crunchy death effect, and how you are mocked when it's game over. Like the visuals, I think that a lot of love went into the audio which is brilliant.
Yep, the audio proves what the Atari ST can sound like. Wanna hear it...
The Crypto'pinion
Zynaps is one of those games which has it all but, many give up after a few goes because of its learning curve. The action is relentless so you're always on the edge of your seat wondering what's coming next. The method of using power-ups might be flawed but these are essential to enhance the Scorpion with better firepower and manoeuvrability.
Hewson rarely disappoints and Zynaps is yet another corker from their incredible library. Sure, I've moaned about a few things but nothing is perfect. I forgive it because of its "Can-I-have-one-more-go". Very addictive!! What an extraordinary shoot 'em up and it's a great feeling to end my Super Pack series on a high. You need to play this game.
It looks like my freakish addiction to the Atari ST/e has paid off? I am proud to announce the availability of the registered version of Bombaman (click on that link to find out more!). It was kindly donated by Kevin Callahan, a man who has put up with my mithering for 18 months. Never once did he break down and ask me to leave him alone!! [download]
My greetings to Kevin and I hope everyone enjoys playing this fantastic Bomberman? Enjoy!!
Finally, there is light at the end of my Super Pack tunnel - the penultimate game is a beast of a shoot 'em up released in 1988 by Melbourne House. The mighty XENON was my first experience of what the Bitmap Brothers were capable of. A team that (for me) was the Atari ST equivalent of Ultimate Play The Game, high praise indeed from this old fan. Few titles, but each one pushed our machine to its limits whilst also oozing a level of class beyond others.
I can still remember loading up Xenon for the first time on Christmas morning. Once the graphics appeared, I was so impressed - when compared to my 8-Bit experiences. However, my jaw didn't drop to the floor like a weighty anvil until that music kicked in, just as the visuals raced down my TV screen. What a simple yet, brilliant intro. Timeless
However, I always wondered why the pilot zooms over the entire level - because I've only gotta travel back up through the baddie-infested lands? Gee-whiz, thanks! Well, I should shut up and stop being silly because it's fantastic to watch and the digitized recording of Erich Matthews saying "Sector One" is pure gold. Iconic even!!
Righto, do you fancy some screenshots from the first level? Of course, you do so here you are...
The first level is iconic. It looks great. Sounds great. Plays great. Then you meet the boss...
Very few times I beat this sucker. It's a lot harder than anyone admits!
Plane And Tank!
We start in our little tank which is fast and manoeuvrable, but it's not long until you realise that you can't hit anything up high. Waggle that joystick (or hit the spacebar) to transform into a jet aircraft!! This is ace but, unlike the tank, cannot hit those critters crawling the floor... So, once again, get waggling to morph back into the tank. This method of flipping between the two vehicles is genius and can be done anytime during normal play one level 1/3.
Initially, Xenon's gameplay is neither fast nor furious - yet I still panic when something is chasing me and my little tank! The first level isn't really that difficult and you get to see a small selection of the baddies that the game was hiding up its sleeves. Heck, we even have ladybirds! There are more traditional defences that need blowing up, like aeroplanes and ground-based missile silos. So flipping between your two attack vessels now begins to prove fruitful those bonuses.
If you managed to beat the boss then you're whisked off to the second stage where it's much harder...
The second level proves just how cruel and sadistic those Bitmap Brothers truly were!!
Having said that, I think the boss is slightly easier than on level one.
Frantic. Mayhem. Death!
A status panel (along the right side of your screen) shows a range of different stats including your score, altitude and fuel. But there are also power-up letters that might be available after blasting something to smithereens - and Xenon has a great selection. Well, except for the balls that follow behind your ship - I hate those. Always have! Anyhow, each power-up offers a wide variety of features to refuel, increased shot length and more. But here are the cool ones I like:
W = This is probably my second favourite power-up. Instant extra firepower!
A = Stay protected and stronger in your ship.
S = Side shots is a pretty cool upgrade, especially on the harder levels.
H = Homing missiles help to make things so much easier.
B = Balls, which can be stacked up to three. Great...
L = This is so fantastic and possibly my fave - and picking up "G" reverts back.
Z = Surely every game needs a smart-bomb?
Of course, there's always an end-of-level guardian and Xenon is no different. In fact, the Sentinels also appear halfway through each level. That's right, four levels so eight times you're battling these guys. They can only be killed by carefully aligning firepower at their weakest point. It's now that you die only to reload with a trainer enabled.
Beating the sentinel (for that second time) whisks you off to the next level to fight against another massive array of foes. And it's always tougher so I doubt you'll last very long - and that's the main issue I have against Xenon. It's just too hard after level one. How many ST players have seen the later levels without resorting to a cheat? I thought so.
Enough reading as it's time for more screenshots and, you guessed it, here are a couple from the third level...
Don't adjust your monitor... Yep, level three sure does look familiar albeit in pink. Ugh!
The toughest boss in the game. This one is a killer and I have never beaten it (without a cheat!)
Pixels
Visually, and for the most part, this game is a total babe. Level one has a metallic charm which I absolutely love. Heck, even now it looks outstanding to today's spoilt brats on their PS4s! Every stage looks great but I admit to not being a fan of the fourth level - I think it looks rather out of place and kinda like an Amstrad game. I know, weird, right?
Sprites are stunning, even those peculiar pink-brain things on level 4! Scrolling is always smooth and perfectly paced for the gameplay. Xenon epitomises that mind-blowing late 80s era when we upgraded from older machines like the Sinclair ZX Spectrum or Commodore 64 to the glorious 16-bit world. Yes, this game is nothing less than a visual feast!
Okay, I've hinted at the gore but here are some screenshots from the odd-looking fourth level...
Level four is insane and there are enough enemies to strike down an Asgard mothership!!
I wonder how many got that Stargate reference? Does anybody read my website?
Audio
Dave Whittaker has produced everything booming from your STs mono speaker. What you hear is every bit as mind-blowing as those gorgeous visuals. Sound effects are a blast, even if they do mute one channel. Having said that it's the music that is just... Mmm, timeless. Turn up the volume because the YM2149 is about to rock your house!!
Go on, click the green triangle and enjoy the outstanding chiptune.
The CryptO'pinion?
Hands down, this is one of the best 16-bit shooters there is. The range of powerups is great and I love how we can flip between tank and plane. Sure, the bosses are annoying and later levels have too much action for even Superman to contend with. But, there is no denying this is an exciting shooter and a timeless classic I've loved for over 30 years.
Xenon is just downright awesome and very addictive. Play it and try to hate it. I dare you!!
Well, 2020 seems to have kicked off nicely because I've just taken delivery of four awesome Atari CDs and it's all thanks to winning the monthly prize draw over at Darkforce BBS. Now, I never win at anything so this was the biggest Mega ST shock ever!! All I need now is a CD-ROM drive. Yup, eBay here I come...
For those who still don't know, Darkforce is a bulletin board service run by Atarian Ron Hall, aka DarkLord. It's a BBS for all the usual stuff like news, messaging, chat, downloads, games, etc/etc. You can access it freely using any terminal program supporting the Telnet protocol - I prefer SyncTerm myself.
The CDs are mainly for the Atari Falcon, a grand machine I'll never be able to afford - unless I win the lottery. However, there is tons of other stuff and I'm eager to see what's on the Moving Pixels disk - lots of ST/STe stuff on that!! Greetings Ron - as you can probably tell, I'm excited to explore these oldie archives!
Wanna know more? Wanna experience this fine throwback to a magical time in computing? Of course, you do, so ignore the internet, travel back in time, boot up SyncTerm or any other preferred Terminal emulator, and then visit this address using the telnet command: telnet darkforce-bbs.dyndns.org 1040
I hope you all enjoy this amazing BBS. My thanks to Ron for this great gift :-)
Don't you dare fall for Ron's trickery? I expected beer and a room for the night... but... NOTHING!!
Check out the main menu!! Time has stood still and is also STuffed full of Atari goodness!
Ahh, I feel all nostalgic now. It's like I'm back in the 90s dabbling in NeST...
Heck, you can even play games. It's like having an Xbox in your terminal!
The downloads area is huge and also complimented with a CD Rom section!
I love the range of jokes and other random quotes that can be installed to pop up!!
We're finally approaching the end of my Super Pack adventure and Wizball is one of those magical games I only have to hear and all my Christmas morning memories come flooding back. There's something wonderful and eerie about the audio, be it the cool theme tune or that trippy in-game background "music".
Well, perhaps I played Wizball quite a lot that morning? But you wouldn't guess that if you saw me playing it now!! Nonetheless, it still has a special place in my rapidly-thumping ST heart. Our version was handled by the great Peter Johnson, of Arkanoid fame and I'm confident he did a brilliant job, once again.
Check out these screenshots with its initially confusing dashboard...
My first attempt didn't go well. A weird power-up was collected...
...but then a *red* wiggly worm appears and kills me!
Here we go...
Wizworld was once a colourful place until the evil Zark turned everything grey and rather drab. We play as Wiz and are... well... a ball thingy who must attempt to add a splash of Technicolor back into his bleak world. We do that by collecting power-ups to aid us in shooting Zark's space monsters who will then drop bubbles of red, green or blue. Using these primary colours, we can recolour this drab world to its former glory. Well, in theory!
Wizball is a horizontally scrolling "shoot 'em up" which supports both single and multiplayer - believe it or not. Solo gamers get to be Wiz, with the additional help of Cat thanks to using power-ups. Those with friends can choose their preferred character from the start and even compete in coop - which is pretty cool.
Sadly, I have no friends so must go it alone but here are some screenshots to cheer us up...
Okay, let's restart and try again... Just what are those weird alien things?
Who cares? Erm, just shoot 'em!!
Need help?
Wiz gets around by bouncing across a rather drab-looking landscape. The fire button shoots a weapon and tapping left/right controls direction and speed. This is difficult at first but the controls are light and responsive. However, you won't get far without shooting the aliens that look like something from a chemistry lab.
Once dead, they turn green and are safe to collect for a range of different effects:
The first comes in two parts helping to give far better control and then preventing gravity from taking its affect. Therefore we stop bouncing! Yes, I like this power-up a lot!!
The next gives a much-needed boost to our weaponry and in both directions too don't forget.
Feeling alone? Collect three and you'll be rewarded with a new Cat to help you out.
Superpowers are awarded for four power-ups!
Five green blobs enable vertical shooting...
Smart bomb... I don't think I get so far into the game to need this!
Finally, seven green blobs gives you a shield. Umm yeah!
Power-ups are key to success so take your time! Why not view a couple more screenshots...
The power-ups disable gravity and also do lots more...
...but then a load of eyeballs turn up to kill you. Great!
Practice makes...
The power-ups are necessary, so waggle the joystick when something takes your fancy. For me, I stop him from bouncing first and foremost. It's then that I make the decision to either make use of the friendly Cat or go for shields/better firepower. The choice is yours but nobody should ignore the option to defy gravity...
Some aliens drop various colours, either for special treats or to recolour your world. They come in a wide and funky variety but are usually tough to kill. Thankfully, this world is pretty big and there are escape tunnels to traverse into different areas. However, I feel these aliens are often too hard to kill so I rarely reached the bonus stages or used the Wiz Lab for permanent power-ups. Which I'm gutted about as you can imagine!!
I hear older disks are bugged and prevent completion. Ahem, I was never able to test that theory but I'm interested to know if this is true. For now, I'll blame my creaky old joystick!
Don't run away and hide like a baby, play it! Hey, here are some more screenshots...
His world might be as colourful as ST High Res...
...but at least the aliens are rather jazzy and very colourful!
Graphics
Wizball is a corker and a great looker for the 80s. I adored it from the first moment I saw the title screen which begins to reveal its colours using several funky methods. Sprites are well-drawn and little Wiz is cute and funny - especially when he opens up in the Wiz Lab. Yeah, it's silly but I really like little touches like that!!
A game like this needs to scroll and wimping out by saying that the ST cannot scroll would have been totally unacceptable (a bad workman and all that). Thankfully, Peter Johnson never wimped out and everything moves fast and smoothly! Which is a relief because the action needed to feel agile and spritely.
A lot of dedication went into making this game visually impressive. Wanna see more proof...
Trivia question: what beautiful megademo has Wiz appeared in? Too easy, right...
Sounds
The audio is both great and bizarre. Don't get me wrong, the theme tune is incredible, something I've loved throughout the decades (have a listen below). Also, the sound effects work well but that strange background "tune" adds a spark of brilliance to the atmosphere. Yep, a lot of effort went into making this game.
Don't believe me? Been too many years, has it? Well, click on this below and listen...
What do you reckon? Funky tune, right? Let me know in the comments below.
The CryptO'pinion?
Wizball is a lot harder than the 8-bit original and ultra-fast reactions are needed. I feel the firing of our weapon should be quicker and more like a Jeff Minter game? Okay, maybe that was a bad example but it's too lethargic. Also, in one-player mode, controlling Cat is awkward and not what you need when aliens are invading.
Having said all that, I really enjoy Wizball. I genuinely wish there were more hours in my day to play it and (maybe) beat this infuriating shooter. I'm going to be returning to it again because I need to know how it looks in colour!! Don't be quick to judge, it's surprisingly entertaining and I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
Don't be a sissy - download for either floppy or hard disk and help Wiz restore his world!
