Saturday, August 18, 2018

Thunder Jaws



Big guns and a pervy boss!

I'd seen pictures of this underwater shoot 'em up but didn't really know what to expect from what seemed a pretty 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. Okay, so 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 everything that moves and destroy the automated defences before blowing open an entrance to her lair.

Let's check out the initial screens...



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


Still, at least a 2-player co-op is still 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!

Inside, the game changes to a scrolling platformer which is basically a ripoff of Rolling Thunder (yikes, we all remember that dreadful conversion). Anyhow, this stage is better with henchmen and other strange characters chasing you. Weaponry remains the same and can also 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 level increases as we infiltrate through the base but it's now that I needed 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 out their boss. Argh, my screen is littered with too many brawling sprites!!

Gimme a flamethrower 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 are nice with gorgeous backgrounds and different artwork styles. I liked how each level looked and the sprites were always superbly drawn: nothing beats watching the girls falling to their feet for lots of comical kissing. The scrolling is smooth but feels a little lethargic, especially on later levels when there are lots going on.

Sadly, there isn't a chiptune bopping away in the background but the sound effects are quite 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 must admit, 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 excellent. However, the later levels are impossible without cheating and I got a whiff of a lame port when things slowed to a sluggish pace. 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.

Yep, I enjoyed Thunder Jaws - it's not perfect but I played through to the end and loved every second of it!!

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


Here is the end screen... it's probably best I don't comment? :)

Monday, August 13, 2018

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 certainly delivered the goods for a brilliant arcade conversion which is still 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 just wanted to see how the game itself compares...


  
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 begins, the first thing that struck me was its sexy-smooth framerate. However, the sprites themselves are rather crude in comparison with blocky heads? Yikes, what's wrong with the resolution?

But 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 slowdown like on the ST.



Pros And Cons?

Anyhow, enough of this talk about aesthetics because what we all want is great gameplay and the 7800 certainly produced the goods. Okay, my console might very well 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 of course, but I personally found this excess difficulty only promoted just 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 almost all platforms and both the 7800 and ST succeed in delivering a great arcade conversion which is so much fun. All that's required are quick reactions and a love for guns and oldskool 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 hoped you enjoyed this sway from being dedicated to the Atari ST... let me know what you guys think in the comments below (because I was actually quite smitten by the Atari 7800 if I'm honest. A hidden gem!)

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Berzerk



Comparison Time!

I figured an expansion to AtariCrypt was in order because there are many other great Atari games to play. We already have sections for the Atari STe and Falcon030 so why not the consoles? The Jaguar has many superb titles but, I admit that I am a noob which means I'm excited to see what's out there in Atari console land...



- A T A R I  2 6 0 0 -

This actually looks/sounds a lot better than I first imagined albeit without speech. The control mechanics are spot-on perfect with spritely movements that almost made me forget about the Chicken's limited one-shot mechanic. However, I didn't see Otto during the recording so perhaps I did something wrong? But the fat man did show up in other games and he can even be shot. What? Overall, a limited version but without limited gameplay.

  




- A T A R I  5 2 0 0 -

Things feel familiar from the go, possibly because it's an authentic conversion and also reminded me of the ST game - both visually and with that funky digitised speech. I enjoyed it but the speed feels a little slow and it's extremely difficult, to say the least. The robots are way beyond accurate - more like ruthless assassins. They're quick so expect no mercy. Yep, I fear my old-man reactions found this the hardest of all. Chicken, fight like a robot...

  




- A T A R I  S T -

Finally, we shouldn't forget the ST/Falcon game developed by an ST legend who needs no introduction. Those robots might be a little too eager to smash into the walls but I fear this is one of the best conversions. Bold statement - but it has well-balanced gameplay, is authentic, and incredibly playable. Check out our feature from last year.

  

Tuesday, August 07, 2018

RVF Honda



Let's be Street Hawk!

It's time for more Atari ST box art from my collection with MicroStyle's RVF Honda. I can't lie and say this is the prettiest box I've featured but the bike is a beauty so let's open it up and take my new Honda for a ride.

First things first, RVF Honda isn't an arcade racer, more a simulator with semi/realistic mechanics like manual gears and opponents that only Barry Sheene could beat. The graphics are barebones but performance is fast and there's an option for 60Hz, which is something all games should have.

This racer is fun albeit with a massive learning curve. I must say, having to push the bike is a neat touch but one that soon wears thin when struggling to master those corners thus slamming into yet another tree... Yep, the learning curve is hell on two wheels which I think is successfully demonstrated in my video recording.

Let's take a look at the back of the box and what's inside along with screenshots and a video...

The back of the box is actually better than the front, which is odd!

The manual is concise and stuff full of information. Make sure you read it...

Hmm, not much for your pennies when you think about it?

Make sure you're in the right gear for the corners otherwise you hit the tarmac!


That then means pushing your bike to get going again. Love it!!

Take time, learn the controls and grasp the feel of the handling.


Oi you, keep off my grass!! Pah, a need to practise more...


Wednesday, August 01, 2018

The Atari ST And The Creative People




Another book?

Marco Breddin has done it again!! After unleashing the jaw-dropping Breakin' The Borders we finally have volume two, Beyond The Borders. I have only just received my copy which is a wonderful work of art detailing yet more hiSTory about the creative folk who made us gasp in awe. For once, I am (almost) lost for words by what is nothing less than a beautiful and professionally produced product that is certainly worth every penny. I hope you all buy yourself a copy!

Take a gander at both volumes on the Microzeit store and see if they don't get your demoscene juices bubbling with excitement. I know mine is so I'm excited to carefully begin flicking through each page of volume two :)

Sunday, July 29, 2018

5 Random Atari ST Games



Something new, something unexpected

I thought it might be a nice idea to randomly select a handful of Atari ST games - something different from what I might normally choose. So I picked five games from the Dream Weavers menu disks catalogue. Everything is available on a floppy disk from Atari Legend but all can see be installed onto a hard drive thanks to D-Bug and 8BitChip.

Anyhow, this idea proved fun and with a few shocks too: I had a blast playing four totally new games (and Golden Axe!!). The video recording shows my first attempt at each game and I hope you enjoy watching it? Not a walkthrough ;)

Let's take a quick look at each of the Atari ST games I have just been playing...



 The Amazing Spider-Man 


Okay, the first up is The Amazing Spiderman by Empire Software. Now, I think that I remember playing this a few years ago but wasn't too impressed by the fiddly controls and lethargic pace? However, I must say that this "platformer" has genuinely shocked me because it's an incredible adventure which puts a different spin on the expected genre simply because of Spidey's mechanics. This means we have the expected superhero abilities along with being quite the sneaky saboteur - it's superb walking on the ceiling to creep by our enemies or punch switches with our webs.

There is also a fantastic 8-Bit vibe going on. Especially visually, which might not go down well for those looking for a classy 16-Bit quality, but I think it's perfect. Overall, this is now literally one of my favourite Atari ST games and I cannot possibly explain just how much I've loved being Spiderman!! Makes for a boring recording but this is an absolute GEM.






 Edd the Duck! 


Next up is Edd The Duck which was aimed more at kids and isn't really something I would normally choose anyhow. It's basically a poor man's Rainbow Islands but it does a pretty good job trying to live up to that class act. Actually, this is a cracking game and a lot better than I had expected but I found the jump mechanic a little off and the difficulty harder than it should be. Good, but it's probably a better idea just to load up Rainbow Islands?






 Exterminator 


Audiogenic's Exterminator was developed by The Assembly Line and is something I've wanted to play for a while - because it reminded me of Trashman!! This is all about pest control because an entire street is overrun with critters: wasps, spiders and many others. We won't be laying traps or leaving poison because we're quite literally a hands-on kinda guy.

Yep, using a BIG hand, we crush, pound or shoot the critters that emerge from the darkest corners of each room. It's kinda like a nightmarish mix of Klax and gets even sillier with support for two players - which is tremendous fun. This game is something pointless that every Dad needs to experience with his kids - they'll love it.

A good bug-crunching game that excels in two-player mode and I'm shocked at how much I enjoyed Exterminator. Finally, I must add that The Assembly Line did us proud by supporting the Atari STe with cool DMA sounds!!






 Golden Axe 


Golden Axe is a beat 'em up that needs no introduction from me. However, it's also one of those games I feel could have been a great chance to show off what the Atari STe was capable of. Sadly, there's no STe support and that was an opportunity lost [imho] but this is where my criticism ends. If you're after an awesome hack 'n' slasher then this is it.

I should make a proper article here on AtariCrypt for this amazing game. A superb game, play it!! :-)






 Ivan Ironman Stewart's
Super Off-Road 


Virgin's Super Off-Road is another game I wouldn't typically have considered because it looks like a shameless Super Sprint ripoff. However, I am kicking myself because this is great fun and I took to this bumpy racer immediately. It's so much fun tearing around its mucky tracks. It was odd being asked for my date of birth but the game has superb controls and the physics performed very well. Ripping up dirt with Ivan is absolutely brilliant and I had a blast!

What it lacks in originality is compensated by great gameplay and is the perfect end for a great run of ST games.



Friday, July 27, 2018

Cud Lee's Quest



A cuddly platformer?

I remember playing this quirky platformer by Robert Dytmire many years ago and I enjoyed its alternative style. It uses rather "odd" mechanics which are weird at first but wouldn't life be boring if every platformer played the same? Anyhow, Cud Lee (geddit?) was originally aimed at a younger audience with interesting child/tutor features but I also think there's something quite charming about this that appeals to everyone.

The aim is to fight our way through the hoards of baddies to rescue captured Pixies at the end of each level. It sounds easy but you better watch out for a range of enemies who are happily roaming through the screens. It's this mechanic that I adore because they are literally wandering the screens going about their business - whether you can see them or not. These suckers love to jump and many are really tough and can even fire weapons.

The joystick controls are the first thing that hits you because the thing feels low-gravity with super-weird movements. Collecting power-ups is a good idea to increase speed, jumping abilities, weaponry and extra lives. Keys will unlock doors and some walls can be climbed like Zool because of "strange knobby things"...



Gotta love the baddies and their freaky jumps but watch out for the little blue guy's arrows!!


Aesthetics?

Graphically, this is no Hoog or pretty much anything else from the Atari ST's PD library. Backgrounds are a boring black and the environments aren't anything much to write home about. However, it's got a certain charm with the character sprites being the best thing. There are so many and very well-defined with tons of humour, I love 'em all!

Sound effects are made from a mix of chip and samples which works really well. The 'WORRR' when something dies is quite pathetic. So pathetic that I loved it to bits. Hey, it's a PD game... Come on!



Weapons are great and can be powered up to kill these hopping crazies with great efficiency!!


The CryptO'pinion?

Cud Lee's Quest is crudely entertaining but one I'm unsure will appeal to everyone because it's hardly a conventional platformer. What I love is the freedom we're given and the speed at which to explore our strange world. Also, the ability to float (err jump) with such great efficiency through the screens - that is superb!! Genuinely, one of the silliest yet most compelling games I've played - so why not have yourself a daft hour? Enjoy it!!

Grab the disk image if you're tempted?

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Hong Kong Phooey



A story about a mild-mannered janitor

Once again, I've been plodding through my YouTube channel and found another old video, Hi-Tec's Hong Kong Phooey. This is a scrolling beat 'em up that begins with a cool intro based on the 70s cartoon I watched as a kid - this certainly brought a smile to my face!! After Spot releases the unappreciated janitor from the filing cabinet, we begin our adventure searching for Baron Von Bankjob who has just escaped from jail.

Watch out for the thugs wandering back and forth who want to stop us from capturing the villainous Baron. Thankfully, we are an expert in kung fu which is very handy. The joystick controls are superb and we can punch and kick our foe in many different ways: pushing up (whilst walking) performs a killer Van Damme flying manoeuvre. To reach higher platforms requires a bigger jump and that means also hitting the fire button which is a little cumbersome.

For those old enough to remember this fantastic cartoon, check this out...


I love the title sequence. It's short 'n sweet but I feel like a kid watching it!

The moves are easy to learn but lots of fun. "Yee-ah that, sucka!" (say this in a Mr T voice!!!)


Hanna-Barbera magic?

The graphics are pretty nice and cartoony with an oldskool style that might not appeal to many looking for that gorgeous 16-Bit sex appeal. I must say, the scrolling is smooth but it's at the expense of screen size which has been reduced by a largely pointless status panel. Gotta love the crude character sprites and their pathetic animations but the worst of all is when we jump - it's more of a float through the air! Totally ludicrous, but who cares?

Musically, there are nice tunes which I loved and that are accompanied by sound effects for jumping and so on. Okay, they're just about good enough so it's the background music I enjoyed the most.

Yep, all pretty good but not great. Let's not let that stop a couple more screenshots from appearing...



Learning kung fu certainly didn't help this janitor to jump grace. More like floating!


One gets kicked into the air and then Flash Gordon turns up!


The CryptO'pinion?

I remembered making this video recording along with a lukewarm feeling afterwards - basically because I kept on getting lost. Perhaps I should have checked out the map first? Anyhow, back then, I wasn't sure if the game captured the heart of the TV show or not. And I must admit, I'm still not exactly sure now.

So, Hong Kong Phooey brings nothing new to the table. However, the lame Chuck Norris kicks are crudely entertaining and I enjoyed exploring a technicolour world. If you have a cat called Spot, and a cabinet to get changed in, then I suggest you boot it up. A good game but, there are better platformers available for the Atari ST.

Download the floppy or hard disk version.

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

The Last Trooper



I'll be Danny Welinski

Last year, I spent several fantastic weeks enjoying Where Time Stood Still but was later left deflated because I also wanted to play The Great Escape, which is a truly outstanding affair. Alas, the Atari ST game was never meant to be, but wipe away those snowflake tears because there might be light at the end of this 16-Bit tunnel? Well, I hope so!

Here we have Mastertronic's very own The Last Trooper which appears to be more than a tad inspired by the previously mentioned Ocean classic! However, the historic storyline and adventure elements are completely gone in favour of four levels of brutal arcade-style killing so go and grab your big boy pants because this is going to be tough!

Wanna see some screenshots of this isometric Commando shooter? Yeah, of course you do...



Escape the POW Camp in true A-Team style using whatever you can find...

Now it's time to attack your foes but watch out for those GEM-Green mines!


Good but tough!

We're a muscle-bound Schwarzenegger trapped inside an isometric POW camp. Oddly, we already have a machine gun so must find a way to escape before attacking the enemy and destroying their base. The enemy will come after you constantly but they're not the most intelligent and can run around like headless chickens - a little annoying. Other soldiers will hide in trenches or operate gun turrets and you should also look out for other tricky traps, like camouflaged mines.

The controls are simple and very responsive but I initially found it frustrating learning how to line up a shot to kill the frantic headless chickens - it's like they don't care about you being there!! Hmm, anyhow, your crusade won't last very long unless you eat the food that's been carelessly left lying about. Don't forget to top-up your weapon with fresh ammo.

There are other items that you will need to source that will help you out later in the mission. These are essential items that might not be obvious at first: ropes are always handy to have, for example. And there's oddly a huge supply of wire cutters left inside the POW camp. Hmm, that's two interesting pointers that you should remember.

Well, enough reading! Let's check out some more screenshots...



Things got a little tiresome by the third level which was more of the same but a lot harder!

But the fourth level is explosive and much better. Although it's a shame about the poor ending...


The CryptO'pinion?

I've quite enjoyed playing The Last Trooper - but only after activating a trainer for infinite lives. Without that, I failed to beat the second level due to the ridiculous difficulty that is primarily thanks to the headless chickens running about. They blindly shoot everything with extreme efficiency so I wonder if anyone actually bothered to beta-test before its release?

Overall, an above-average shooter that's quite flawed with high difficulty but it's still a bundle of fun for an hour or two. However, if I'm being brutally honest, then I'll stick with Fernandez Must Die and Elite's Commando.


Download the floppy or hard disk versions.