A couple of years ago, I asked Mike (of The New Retro Show) to play some Atari ST games. An alternative selection that I knew would push this bloke to his limits - it was especially fun watching him endure Fire And Brimstone!!
I would like to thank Mike for this fun challenge, which I have really enjoyed. Oh, and this video is actually an early screening just for Atari ST gamers and it will not be made public until this Wednesday!! One more thing... Mike, I've got some cool (and cruel) ideas for a fourth challenge if you're interested? Go on, I dare ya!
Three belters: Winglord (Atari STe), Crapman and one of the latest games released for the ST, Frogger!
Hoog is one mightily impressive jaw-dropping platformer and Clod Hopper feels so authentically 8Bit.
Hector... must be one of the best titles ever and who doesn't love a fantastic conversion of Panic?
Stonish are having a fantastic year with tons of new additions to their database. I downloaded a few of these cracking disks (see what I did there?) and ended up loving the goods on Supremacy #7: James Pond, a Steve Bak classic. Action Fighter, hey this is good. The Mystic Well, one for geeks! But it was Stunt Car Racer that had me hooked. So, here we are!
I remembered friends telling me about this 3D racer by Geoff Crammond - I was told a mix of Evel Knievel and (a playable version of) Hard Drivin'. However, I simply couldn't control my buggy for love nor money and failed to see what the attraction was. I placed it in the same category as the above or even Powerdrome. Yep, nice ideas but impossible to control.
With that in mind, two things become apparent. 1) how wrong I can be about so many different things (as the wife often reminds me). 2) Like a fine wine, my gaming skills have bettered with age. 3). Maths ain't my strong point.
Okay, enough! Let's take a peep at all the drivers. A weird bunch although High Flyer looks cute...
Genius track design with incredibly cunning tricks and a motley crew to race against!
30 years later...
Well, thanks to Stonish (now Atarilegend - see link below) for this floppy disk - I booted up Stunt Car Racer and attempted a couple of practice laps like it was 1989 again. To my surprise, I didn't crash or fall off the track!!! So I played another game and even participated in a league challenge - which I won. Now, I began gleaming with pride because this wasn't like me at all. Yup, this success went straight to my head and I started to get very excited - not easy at my age!
So I dared myself on and practised several different tracks, with varying degrees of success. Well, I'm being kind there: The Stepping Stones is a killer which I think everybody should foolishly attempt, Kamikaze style!! The Draw Bridge looks easy but has a nifty trick up its sleeve... and The Big Ramp features a ginormous monster gap which can only be jumped by going over 200mph. There might only be 8 tracks but they are all beauties and this game was proving itself a classic.
Right then, I wanna see some gameplay screenshots. Are you up for that? Of course, you are...
I love the way you are dropped in!
Now the fun begins against a blocky opponent.
I thought I was catching him up...
Sigh, I skidded into the dirt - only to watch him zoom away!
This game is fun fun fun!!
Stunt Car Racer is controlled using the joystick: pushing up accelerates whilst fire enables turbo boost for bucket more speed. Pulling down breaks and can also reverse - which comes in handy after falling off the tracks. Turning left or right isn't overly sensitive but precise and feels perfect - very natural and comfortably realistic. Thus instantly playable and mastering the buggy's controls isn't tedious like so many other similar games. In fact, it's rather rewarding.
Practice mode is great for learning the ropes and mastering those difficult parts of most tracks but I found myself jumping straight into the league to compete against a computer-controlled opponent. These guys are well-balanced - the computer ain't no slouch but nor is it Jimmie Johnson. Additionally, you can compete against friends and even hook up your ST to another glorious Atari computer. Maybe you have an Amiga friend? Nah, I didn't think so but it is an option. ;)
Success will come because this game is playable! A simple trait often overlooked and here I triumphed...
You win some, you lose some... Stick with it and you'll be their hero (click 'em)
Aesthetics!
Graphically, this racer lacks the polished flair and pizzazz of Lotus 2 or Crazy Cars 3. Thankfully, that is actually a good thing because the framerate doesn't suffer from unnecessary aesthetics. The graphics may look rather bland but this simplicity is what keeps the motion smooth. I'd rather have that any day compared to nicer aesthetics.
Sadly, the sounds aren't exactly the best I've heard from my ST: there are numerous effects but that engine noise could have been better (I found myself turning the volume down a bit). In fact, I'd love to see this game improved with STe DMA effects just like we've seen in other games over recent years [subtle hint directed at Jon or PP!!]
So it looks & sounds weirdly acceptable but moves like a dream, which matters the most. Screenshot time...
This is always a cool glimpse at the next track which I love.
In fact, I'd go as far as saying that these images are some of the best in the entire game ;)
The CryptO'pinion?
Stunt Car Racer is fast and furious with wonky tracks which are a thrill to compete on. Whether you choose to master the tricky stunts (in Practice mode) or jump straight into a league battle, I guarantee hours of fun. The physics are spot-on perfect and that's something you need to experience. The stunt aspect is very addictive, unlike Hard Drivin. Dear Mr Crammond, you did it again and delivered a racer which is both exciting and bucket loads of fun!!
Overall, this is one of the very best Atari ST racers and is worth nothing less than a glorious rating of 10/10.
I'm sure you were all expecting this, right? :@) Yup, I've put together a second video recording that features even more Atari STe games from the Crypt archives. Once again, just a few seconds of each game is shown accompanied by the same groovy background tune by Tomchi. Greetings to all my fellow STe Nutters out there!
Okay, let's check out those games...
+ Uridium - Peter has performed his usual magic and transformed this old clunky shooter into a beauty. + Operation Garfield - I dare you not to laugh at this silly shoot 'em up! + Zool - Good on the ST and even better on the STe. Different to Sonic and fun for a few hours.
+ Giana Sisters - This is what the original should have been like all along! One of the best-enhanced games. + Chronicles of Omega - More colours on the STf but smooth as silk on the STe and with DMA audio. + Substation - Doom for the ST? Well, no it's very different but it's still a BRILLIANT fps game.
+ Stardust - Now we're talking, play this Asteroids and tell me it's not mind-blowing. Superb shooter!! + Heartland 2000 - An Easter Egg with legs but look how smoooooth it runs!! + Zero-5 - The STe goes all Star Wars on us and it's utterly brilliant too. What a cracking game this is.
+ Pac Mania - The original was good but this blows it out of the water!! + R-Type Deluxe - Good old Bod did us proud right until the end. I miss him and thank him for the pics. + Team - I ain't a soccer fan but check out this in overscan. Wow!!
+ Sliders - Looks weird, scrolls like silk, but can you play it? One odd game this. Very odd... + Obsession - Best pinball game on any ST? Very possibly because this is a jaw-dropper Christmas cracker!
I've put together a video recording of 14 Atari STe games. Of course, this isn't complete because there are lots more out there but, in the interest of keeping things short and sweet, my video shows a few seconds from each game. With a groovy background tune by Tomchi, which is just gorgeous! I hope you enjoy this humble presentation?
Come on, man! Get to the games...
+ Bombaman - Everyone loves Bomberman and this is a Christmas cracker we both loved. + Escape 2042 - I bought this and so should you. This is incredible. Frustratingly incredible :) + Pacman On E's - The little yellow fella pops ecstasy pills for a furious take on the classic!
+ Alien Blast - Skip by those old bugs to enjoy a tremendous Alien-infested shoot 'em up. + Death Chase - Quite possibly one of the best games I have ever played. Pure gold this one, folks! + Ultimate Arena - Punch like Chuck Norris and kick like Bruce Lee in this beat 'em up.
+ Pole Position - A near arcade-perfect conversion of one of the best racers ever. It is superb. + PouifOuf - Those graphics might look familiar but the gameplay is furiously different - Wow!! + Top Banana - The graphics make your eyes bleed and the sounds are... different... but it's weirdly good.
+ Crackman/Dealer - A different twist on the old pill popper and something you will love instantly love. + Whitewater Madness - Ignore the demo that's been around for years. Play the full version - an AtariCrypt first!
+ Roger - The STe shows us exactly what it's capable of and Spot shines for a truly superb game.
+ Jinks - Something my mind cannot fathom and PP totally destroys that jerky STf original. + R0X - Zoom through the heavens, scaping giant rocks, all for a massive arcade adrenalin rush!
How time flies, it was only last October I remember giving Marco's planned project a Crypt-push and today (YES) it became a reality. After several days of resentfully watching many ST nutters flaunt their Trilogy collection, I finally have my own copy!! Yup, this morning I received that familiar brown parcel which I excitedly opened.
I've just had a flick through and love what I've read so far, I'm sure to enjoy reading it properly over the coming weekend. If anyone missed out on the support & funding of this project, then don't despair because you can still purchase any or all three volumes. My gratitude goes out to Marco and everyone involved in this hiSToric achievement!!
