Thursday, February 22, 2018

Supa Zazai Da!






Super... what?

Supa Zazai Da is another Gamopat conversion by Templeton, the same genius who graced us with the stupendous Crash Time Plumber. I couldn't wait to get my grubby mitts on this after reading the superb review by ST Graveyard on Atari Legend. Sadly, I admit to being disappointed with it. I failed to play more than a handful of frustrating games before rebooting my Atari STe with a massive portion of dismay.

I'll never knock anything powered by Maria Whittaker (yeah!), but this is rock solid and difficult!! Having only one life didn't help, especially when the enemy could fill the entire screen with bullets! Yep, this is a wolf in sheep's clothing and seemed like a bad joke. Dang, I was incredibly bad at it and genuinely gutted.

I know, I know, those first impressions of a weak gamer. Sigh, but read on...



Trust me, this game will destroy you and any expectations for success!




Don't judge a book by its cover

I returned and anxiously grabbed my creaky old joystick, determined, but expecting the battle of my life. After many embarrassing failures, I eventually beat the first horde of nasties and even gained extra points thanks to the green particles. How I managed to dodge the enemy's bullets, well, it felt like a personal achievement!! The clue is how you navigate through the cloud of bullets; it's easier than you think (watch the video).

Nevertheless, the scary boss gave me a good drubbing, and I was again greeted with the Game Over screen. I defeated him on my next nerve-racking attempt, so I was close to tears and ecstatic!! Once the second level begins, you realise there's a familiar and repetitive pattern, so I hammered it home and battled onto the third and fourth levels, with relative ease. The lesson is to stick with it, as it can be conquered!!

Talk about a massive learning curve. Or at least for me? Wow, this game is so rewarding...



However, nobody said those bosses would be easy. Especially when they can fire so much!!




Pixels and Sonics

The visuals scroll at an ultra-smooth 50fps. It's the outrageously cute sprites, from a wide variety of games, that everyone will adore. Your computer will require a Blitter coprocessor, which is not a problem for the Atari STe and Falcon, but the original ST models are outta luck (unless you have a later revision or a Mega ST).

Musically, Supa Zazai is great but different depending on your hardware: an unnerving chip rattles ST players, whereas the STe gets exhilarating streamed audio (both brilliant). As instructed, pump up the volume!

It looks and sounds fantastic, is what I'm saying about this Blitter-boosted game...



50fps action through, and just look at that huge sprite. Impressive, to say the least!!




The CryptO'pinion?

What a journey!! 
It's nothing like I initially imagined, yet it lived up to my expectations at the same time, which is weird. Arcade fans are going to drool over their keyboards because this shooter is fast, fun, thrilling, and addictive. Quite simply, Supa Zazai Da is an exhilarating game with gorgeous aesthetics.

I hope Templeton has many more Atari STe games in the pipeline, I really do.

Download Supa Zazai Da! via AtariMania.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Mario's Quest





A face you could punch!

Mario's Quest was released in 1993 by Dean Sharples of Silly Software and is a Hunchback clone. However, this time we're an unofficial clone of that ridiculous Italian plumber, but the gameplay remains pretty much the same. The screens feature lots of tricky jumps, pesky platforms, and annoying arrows trying to kill you.

I adore the humble visuals, which use a cool 8-bit theme, and the music is superb, too. However, the controls are far too sensitive, so judging exactly where a platform ends - without falling to your death - is nigh on impossible. With a little tinkering to its code, I'm sure Dean could transform this into a belting platformer.

However, Mario's Quest is one of the most frustrating games I've played. An infuriating game!

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Fractal Landscape Generator







It's time to get creative

Fractal Landscape Generator was developed by David Billington, who offers us an opportunity to develop mountainous worlds. Now, it's worth stopping to read the disk's doc file before you do anything else, because of an excellent mini-guide. I know, I know, nobody reads the manual... but you should this time!

Creating a brand-new rugged landscape is extremely easy thanks to the fantastic user interface. Not only that, the results can be produced and viewed quickly, even on an 8MHz computer. Thankfully, the program made great use of my 16MHz Mega STe, which is superb. Hatari's versatile speed will be a huge bonus!

The 3D part was initially difficult to grasp but don't give up - keep on tinkering and you'll grasp it. Once you're happy, you can then add light-shading, alter various colour parameters, and increase the detail level. Heck, you can even animate a fly-by through your newly created world.

Dabbling in 16-bit creation was fun, and it's impressive to see what wonders I could knock out. To think I found it by chance: Floppyshop ART-3647. It's a nice feeling to find something "new", and this is a great program to get started in fractal landscaping. Give it a go and let me know what you think in the comments!

I hope you enjoy making mountains...


- My MEGA STe Creations -


 
 

Friday, February 16, 2018

Astro Marine Corps






Creepy monsters are coming to get you!

Sometimes a game doesn't need a long-winded storyline, puzzles, or life-sucking RPG elements. Sometimes all you want is a huge mother of a weapon (with unlimited ammo, of course) and lots of baddies in need of urgent annihilation. Be happy because Dinamic's AMC fits the bill with lots of gratifyingly brutal violence!

This multi-level scrolling shoot 'em up involves nothing more than walking through grim alien landscapes and hammering the fire button to kill everything in sight. Upgradeable weapons use a directional-firing technique, and our marine can crouch and leap high into the air (with wiggly legs). We are equipped with powerful bombs, which are needed when the main gun isn't effective. (tip: perhaps you can drop a few into a crater)

The aliens are an obscene bunch of misfits ranging from man-eating plants to mechanoids that even Robocop would run away from. Don't get close to the unassuming caterpillars, these will suddenly grow in size - with teeth!! I think AMC has some of the best enemies, and the monstrously huge Guardian proves it.

Technically, AMC could have been better; the scrolling is somewhat lacking, and the landscapes look rather "unfinished". Thankfully, the joystick controls are excellent. However, it is awkward reaching for the keyboard to throw a bomb - especially when mechanoids are chasing. With a bit of spit and polish...

AMC is crude and predictable but thoroughly entertaining. It features great baddies, crunchy sounds, and loads of action. I loved it, and being an Astro Marine is ace because it’s fantastic killing alien scumbags!


Waste no more time & play this game!!
Install AMC on your hard drive.
Grab the floppies from Atari Legend.




The plant life is out to get you in this crazy game, so watch out where you walk!!



Awe look, everyone, it's a strange little worm. No, wait... ARGHHH it's growing!!



This thingamabob is absolutely superb. Look at the detail in his eyes and teeth!!



AMC has some huge monsters, but the bosses are even bigger. This beast is ginormous!!

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Gribnif Software





Today is a great day!!

Dan Wilga has released NeoDesk and Geneva as freeware, downloaded directly from the Gribnif website. I've quickly run through a test installation (within Hatari), and it worked without a hitch. My next project is to install this onto my Mega STe and get this amazing operating system running from an SD Card.

What a fantastic opportunity this is, but please don't forget to donate whatever you can. I would love to see your NeoDesk screenshots! Let me know what you guys think of Geneva/NeoDesk in the comments below...

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Killing Machine





The killer from Atlantis

Killing Machine is a vertically scrolling shooter by Atlantis Software released in 1992. We're on a remote planet controlled by a giant brain that identifies your sassy spaceship as an invading bacterium: vermin that needs to be wiped out!! The battlefield spans three levels with lots of kamikaze enemies out for blood.

The first thing that struck me was the graphics, which are uniquely colourful using a sweet palette. The smooth scrolling is slow and steady, with impressive enemy sprites zipping across the screen. Sound effects go beyond mere bleeps for some rather raspy samples, and that grunge works well and suits the style.

Killing Machine is brutal and requires lots of practice before you get close to beating the first level. That learning curve is nothing less than painful. Keep at it - collecting the power-ups and learning the enemy attack patterns is a must. Or you die a suckers death. This isn't the best shooter, but it's still loads of fun.
  • Atarilegend has floppy disks (Pure Energy #53)
  • 8BitChip has a great version for hard disk installation.
  • AtariMania has this listed along with scans of the manual.

Thursday, February 08, 2018

Rambo III






80s action heroes box art

Rambo III, released by Ocean Software, is an overhead shooter similar to others like Into the Eagle’s Nest. I’m thrilled to finally own this game, which boasts impressive Hollywood artwork and a great back cover, too. So I decided to take a picture of both and double up on our love for movie legend Sly Stallone.

Sly Stallone plays our musclebound action hero, about to infiltrate a Soviet base holding Colonel Trautman captive. Our mission spans three levels: the first involves rescuing Trautman, followed by our escape. The final level is a shooting gallery reminiscent of Operation Wolf. Before you ask, the first part is the best.

Let's see a couple of screenshots, starting with the outstanding title screen...



I can't help but admire this superb screen. Yes, it is superb!!



Okay, we're in. Grab your knife because it's time to kick ass!!




Run. Shoot. Kill everything!

The gameplay on the first two levels is somewhat reminiscent of Gauntlet, but it’s not the same. Ironically, running around like Johnny Rambo will get you killed! Instead, carefully explore the complex, searching for the safest route. You’ll also need items like health, ammo, and infrared goggles to detect the invisible booby traps. Watch your health displayed using a meter that older games will find nicely (ahem) familiar.

Since each room is entered "blindfolded", always be cautious (ie, not shown until entered). Otherwise, the Russians will gang up and beat Sly. Yup, enemies occupy most rooms, but feel more like automated drones than the Soviet elite. They robotically patrol back and forth, unaware of your presence until you suddenly appear in their line of sight. Watch their movements and habits. If you get seen, an alarm sounds, and nearby soldiers come. Don’t be deterred by these tough soldiers who are creatures of habit.

This isn’t a run-of-the-mill Gauntlet rip-off; careful tactics are essential. Play more like the real US Army Special Forces than Hollywood claptrap. My only complaints are trying to memorise the massive map, which can easily lead to getting lost. I also think that there should be more collectables to help. But I'm entering into the territory of, "Steve's a bad gamer"! And yes, I doubt I’ll ever reach the third stage without a cheat!

I hear you cry for more screenshots! It’s nice getting feedback... Here you go…



Tread carefully because most rooms are heavily guarded with many tunnelled-vision soldiers!



These guys will patrol back and forth, so be slow and make sure you don't set off the alarms.




But is it any good?

I understand why Rambo III didn’t win over most reviewers back in the day. It’s Marmite - you’ll either love it or hate it. Despite its flaws, I think it’s fantastic. While it resembles Gauntlet, it’s totally different and more akin to our version of The Great Escape. Stealth is key, so prepare to spend hours sneaking (and mapping). Rambo III is challenging and tactical first and foremost, with arcade action as a secondary element.

Understand the type of game you're playing, and you’ll love it - I certainly do.

Tear your shirt off and grab Rambo 3 from Atari Legend.
Wanna see the maps? Right here: Speccy Maps/Hall Of Light.



The back of the box is absolutely awesome. Gotta love Sly!!

Wednesday, February 07, 2018

Atari ST friends





My new Atari ST merch!

I received my latest "Atari Games" mug by Peter Jørgensen (Enduro Racer / YMT). No, they're not all the same, just scroll down for the reverse side. These cups are superb, and it's so kind of Peter to send them. The mouse mat was a gift from my mate Tom, another ST nutter. Both Peter and Tom made the ZombieCrypt mug - probably because they were blown away by that slideshow I released last year. Hmm, probably not lol.

My greetings, Peter/Tom - nothing is better than suppin' coffee from these mugs!! 😎


Monday, February 05, 2018

KillThings





Killing time

KillThings, by Orm of Digi Tallis, is a 3D first-person shooter similar to something like Wolfenstein. Alas, it was never finished, but it is still very playable, and I'm impressed by the speed of its 3D engine, which is both fast and fluent. What's more, is the mapping screen which works just like the one in Doom - love it!!

Sadly, there are no audio effects and little to do other than wander corridors looking for a bug-eyed stickman to kill. Still, the potential is staggering when you think about what's been completed for this unfinished version. Interestingly, there is a level editor if you're feeling bravely creative. Go on, I dare ya.

KillThings was never going to replace Wolfenstein or Substation, but I'm fascinated by oddities like this lurking within our archives. I'm impressed by the hopes and dreams of what this developer wanted to create back in the day. It's a shame his idea died before it was completed. The 'readme' explains a great deal.

But fear not, we have this demo, which is neat and shows what might have been if completed. It's rather cool and can be downloaded from their website, along with the level editor and much more. You know, I hope that one day, Orm gets back to this project because it's excellent! Superb programming - massive potential...



The game's mapping function works like a dream, much like we saw in Doom!


Why not design your own levels using the editor?

Sunday, February 04, 2018

Ultrasatan





UltraSatan? More like UltraGOD!

When my hard disk decided to kick the bucket, I replaced it with an Ultrasatan. It's built like a tank and incredibly versatile and (obviously) silent - the old hard drive sounded like a Vulcan Bomber!! I could have bought CosmosEx/Gotek, but I would rather attempt open-heart surgery than risk cutting my Atari ST.

But what about games?? Not to worry, there are runnable disks thanks to Floppy Image Runner by Peter Putnik, who has adapted hundreds of games to load directly off the Ultrasatan. The D-Bug guys have converted loads of games with stunning menus and cheats - I wish they'd continue on as they are amazing.

I sure love my Ultrasatan, which is a superb clump of hardware and one I cannot recommend highly enough. Visit Lotharek's website for more information and lots of other goodies - get yourself one of these beasts!!

Friday, February 02, 2018

Goin' Down With The Captain






Wait... Come back!!

Goin' Down With The Captain was developed in GFA Basic by Terry King of Ninth Wave Software and must be one of the silliest titles since the robot monsters invaded. Or is it just me? Anyhow, imagine yourself as the unlucky cabinboy onboard a sinking ship who is running around for the lifebuoys. Can you help save him?

Collecting the lifebuoys is easy, but you must venture deep into the waters to find some scattered about the ship. Fetch them back to their hangers up on the top deck, but you are only able to carry a maximum of two at a time. Later levels will require multiple trips into Poseidon's realm. This is a frantic race against the clock!

Sounds interesting, right? Okay, let's take a look at a screenshot...



Leaky pipes, rising water, and now a crab has sent us to heaven, ala Monty Mole!




This ain't no killing gameshow!

The flooding is constantly rising due to leaky pipes splurting out water. These can be patched with a sticky plaster, and some decks have pump levers to reduce water levels. Flooded decks can be accessed - if you hold your breath and use air bubbles to replenish oxygen. Any treasures you find are yours to keep, but beware of snippy crabs roaming the lower decks who love nipping at your toes. There's much going on, but it never feels OTT.

The joystick controls are incredible, with responsive movements and no learning curve. Oh, and using the levers is an entertaining moment that brought back memories of Decathlon, albeit waggling up & down!!

It's fun and very hectic - trust me! Hey, I think it's time for another screenshot...



Some levels are a little more puzzling with lifebuoys hidden behind locked doors...




Cheap & cheerful

The graphics aren't exactly Bitmap Bros standard, but they do their job, albeit with the occasional slowdown. Scrolling is great, and I have massive admiration for the palette - especially when underwater.

The audio is in stereo on the Atari STe, but I'd much rather have the crisp YM chip over poor-quality samples. Yep, the music and sound effects are made from low-quality samples, which I didn't care for. Hence, this is another reason why chiptunes are timeless compared to many MODs. Flame me all you like, but it's true.

Am I trying to start a fight? Bring it on, Commies! No, let's chill with another screenshot...



Remember, not every door needs to be unlocked - so use your keys wisely before you drown!




The CryptO'pinion?

This is an oddball with more than a hint of a certain other action platformer. I enjoyed the gameplay style; it's fantastic with many interesting ideas. In fact, it's downright silly at times, but you won't mind one bit. Ignore the weak visuals and fuzzy audio because the gameplay is top-notch, and that's what matters.

Going Down With The Captain is challenging, addictive, and one of the best PD games I've played.

Goin' Down With The Captain download @AtariMania

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Megapede





My bad (as the kids say)

After drooling over Sinister Development's Centipede, there seemed to be little reason to play any other version. Stupidly, I skipped Robert Dytmire's Megapede without giving it a second thought. Thankfully, I came to my senses and went back to it. I'm glad I did because this is nothing less than a fantastic homebrew effort with exhilarating gameplay featuring bosses, extra swarms, level-select, and support for adults or kids. The audio is great, and I adore the clunky 8-bit style with comically cute sprites and enormous mushrooms.

Don't be an idiot, like I was, this is a fantastic millipede conversion!!

Monday, January 29, 2018

Whirligig





Spinning in space

Whirligig was developed by Maelstrom Games of Midwinter fame for Firebird, and I've recorded a short video which I thought might be fun to share. Why? Simply because I cannot play Whirligig for love nor money - zipping about in space without ever being able to properly control my direction is agonising. If I happened to kill one of the baddies, it was pure luck because I usually end up killing myself instead!! This is a good game, but could so easily have been great with a bit of thought... I don't know, but I appear to be grumpy today.

Technically, Whirligig is impressive, and I could have dug my heels in and mastered the controls. But I couldn't be bothered, which is my mood today. Enjoy my video recording, and I promise to try harder next time!

Sorry for this terrible article :o)

* Floppy disks can be nabbed off Exxos [Automation #10] and via Stonish [Klapauzius #1].
AtariMania has links to reviews and the manual. In hindsight perhaps I should have read that? lol

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Alien Blast




A quick news flash!!

Our Atari world is buzzing with news of Matthieu Isorez giving away his copy of Alien Blast!! Previous public releases crashed on level 3 due to data corruption, and we've needed the original disks/files. Finally, we have them and can play the later levels - which is exactly how I plan to spend the rest of my Sunday!!!

More to come when I have the time. Thanks to Marko Latvanen @AtariMania for the heads-up :)

Saturday, January 27, 2018

KLAX






Another ST game gets updated

Jamie Hamshere (aka junosix of Droid fame) has released an upgrade of Klax for the Atari STe. This new release uses the arcade game's sampled sound effects, which beats the original's chirpy chip by miles.

The game is basically a 3D Tetris that Domark released in 1990. Once again, we're stacking piles of coloured tiles but this time they are travelling towards us and need to be dropped into a bin, making sure they stack vertically, horizontally or diagonally. It sounds simple, but this is brutal and demands lightning-fast reactions.

What a fabulous upgrade to replace the drab effects with super-duper arcade sounds using the audio coprocessor. I'm sure Tetris and brainteaser addicts will love Klax even more now that it sounds this good!!

Nice work Jamie. Please don't stop and enhance other ST games.

AtariMania hosts the STfm original and this spanky new Atari STe update.
Need help? I know I did... just hit the '4' key to play to the final level. Good luck! ;-)

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Alien Thing






In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream

Alien Thing was released late in the ST's life by 999 Software for Top Byte and is an Alien Breed shooter. So, if you've ever played that or others like Alien Syndrome, Gauntlet or Storm, then you'll know exactly what to expect from this overhead shoot 'em up. It's the same old story: heading for Earth is a distant spaceship filled to the brim with a vicious alien horde hungry for our blood. It's time to tool up, sneak on board, and begin mercilessly killing anything that looks like it bites. Oh, and they all bite, so beware!

The spaceship is split into 11 levels, with each requiring a mission to be completed. The first starts off simple (kill everything!!), with later missions more complex. If you fail, then you are immediately sent straight back to the beginning. This is a bit of a bummer, especially when coming into deadly contact with alien blood.

This ship is huge, yet with a clear definition in design, so you won't lose your bearings! There are locked doorways, but almost every corridor has some kind of door that can be opened, one way or another. Key cards are a good idea, and can usually be found hidden inside the blue cabinets - along with other bonuses like a 1UP and ammo. Use these cards wisely because not every door needs to be immediately opened.

We need to stop reading and view a couple of scary Alien screenshots...



Argh, those green pools of acid! Let's get rid of 'em right away!



I love those splatter effects - they are quite messy but in a good way!




They mostly come out at night, mostly

Joystick controls are responsive, so it's fun exploring the ship, even if I move quicker than the aliens! These beasts are everywhere - so stay frosty - because they can withstand several hits before turning into a splattered mess. Their eggs must be blown up before a new alien is born and pops out to eat you!

Dead aliens leave behind pools of poisonous slime that need to be destroyed before you can pass (how I wish that was possible in the Jag's AvP). Each of your weapons has varying levels of effectiveness, and the flamethrower is awesome, so try searching the orange cabinets for it. However, I'm not too happy with the laser, which needs to be recharged too frequently for my liking. It could have lasted a bit longer!

So, we have great joystick controls and lots of aliens to kill. This game is fantastic and something you need to download and play. However, there are also a couple of other versions you might wanna try...

  • Alien Thing has two "sequels" which you might wanna check out? There is an Exper Edition which was designed to be more challenging. However, I found many of the changes actually made the gameplay ridiculously difficult, thus frustrating. 
  • There is also a Director's Cut that never got released. Thankfully, there is a demo and this game looked incredibly promising!! It features a change of visual perspective, new enemies/missions, and lots of DMA sound effects.



Alien Thing (above) and the updated Expert Edition (lower)


This is a simple example of the differences, ie: map changes, items, pools of gunk, etc.




Close your eyes, baby

No, open your eyes wide to enjoy the sci-fi graphics, as everything is well-designed, and I liked the contrast of vivid colours against the spaceship's metallic structure. Plus, the near-luminous green aliens really do stand out, even if they walk like squashed spiders! Sadly, the scrolling isn't too great and should have been smoother - it's disappointing that the Atari STe's hardware scrolling wasn't used to full effect. WHYYYY??

The audio is fantastic with effects for just about every action (the older STfm does as well as it can, but this game is best run on the Atari STe). Many of them are ripped. I like the Star Trek doors opening, but a few are crude. That doesn't mean they're not superb, because they are genuinely entertaining. The weirdest of all is when an alien dies, which is almost as strange as our own pitiful death cry.

Alien Thing looks and sounds great, so that can only mean one thing! Yes, it's screenshot time...



Explore everywhere and leave lots of dead bodies in your wake!



Tooled up and patrolling the corridors... Surely, this is a gamer's perfect dream?




I guess we’re not leaving soon?

Okay, we're done with the Alien quotes - did you get them all? This is a belting game, but nothing is perfect, and I have a few things to whine about. For example, when a corridor is blocked by a pool of slime that's impossible to destroy because it's too close to a wall. Also, one touch of slime means instant death! Plus, it's silly having just one sound effect for a shot - regardless of the weapon. Whoa, let's end the moaning, please!

Alien Thing is a decent take on the Alien theme. To think this came from a small company late in the ST's life is marvellous. It's superb, with a nifty balance of arcade-style action, exploration, and strategic thinking. The missions are challenging and enjoyable, but I never felt overwhelmed by the maze-like design.

Yup, I absolutely love Alien Thing. It's a blast, and you will love it too, so stop your grinnin' and drop your linen - this is a seriously addictive shooter!! (I just had to get one last quote in there, didn't I?)


Several different downloads are available, and some are bad. So I've bundled together the best versions, which you can freely download from my Dropbox.

For those struggling, there is a genius password system!
Press the "/?" key on the menu to use these codes:
PARTY,  WORK,  LARD,  WHEEE,  HELLO,
HARD,  GOSH,  NIGHT,  PEN,  RULER

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Grusel





Comedy Horror

This was one of the first demos I ever bought from a PD library when I became an ST user. The scene was fresh and bewildering for me back then. Plus, I had little money and took the plunge, blindly spending my pennies on something called "Grusel". I miss those days of ordering disks from PD libraries!

Thanks to the insanity of Eckhard Kruse, I've been hooked on graveyards, weird skeletons, and ghosts for over 30 years. Yes, it's silly, but this is an ST classic, and I just had to share it. Grusel can be downloaded from Eckhard's own website (don't forget Ballerburg, an outstanding turn-based strategic shooter you need to play!). This little demo is nothing less than a timeless classic. A childish demo. A masterpiece!

  • Grusel can be downloaded from Eckhard's website.
  • Please don't forget about Ballerburg, utter ST classic this one!

Sunday, January 21, 2018

HangAbout!






Cliffhanger!

HangAbout was released in 1995 by John Hodskinson and is one of the quirkiest games I've played. Ignore what you're seeing above and read on... Three (randomly generated) mountains need to be climbed by a little stickman, with the first being relatively easy. The second is harder, and the third is a killer!

Each mountainside has ridges to which our adventurer can cling. He uses these to find a route to the top. However, if you fall too far, you suffer a messy pixelated death. It's brilliant, albeit not what you wanna see! Our stickman can use his arms to reach those parts that are a pinch out of reach. Sometimes, the route appears blocked by a gap too large, so a "megajump" can be used - but only once! Use it wisely.

HangAbout! is one of those games that first appear rubbish (with rubbish graphics). But then turns out to be incredible and extremely addictive. In fact, it's gobsmackingly brilliant, and for less than 10Kb!!

+ Download PD Games Compilation Disk #2, which features another by John called Haywire.

Saturday, January 20, 2018

Turrican II - The Music





Check this out!!

Turrican II: The Music by Black (aka Scott Clifford). A music disk for both ST computers shows just how great this game's tunes are. Included is a selection of stereo remixes for the Atari STe, so what more could you want? I've recorded this video, and it plays about a minute from ten random tracks - so you should nab the download to hear all the tunes properly. It's best experienced using a real Atari STe - so crank up the volume!!

Credits and the download...

Black - Code
Jochen Hippel - Music
Sven Meier - Graphics

Friday, January 19, 2018

Burger Dream






You are what you eat

Burger Dream is Reisoft's spin on 'Clowns & Balloons' with a Ronald McDonald lookalike collecting flying burgers. Imagine Breakout with a dollop of Space Invaders - but replace the aliens with hamburgers!

Ronald is left to feel the wind in his wig because we control a couple of goons who move a trampoline contraption that allows him to bounce high in the air and collect burgers. These are scrolling across the screen to make it extra difficult. However, try not to drop Ronny otherwise, or he ends up in a crumpled heap.

The mouse is used for left/right movement and is perfectly implemented for smooth & precise control. Sadly, the graphics aren't exactly 16-bit, more like something I would have drawn! Only the blind will appreciate these pixels! Burger Dream is hideous and repetitive, but I admit it was surprisingly enjoyable.

Download your Big Mac right now!