The Ultimate Arena

Wax on, wax off...

The Ultimate Arena was released in 1995 by STeam and must surely rank as one of the last commercial releases. It's a beat'em up and the first thing to do is choose our character: Sandy or Terry. Now we can proceed to the first match against a series of dodgy villains, each of whom has their own skillset and special abilities. Some might say it is Atari Mortal Kombat and, why not because we fight in various arenas against several lunatics whilst watched by a bloodthirsty crowd.

Each arena offers a different environment and I chuckled to myself when I first noticed the electrified fence - just one touch and you're crispy burnt toast!! Each warrior has their own trippy personality with a varying degree of speed, talent and special abilities. Watch out for a T800 which I thought was really well done and there is also an Indiana Jones wannabe who is an incredibly tough opponent. Interestingly, your energy bar isn't fully replenished at the start of the following round, thus increasing longevity for determined gamers to figure out all the moves. This is a fun beat'em up!

Now let's check out a couple of screenshots of a Terminator and some silly fighting...

Whether you're Samantha Fox or a Terminator - this game is kick ass!! Love it!!


Showing off some cool moves there? Or is he just defying gravity? You decide.

Don’t forget to breathe, very important!

There is no beat 'em up would be worth its salt without fast and responsive controls to kick seven bells outta your opponent. The Ultimate Arena has what it takes and I found it easy to learn the various moves along with their special abilities. The two-player mode is great and allows us to play as the other characters (all except the final guy). A turbo mode is optional but I found that pointless so I cannot say I was impressed too much. Blood can also be turned on/off (what... why?)

Like Domark's Pit Fighter, each character is digitised and they try their best to look macho whilst kicking seven bells outta you. It's quite remarkable the amount of detail squeezed into each pixel with smooth animations and the backgrounds are always interesting: like the Terminator watching you on a screen and the crowd with their silly movements. However, I'm not so sure about the colour palette which is too brownish. Okay, I was tempted to let that slide but then I remembered other Atari ST games make better use of colour, ala Black Lamp. Yeah, umm, it is rather too brown!

Let's kick, punch and electrify through a couple more screenshots...

Kick people to death while they're already being electrocuted. It's all allowed!!


Or just pounce from a great height until they are splattered. All good fun!

The CryptO'pinion?

As I've said in the past, I'm no expert when it comes to beat 'em up games. However, I am genuinely shocked at how much fun I've had with this Mortal Kombat wannabe. I half expected it to suck, especially being released long after the gaming side of the ST had died. Surprisingly, even though the STe has no hardware to move the sprites, it's shockingly entertaining so has possibly replaced Double Dragon 3 as my favourite from this genre?

Also, I love how it doesn't take itself too seriously and the fact I can try my luck against a Terminator is kinda cool. It's obvious that a lot of hard work and love went into its production - and all during the twilight years which is extra impressive. Beating the hell out of digitised guys is a great way to spend a couple of hours!! Play this.

The floppies can be found via Old Games Finder. (but stay away of the early beta version as it's rubbish!)

The Golden Dawn Mod Disk #14

MCIBTYC!!

The Golden Dawn released many PD and Mod Disks for the Atari ST during their time. However, this disk is something quite different featuring a humorous hack of Cannon Fodder. Click play to watch little ST soldiers graffiti the Amiga HQ which obviously escalates into war. Of course, this can only end in bloodshed :-)

What a superb idea and one which nicely represents the tensions between ST and Amiga users back in the day. Well, mainly Amiga users because we ST guys were too busy enjoying our machine! After the intro, this disk is stuffed with cool tunes and supports various playback options, including the stereo playback on the Atari STe.

Thanks to STompy for this piece of gold and get it downloaded right now!

Bombuzal

Dazzling dots!

It's time for some more amazing #PixelArt with ImageWorks' 1988 hit Bombuzal. I remember seeing this in the magazines of the day, I couldn't believe the cartoon-like quality of the main character within a colourful isometric world. He is an odd potato-shaped dude who performs a funny expression as the bombs are exploding - it's almost like he doesn't trust himself!! There are some big names associated with this game but is it any good?

Well, this is quite a simple puzzler that requires us to detonate a collection of red bombs. Each screen contains a number of squares we can use to help calculate our best route but watch out for traps: crumbling tiles that can be walked on only once before they disappear forever, so don't get yourself stranded!

Other tiles might be too slippery to walk on whilst some can transport you to another location. Slotted tiles allow us to move selected bombs to a different location, usually to avoid being caught up in an explosive chain reaction. I like Bombuzal, it's a fun game to tax the old brain cells and it's got fantastic pixel art too!

Floppies can be found via Old Games Finder with HDD versions by 8BitChip & Klaz.

Wow, this must be one of the brightest and happiest games on the Atari ST.


This is interesting and being able to flip POVs is neat. But I prefer it in 3D myself...


I love its pixel art. Isometric styles always look cool but this one also uses the palette perfectly.


Oh no, watch out for crumble tiles and (so many) other hazards. This 3D world is dangerous!

Rebellion

Where have you been all my life?

A nasty virus has infected the automated machines on Mars so the robots have captured our scientists and are holding them captive. We have no anti-virus program so it's our job to destroy any robots that get in our way and help lead the boffins to safety. Jump inside your spaceship and get ready to save the day, again!

Rebellion is a top-down shoot-'em-up similar (ish) to a Gauntlet game and each screen has a number of trapped hostages which are often located in different areas. Some are behind a forcefield which can be partially deactivated by disabling a section of its wall - but you won't have long before a repair droid appears so don't dawdle. Others can be in locked rooms which require a key card which a robot may reveal when killed. Every level has a minimum number of hostages to rescue within a set time. Miss it and the spaceship will leave without you!

Okay, so how are you going to break into that complex, rescue everyone and get out in time?

Tactics, strategy and guns!

Enemy robots have a range of different abilities: some are slow whereas others are much faster and another can even lay down explosive mines. Some have no projectile weapon but others are only too eager to turn you into a blood splatter! Also, watch out for gun turrets, trapdoors, and large tanks. Interestingly, when you do lose a life, the robots are paused for a few seconds thus giving you some extra time to whack 'em full of lead.

Rejoice because our machine gun can be upgraded with greater power and faster action - just try not to kill any humans in the crossfire! Well... Anyhow, you'll be pleased to hear that there are a variety of other power-ups to enhance shields, invincibility, a radar scrambler and even a supply of extra lives. Oh yeah, we've got it all.

Aesthetically, the graphics are pretty nice albeit hardly groundbreaking for any 16-bit computer. I'm sure many might turn up their nose at the slow pace and tiny sprites but it's actually ideal otherwise each level would feel cramped and be very difficult. Sounds are fine and you'll hear the bam-bam-bam of your weaponry the most.

As you can see, each level is swarming with enemies and folk to rescue. It's never easy!

The CryptO'pinion?

Now, I don't normally enjoy games that have me worrying about the safety of computer-controlled characters whilst being hunted by the foe. I panic too much so people usually end up dead... However, Rebellion works very well even though the hostages are lame at following so will often get stuck behind a wall... I'm never too happy about time limits and this one seems to have a mind of its own and may prove troublesome on later levels?

Rebellion is quite simple but has been perfectly executed. I've enjoyed this shooter which I've found to be anxiously entertaining - each level has an intricate and interesting military theme with gameplay that is progressively entertaining. Very addictive and one of those games that keeps dragging you back for more and it's always a fantastic rush killing the baddies whilst guiding the scientists back to safety. Yep, I loved Rebellion!!!!

Floppy disks can be found via Old Games Finder
A cool hard disk version by D-Bug.

9 Lives

Reach out for the power

It's time once again for some Atari ST box art and today we have 9 Lives. Like most Arc games, this has a simple design but is also pretty comical with a laughing cat that reminds me of Tom And Jerry. I must admit, I laughed at the glowing reviews plastered by three popular magazines! This has to be a great purchase, right?

Sadly, they were wrong because 9 Lives is incredibly problematic, the gameplay borders on impossible! At first, I thought this might be because of the controls, which do take some time to fully master. Once you have, I personally found them to be perfect: it's easy jumping through the platforms and those long leaps are guided by a meter for fine control.

So, no matter what others say, it's not the controls. Not at all. So let's view a couple of screenshots...

What a massive and unique variety of characters this game has.


Just look at those funny faces! I'm sure these were designed by insane people!!

What's going on?

What I feel is wrong are the gameplay mechanics, which present a number of awkward flaws that irk me. The sprites are far too big so each screen appears zoomed in and overly cluttered, thus Bob cannot help but touch something nasty. Sure, I can knock them out with my woolly yo-yo but it's not long before they get up to zap more of my lifeforce.

Also, the level design is incredibly unfair and requires a psychic gamer who is previously aware of every off-screen trap. Argh, those darn spikes!! Oddly, for a cat, Bob cannot fall very far without dying!! However, this produces a hilarious animation effect not too dissimilar to Wile E. Coyote from the Road Runner cartoons. Love it!

The idea is great but the design doesn't work. Sigh, I think it's time for a screenshot of my hell...

Another life lost... Well, at least I'm going up and not DOWN!! Phew.

Aesthetics?

The graphics are absolutely superb. Drawn with such amazing detail and, at times, this can feel more like an exhibition than a game! The animations throughout are brilliant - I love how Bob struts his stuff walking across my screen and how he clings to a ledge, just before managing to pull himself up. This game looks the business!!

Audio isn't left behind, the most gorgeous YM Chipmusic plays and it's a belter. Love it.

Looks and sounds great, right? So what went wrong with this game? Sigh, let's view another screenshot...

Oh dear, another life lost at the hands of the frustrating and over-crowded level design...

The CryptO'pinion?

Personally, I think 9 Lives had the potential to be a great and unique platformer but I doubt it was produced (nor tested) by actual gamers. Sadly, I imagine most will play this once or twice before giving up - which is a shame? To think I bought this... but it's still a piece of ST history I will cherish. Just make sure you enable the trainer option!!

Floppies are found via Old Games Finder with an HDD version by 8BitChip.

Mystic Realm

Let's crawl another dungeon!

Mystic Realm is an action/adventure that feels like an early 80s mash of Gauntlet with limited RPG elements. It may scream "1985" but it was actually released in 1990 by John Lince for STart Magazine. Impressively, it's programmed in GFA Basic, a powerful language that has produced many games over the years so I already have high hopes.

Okay, the story is about an evil vagrant who has kidnapped a Princess (or Prince if you prefer the only other gender). Man or woman, it doesn't matter, as both will plunder monster-infested dungeons for a valiant rescue. Expect to fight zombies, ghosts, bats, etc. Obviously, I chose to be the prince even though I think he looks like a gingerbread man!!

Please, ignore its 8-bit appearance and enjoy the first screenshot. Dull decor but exquisite characters...

Wait, don't run away!! Remember that golden rule? Gameplay matters - not the graphics.

Plunge the depths!

There are 14 massive levels to explore with the basic objective of finding keys to venture through and ultimately rescue our beloved. Each is made from a number of separate rooms and navigation is aided by directional arrows displayed at the top of the screen. These show us the sides of the screen that will lead us through the dungeon.

The levels are mapped and included on the floppy disk (scroll down to view 'em here) and each is designed to be challenging but, never to a point where you feel bewildered or bored. Battle against a range of monsters and solve puzzles that are slowly integrated into your adventure. For example, a wooden gate may block your path but that isn't a strong obstacle against a couple of hits. However, later puzzles require more thought than simple brute force.

Fun, but requires some thought later on so use your brain. Hey, it's time for another screenshot...

Hang on, am I a gingerbread man? lol maybe! But there are still many monsters to kill. Oh yeah!!

Tread carefully, adventurer

Various weapons can be collected and each translates into a specific number of knives for our adventurer to throw like a ninja. Do note that no other weapons are actually used but collecting a high-ticket item - like an axe - will reward your inventory generously. The firing method will instantly feel familiar to Berzerk fans: just hold down the joystick button and tap the direction you wish to throw a knife. It's apt and works superbly well.

Health points are displayed top/left of the screen and detail our vitality from 0 (you're dead) to 999 (the maximum). It's hungry work being a heroic gingerbread man so chomp on whatever you find to keep yourself alive. If you are already near the max then it might be worth leaving food behind until later? Sadly, health isn't regenerated at the beginning of a brand new level and you will transform into a skeleton if you foolishly starve to death!!

Tips? Easy, be a savvy adventurer! Beware not to waste ammo because you never know how long it will be before you can top-up your arsenal. Remember to eat only when hungry. Finally, there are lots of locked doors - but use your keys wisely because not all doors need opening. Use your brain, Rambo!!

Oh dear, it looks like I've run out of energy and thus instantly became a skeleton. Love it!

Aesthetics

Don't be fooled by the humble graphics, I find Mystic Realm quite fascinating as it reminds me of the games I played as a kid in the earlier 80s. Sure, there are more colours and a higher resolution but the feel remains authentic without having any unnecessary bloatware that would ruin the authenticity. Also, the sprites are all nicely drawn and with comical details: like the wobble of a zombie walk! The ghosts are fantastic and are my favourite.

Even the meagre sound effects transport me back to the 80s. Hearing a knife skim through the air on its way to hit a fiend flat-bang in the face is brilliant!! I'm not ashamed to admit I adore the 8-Bit atmosphere.

So, we got teleported back to pre-ST days? Well, with extra colour, but let's see another screenshot...

Prince or Princess, here are the details for power, weapons, your enemies and everything else.

The CryptO'pinion?

Mystic Realm is one of those games that proves jazzy graphics and sonic boom sound effects aren't required for a great gaming experience. And that is exactly what we have here. Even though I don't imagine many people reading this article would agree - well, not until you take the plunge and play a few games for yourself.

Fans of the RPG/Dungeon Crawling genres will love Mystic Realm, I am positive of this. It's no thrills with fantastic adventure elements and I have thoroughly enjoyed the arduous task of rescuing another damsel in distress!

An enjoyable, dungeon-crawling romp with frivolous graphics. Humble yet I loved every second of it!!

- Download from AtariMania -

- THE MAPS -

( Don't be a dummy!!! Click on each thumbnail to see the larger level maps displayed )