There are so many different boot sector programs that add cool fx onto a floppy. This helps to prevent virus infections but we all love the dazzling effects and some are technically amazing! Bootblock by The Fingerbobs is one of my favourites programs that writes a number of boot sectors and the one above is Bladerunners. Which is ace!!
Credits: Bootblock was coded by Oberje of Fingerbobs with music by Jochen Hippel.
There are lots of great boot sectors to choose from and I love finding awesome programs like this. There are more lurking out there somewhere in ST Land. Let me know in the comments below what programs you've found...
I always said I wouldn't do it... but... here we are!! Yes, the most annoying game has arrived on the Atari ST and I've played it. Well, tried to as I managed about 30 minutes before I felt like throwing the joystick out my bedroom window. The animation, above, is just a slice of the hell I went through. I hope y'all have a giggle at my pain - it wasn't fun whatsoever lol
Well, I will say one thing about this maddening game, it looks great as it torments you. The graphics are bright and colourful plus it's running in 1VBL which means the scrolling is ultra-smooth. However, I just don't get it so I'm left wondering why the entire world appears to be in love with this flappy little flyer? What are they seeing that I'm not? Or is it me? :o
I never reached a point where I started to appreciate or enjoy this game. I simply hate Flappy Bird so much!!!!
Those who feel brave (or IMHO foolish) can grab the download from the AtariMania website.
Mud Pies is one of the oldest Atari ST games and stars Arnold, a kid who loves the circus. Until it came to his town, so he threw a pie at one of the clowns. Unfortunately, these clowns aren't known for having a sense of humour and chased after him! There's only one thing left to do... No, we aren't running off to tell Mum - we're gonna throw more pies!!
Each screen represents a tent from the circus and has an invading army of clowns - who look more like jelly monsters dressed up as Ronald McDonald! They're insane and wander waving their arms and chucking juggling pins. This invasion will last forever but the pies won't so look for an open door to another tent full of mud pies - and more clowns.
Throwing a mud pie at a clown will see them flying off the screen. If you hit more than then that will score extra points for you. However, try not to get yourself trapped in a corner otherwise, you might receive a juggling pin knockout blow!
I can imagine this is starting to sound insane, right? Well, check out the 1985 graphics and try not to laugh...
Just imagine the look on today's kids if you show 'em this 1985 game. Will they "get it"?
Simple, yet brilliant!
Challenge rooms are a bit different from the standard tents because they have no mud pies but instead, lots of clowns to avoid whilst grabbing the prizes - for 1000 points. Every 20,000 points, a secret door will appear for the chance to enter into a Mudslinging Round where you have 30secs to throw pies at wandering clowns!!
Don't clown about too much! Getting hit isn't good for your health and dying shows your body being carried away on a stretcher to the first aid tent. That can happen only three times before it's game over. Talented pie chuckers will be delighted that freebie lives are awarded every 10,000 points, which is a nice bonus.
Keep an eye on the health meter displayed top/left of the screen. This is split into three segments with the middle one enabling you to run very fast. However, this speed is reduced if you become too hungry or if you've over-faced on burgers and fries. The trick is to keep your health a nice happy medium throughout for maximum agility...
Always frantic, always fun and so addictive. This game is eternal!!
Aesthetics
Graphically, this isn't exactly stressing the Atari ST in the slightest. But remember that it was developed and released back in 1985 before programmers knew how to push our computer. Having said that, it's got a certain Charley Chuck charm to it and, as a gamer since the early 1980s, I love its retro look. No, I absolutely love it!!
Spot-sound effects are fine, but it is best to leave the music on if I'm honest. Again, this isn't anything near the quality we are used to hearing but it's still surprisingly enjoyable. No complaints, it's an old game remember.
Come on guys, how a game looks and sounds never really matters. Mudpies certainly proves this!
Oh, just take a look at the high-score table!! Can ya' beat me??? ;-)
The CryptO'pinion?
It's impressive to think that MichTron (Philip McKenzie and Jeffrey Sorenson) knocked this out for a computer that was practically unknown back in 1985. I can't imagine how exciting that was - and daunting too. But when Mudpies came along it must have been a breath of fresh air to all those rich people that could afford an ST!
You know, think what you will, but Mudpies is a terribly entertaining take on the Food Fight theme with silly gameplay that transports you back to your youth. Abusing clowns is never boring and I cannot imagine a better way to spend an afternoon other than slinging mud pies at them - this is so much FUN!! And that's what matters most. Play it.
Grab a piece of this old skool action for either floppy or hard drive. Enjoy!!
Following on from Deathbringer, the next piece of wonderful Atari ST Pixel Art is Firebird's Flying Shark which is a belting example of 16-bit artistry. Just look at the title screen with that sinister face as it flies over the landscape. Yep, this screen is superb and so are the in-game graphics with gorgeous landscapes and sprites by Robert Hemphill and Jason Lihou.
I remember getting this on an ST/Amiga Format cover disk back in my college days - much to the envy of my Miggy mate!! It's actually a pretty faithful representation of the coin-op with great graphics, ace music and excellent gameplay. The play area doesn't slide left/right (like in the arcades) but that's not required due to our wider resolution ratio.
I personally think Firebird released a cracker and it's a blast on the Atari ST. You will love it!!
I love platform shooters and this one was developed in 1991 by Imagitec Design Ltd for Electronic Arts. The storyline is simple - once again, pesky aliens are giving us Earthlings lots of grief. They have managed to pinch a time machine and are using that to alter history and wreak havoc by taking crucial hostages from each period in an attempt to halt their influence. From the invention of the wheel to England's King Arthur uniting the Britains and Japan's technical wizardry.
Yep, we cannot allow this - the fight is on. So, brace yourself because it's our job to travel the various time zones and rescue everybody we can. Thus saving the timeline and protecting our future. Whilst there, we may as well kill each and every bad dude that gets in our way. Yup, it's time to save the day again so let's lock and load!!
Before we begin, check out this screenshot and tell me what other run & gunner it reminds you of...
Pick-ups are pretty cool but something like the Map parts is essential for this huge platformer!!
Are you ready for a challenge?
Zone Warrior is a MASSIVE horizontally scrolling platformer that reminded me of Psygnosis' Baal in looks with (more than) a hint of Turrican-style action. Each zone is a labyrinth of large rooms interconnected by a series of complicated doorways. There is a total of five timezones that need to be saved from the dreaded aliens and they are:
Prehistoric - I really enjoyed this zone because it introduces you nicely into the gameplay style plus there are lots of power-ups and strong map designs compared to most other levels. I also thought the graphics were the best here with great use of the palette.
Egyptian - This is is little disappointing for me because it's basically more of the same design but with a different graphics. However, I found it to be a lot harder and rather frustrating instead of anything close to an enjoyable challenge...
Medieval - Saving the medieval Britons from their alien fate is a brilliant level and definitely on par with the Prehistoric Zone. I must admit, the music here is so gorgeous!
Japanese - I would rate this as the best level of all because it is really challenging, with some great mechanics. Unlike the finicky Egyptian Zone, I found it tough but without the frustration. And the chipmusic is out of this world!!
Holocaust - Sadly I didn't care for this zone... Very frustrating and ultimately annoying!
Travelling through most zones is a neat experience with constant action to keep your trigger finger happy. During this onslaught, look for hostages to free and a key for a final battle before you can progress to the next zone.
Each of these periods has its own nasties to contend with and some cannot be killed so avoid them - like the Venus flytraps and sharp spikes. However, most have legs or teeth so have your trusty Turrican-inspired weapon at the ready. This is a rapid-firing gun that performs well and can even be upgraded with a wider spread. Also, the spacebar is used to cycle through any extra weapons you may have picked up like bombs and mines. Experiment but use wisely.
Okay, let's check out another screenshot of Tur...Erm, no, I meant Zone Warrior...
I really enjoyed the prehistoric levels with dinos and cool methods used to avoid them!
Aesthetics?
The visuals aren't the best I've seen from my lovely Atari ST which isn't due to their quality but the lack of variety. The backdrops are nice but could have made better use of the palette for things like destructible blocks. Most sprites are well-drawn and detailed, especially the stripy dinos from the Prehistoric Zone. The scrolling is very good and perfectly responsive to our hero's fast/leaping movements, which is obviously essential to a running-gunner-shooter like this.
Overall, the Medieval and Japanese zones looked the best, I thought. Sexy visuals!
The audio is a blast with great sound effects used throughout. However, it's the music I really loved because everything is composed by Barry Leitch who created a wealth of fantastic chiptunes. Show-stompingly brilliant audio!!
Variety is certainly the spice of life <sarcasm incoming> so if you like yellow, you will love this next screenshot...
The graphics and music may change but the gameplay is pretty darn familiar for each level...
The CryptO'pinion?
The trouble with Zone Warrior is that it's all too easy to lose your bearings. The levels are absolutely huge and wandering from "room to room" can be overwhelming. This is also due to the lack of distinctive visuals so each region begins to feel repetitive. Thankfully, our little zone warrior can collect pieces of a map to help prevent him from getting lost but I personally thought this was poorly implemented. Yes, I lost my bearings... a lot... and that spoilt the fun somewhat.
Okay, with a little more variation in the graphics, to help distinguish between the locations, this would have knocked the spots of other platform shooters. This is a great game with interesting mechanics and incredibly responsive joystick controls. Okay, it might whiff of cheap Turrican perfume but I must say I have really enjoyed being a Zone Warrior.
Yep, Zone Warrior is a fantastic shooter and comes highly recommended by yours truly. Play it!!
