Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge #AtariSTe

It's finally here, folks!!

After months in development, the time has now come to ditch your PC and dust off the old Atari. Yes, a public release of the Atari STe upgraded Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge will be available to download from tomorrow - April 10th. The only caveat is that your computer requires 1MB Ram and a working floppy disk drive. Surely nothing too drastic to ask?

The original plan was to update Lotus with all the features missing from the original ST release. Jon added sky rasters, revamped roadside details and boosted the framerate. He later used the Blitter Chip to crunch those car sprites and smoothly scroll the landscape which delivered even more speed. Jamie Hamshere worked on the DMA audio to ditch the horrendous chip effects. As you can imagine, the end result of all this effort is quite staggering.

I'd like to thank Jon for all his hard work and for sharing with me everything that he was working on over the months. It's been great to follow, a fascinating experience and tons of fun. I would like to thank Jamie & Masteries for their incredible DMA skills; I'll never forget the first time I played Lotus with sampled sound effects alongside the chip music.

Downloads will be available from tomorrow morning via AtariMania. Well, that's my weekend sorted...

One day I'll get myself a sports car and I'll live the game for real. One day...

Did you know?

The new Lotus Esprit actually works on the Atari ST and features nice sky rasters, faster gameplay and more. The only caveat is the requirement of 1MB Ram and also a Blitter Chip (check the Options menu in GEM if you're unsure!). All Mega STs meet these requirements and late-model STFM's have an empty socket... Feeling tempted to upgrade?

Worried that you don't have a working floppy disk at hand? Well, the download is compatible with floppy disk replacements and can also run off a hard drive/ultrasatan using programs like Floppy Image Runner. Check that out!

The 16MHz Mega STe can run Lotus at dizzy speeds - just hold down the SHIFT key at bootup to activate it. Also, if you're missing the peculiar YM sound effects then press the ALT key at bootup to disable the cool DMA samples.

Finally, if you have extra hardware connected to your Atari STe, like hard drives, then disconnect and power them off. Do not try leaving the hard drive on and attempting to bypass that auto-booting. Power it off and cold boot the computer.

Check it out, I made the high score table. Honest, I swear I did... ahem!!

Preview Release Timeline Updates (for reference)

I've made a few video recordings to flaunt the features of each release. All credit to Jonathan Thomas, Jamie Hamshere & Masteries (DMA audio) for all their hard work with each new release. Don't worry, the fantastic chip music remains as an option and the STe's DMA playback has no negative effect on the framerate. Great work lads, keep it up!!

For reference, here are the links from each development build I have received:

Apr 10th - It's finally here to download from AtariMania!!
Mar 31st - video #6 Player two has sky gradient, Blitter scrolls the landscape per pixel, more audio refinements and a higher framerate!
Mar 28th - video #5 Portugal track (audio sample for the intro and many improvements made to the volume balance of YM/DMA.
Mar 21st - video #4 Practice track with a massive change to the audio. Lotus can play play DMA sound effect samples alongside the glorious Ben Daglish chip music!!! Volume refinements to come thanks to Jamie...
Mar  7th - video #3 Iceland track (DMA sfx).
Feb 28th - video #2 Mexico track (chip music).
Feb 21st - video #1 Italy track (chip sound effects).
Feb 21st - website feature with information, specs, photos, etc.. :-)
Dec 24th - Jon posted on Atari-Forum about his Lotus plan!

Crazy Cars III

Oh no, another Crazy Cars game?

Yep, and I must admit that I was a bit worried because the first game was rather crude and the second had infuriating mechanics that angered me a lot. So, as you can imagine, I was sceptical about the third. Okay, it's 1992 (I wish) and Titus appears to have redeemed themselves with something that actually looks rather good. What??

Yeah, it looks cool and the background story is funny and proves you should never look a gift horse in the mouth. Well, when somebody offers you a Lamborgini Diablo, at a rock-bottom price, take it and then drive it away as fast as you can!! Which is exactly what we're doing for Crazy Cars 3. Sure, we spent most of our life savings running it but we have a sexy sports car. More importantly, enough cash remaining to compete in America's Bullrun - the Saturday Night Races.

That might sound lame but this event is a huge event taking place throughout the lower 48 States against many rival drivers. There are four divisions and, of course, we begin right at the bottom of the fourth with a measly $6000 left in the pot. Thankfully, that's more than enough to get us racing through Miami, Denver and Memphis. Each win increases your purse, thus opening up the possibility of competing in the more expensive races in other locations.

Enough yapping, I think it's time we viewed a few opening screenshots...

Put the pedal to the metal!

Well, before you rush off and waste precious cash, it makes sense to practice. So look at the map and take a stab at any location. Each is different with a varying degree of difficulty thanks to narrow, twisty lanes, obstacles and other cars. Not to mention the cops who are looking to boost their Christmas party fund. Well, why bother arresting real criminals!

Anyhow, once you feel you've practised enough, slap yourself and then practice some more. You won't regret it. Eventually, you will be ready and can head over to the Tournament with confidence. Pick yourself a character, I'm always the Mr T lookalike! It's now a good idea to start cheap with something you can afford, I advise Memphis. All "yellow" coloured places are initially open to you with details of fees, prizes and details of those dreaded cops.

Prize money is awarded for coming 1st, 2nd or 3rd but it's possible to boost that via your fellow rival drivers. These guys are always up for a flutter which might be a good opportunity to earn extra money? So long as you don't get too big for your boots and have bothered to practice on more than just a few tracks. Yes, you really should practice. Take the hint!

It sounds quite complex but it's not so let's take a gander at some more sexy pixels...

Titus 2:13

I'll say it now, I love Crazy Cars III which is thankfully nothing at all like the first two racers - in terms of gameplay and quality. In fact, it's quite a rush slamming down the road, zooming by the other cars, with the thrill of passing a dreaded rival. The controls are excellent with our joystick used to steer this red beast: push up or hit fire to accelerate and pull back breaks. You can choose between manual or auto gearboxes which means I always choose the latter!

This racer is fast and furious (sorry) and feels like Titus sneakily took inspiration from a number of others, like Lotus II for example. But that's okay, there are lots of examples of ripoffs being better than the originals. Play dirty if you need to but always keep an eye out for the cops. Those guys never give up and will try to chase you all the way through to the end. So whaddya gonna do? Flee or be a good citizen... FLEE, of course!!!

Rich rewards for good drivers so collect the bounty for winning a race and then grab what's owed to you by losing rivals. Now, it's time to think and decide just how you're gonna spend that cash. Car repairs, or enhancements like a better gearbox, turbo boost, tyres, etc. Perhaps another harder race which is now unlocked because you're the Million Dollar Man? This routine is continued until you earn enough dosh to enter into the Divisional Race for a possibility of promotion.

And finally, it's time to view some amazing in-game screenshots. Enjoy these...

A shiny red car and a roaring engine?

Yup, now it's onto the aesthetics which never matter but is still nice to have... So, what do we have?

Well, the graphics are ace. Simple as that. This is one of the most glamorous 16-bit racers with a decent framerate and good sprite scaling for everything that whizzes by. The weather effects are a nice addition but only if you've remembered to change the tyres. However, it's the palettes which I adore the most using beautiful colours!

The audio is good with a neat tune and decent sound effects. Most effects are YM chippy and could have been better but there are some neat extra touches, like when going under a bridge. The best is the whirring sirens of the cop cars which are excellent. But this also highlights the Diablo's mundane engine sounds. Catch 22. Ah well, can't have it all?

Okay, here are some funny faces and the sweet smell of failure for the last few screenshots...

The CryptO'pinion?

Every game has a flaw or two and I thought my Diablo suffered lethargic cornering compared to the others. Also, I wasn't a fan of the narrow tracks with too many stupid locals getting in my way! My driving skills suffered, as did my wallet paying for all the extra repairs! Possibly too many cars populate the roads? Or is that just me?

Crazy Cars III is fandabbydosey. It's the best in the series (hardly a revelation) and hasn't lost any of its excitement - it's a thrill. Also, I love the freedom to enhance, gamble, the different locations, and the rush of being chased by the cops (who are relentless). Is this better than Lotus II? Possibly, and that is an enticing thought. So, set aside a couple of hours over the weekend for you and the kids. You won't regret playing this need for speedster - it's blummin' brilliant!!

Download the floppy disc via Stonish

Buggy Boy

Silly & Screwy Racing

After the joy of Arkanoid 2, we continue our trip through Atari's Super Pack with Beyond the Ice Palace and Black Lamp. However, both are already featured here on AtariCrypt [click the links] so let's move onwards for a favourite of mine, Buggy Boy. Those with a keen memory will remember that I've already covered this?

Well, yes and no... Yes, it's featured but no, it was just a silly post showing Buggy Boy running at dizzy speeds on my 16Mhz Mega STe!! Still, it's worth viewing... Honest.

Buggy Boy is an arcade classic and one that doesn't take itself seriously whatsoever. Forget the crucial stuff like road surface, tyres, suspension, handling, pitstops or even the paint job. Nope, just choose which of the five tracks you fancy and then jump into your buggy and race through checkpoints - all against the clock.

But let's not forget the belting cartoon-like visuals for a chance to view a couple of screenshots...

Who doesn't love two-wheel stunts? If Michael Knight can do it, so can I.

Abandoned logs help our cute buggy to leap high into the air!

Fun, Fun, Fun!!

Everything you see is completely unrealistic thanks to roads cluttered with obstacles and whacky physics. The first track is an offroad loop whereas the others are segmented by their checkpoints as you progress. This racer was always meant to be fun so provides silly leaps and two-wheel driving, Knight Rider style :-)

Points can be earned by collecting flags in the order shown at the top of your screen. Once completed, they begin to flash - so now is a good idea to collect more before that stops... Also, slalom-style gates are scattered throughout for tons of points and some even offer time bonuses. Heck, you might even see a soccer ball... Go on, kick it!!

Football, in a driving game? Yep, check out the screenshots that follow...

Hit that soccer ball like Pele and see what happens to eagle-eyed drivers.

Why not climb those sloping walls to avoid obstacles like annoying rocks.

Forget sim, this is pure arcade joy!

Some tracks have banked curves and can be used like you're racing at Bristol Motor Speedway which was an unexpected surprise that certainly adds to the overall excitement. However, not all is good, look out for rocks, bushes or barriers which slow you down or take you for a tumble. Driving head-on into a wall will cause you to explode and water has never been good for any vehicle. Each bad event forces the loss of precious time!

The joystick controls are brilliant albeit limited by the ST. Of course, an analogue wheel was always going to be missed, but the weirdest aspect is pushing upwards to accelerate rather than using the button. That's because tapping this switches between your two gears... it's odd but you'll get used to it after a race or two.

Arcade fun on your Atari ST? Whatever next? I'll tell you, some more screenshots...

There was plenty of room but I still chose to leap over that rock. Why not!

Watch out, tunnel ahead! Enter without hitting slap-bang in the wall if you can?

Aesthetics

Graphically, Buggy Boy hasn't aged too badly and certainly brought back all my old arcade memories. The sprites are nice, the colours are gorgeously vivid, and the overall appearance is cartoon-like. Okay, the framerate isn't exactly Vroom but it looks cute and performs smooth enough not to hurt my eyes, ala Cisco Heat and OutRun!!

The audio is darn cool and captures the arcade experience with its beautiful chiptunes - all produced by the talented Jason C. Brooke. Sound effects are almost as good with jazzy jingles and funny "boings" as we leap.

So, it looks and sounds great? Do you know what that means? Yep, some more screenshots to gawk at...

Bumping into some obstacles slows you down...

...whereas others cause the buggy to realistically tumble. Ahem.

The CryptO'pinion?

It's difficult to find something negative to say about this racer. But, if I was to be picky, then the framerate could be a tad smoother and I miss the audio touches like skids or driving through tunnels. But I really am being picky!!

Overall, this is an outstanding conversion of the arcade original. It looks, sounds and plays absolutely great plus the ability to instantly select your preferred course is a huge bonus. It's authentic and brilliantly entertaining, so it will always keep on dragging you back for more. Buggy Boy is an Atari ST gem and I love it. Simple as that really.

The floppies can be sourced using Old Games Finder but, if you have the necessary hardware, I would advice you to download the cool hack by D-Bug. This not only comes with a fantastic intro but also supports faster Atari computers, like my own Mega STe. This, is a superb feature that I love to bits!! (can you tell? lol)

Stunt Car Racer

Cunning STunts

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 suggest you bob over to Stonish

to download this and lots more ST goodies!!

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...

Pole Position

The arcade within your Atari STe

Pole Position is a classic arcade racer from a time when the world was an exciting place without social media! And pop music was something you could enjoy without it grating like fingernails on a blackboard. The Atari ST has a raft of excellent driving games but sadly, never received an official port of this olde arcade favourite. Well, until now that is.

Today that changes because Jonathan Thomas has released a brand new version which he has reverse-engineered from the arcade machine itself. He's implemented many cool features and even uses real-time sprite scaling, DMA sounds and much more. The requirements are 1MB Ram, a joystick and the appreciation of what is nothing less than a brilliant racer. Booting it up is surreal, feeling like you've got an arcade machine in your home - no need to bring any 10 pence coins!

Okay, I need to break up the text for the first screenshot. And this one I love for obvious reasons...

I'm now feeling like a kid in a Blackpool arcade spending all my pocket money!!

Yes, put your money away!

It sounds silly, but I'm impressed seeing Pole Position running on my Atari STe. What an authentic conversion of the original arcade game. It even features the same (ripped) visuals and sonix I fondly remember. Now, if you're looking at the screenshots and wondering why the display is narrow, then blame Namco because it's all down to the arcade's vertical monitor. Obviously, the Atari STe doesn't feature the same spec so it merely attempts to replica that ratio.

The gameplay is tough - very tough. Initially, I was all over the road, slipping and sliding into other cars and skidding off into the roadside objects. In fact, it felt like I was purposely trying to hit everything - and doing a great job of it too!! Ideally, I need a wheel but, stick with it and put aside half an hour to master the controls. Watch out - those corners are a killer!

I don't think we need another screenshot just yet? So how about an animation instead? Here ya go...

The actual framerate is twice as good as you can see here in my capture.

The gory details

The latest release candidate I've played has major improvements and delivers near arcade-busting gameplay:

1) 60fps framerate to bring the speed and difficulty in line with the feel of the arcade.
2) You can thank the Blitter Chip for whizzing the graphics so fast & furiously!
3) Sprite scaling utilisied for ultra-smooth results. Check out that road zooming up close!
4) Even good 'ol Mount Fuji is displayed in all its glory! Well, why not, eh?
5) The sky gradient is back along with numerous glitches fixed and it looks superb.
6) Sound effects are taken from the arcade game using the DMA coprocessor. Gorgeous!
7) Code compiled with GCC 7.1 for a significant performance increase. Sounds good to me.
8) Many new optimisations, mainly around text rendering for authenticity.

If only those tyres would look like they're rotating (come on, Jon) :-)

The CryptO'pinion?

It's sad to think that this game wasn't originally released for the Atari ST. Yet, here we are today in 2017 with a game that's been reverse-engineered from the arcade itself. Everything looks, sounds and feels like we remember with only a couple of missing features: the animated tyres are nothing more than a bit of a colour wobble (I hope that gets fixed)

Pole Position is very addictive, a cracking arcade port that's making good use of the Atari STe hardware: I love its framerate, audio and authentic feel. Possibly one of the toughest racers but most certainly one that keeps dragging you back for more - kicking and screaming!! Pole Position is nothing less than a spectacular arcade release.

What are you waiting for? Come on and play this outstanding arcade racer!! (Download from AtariMania).

Motor Massacre

Mad Max with choppy graphics?

Motor Massacre was released by Gremlin Graphics and feels like a wicked blend of a number of my favourite games. The action takes place in a grim post-apocalyptic future where each city is suffering from the devastation of war and resembles a Mad Max movie! All food stores were destroyed in the holocaust so people were starving until Doctor A. Noid came up with a substitute called "SLU" to help the waning populous. This all sounds great, right?

Why are these masterminds almost always qualified doctors? Anyhow, it was all a trick because SLU tastes like poo and turns people into zombies! So it's up to you to rescue the city from its psychotic drivers, explore buildings, and then battle in a demolition derby event to ultimately find the doctor and end this misery. See, it's basically Mad Max in game form :)

Pandy's Pork Palace sounds a lot better than it actually is!

It's Carmageddon out there!

Yes, this is more than one single game: the cities are explored from the comfort of an ATV - top/down similar to Chicago 90 but when inside buildings, it changes to something like Time Bandit or Gauntlet.

Driving around the city is tremendous fun because you are completely free to roam the streets and that also means blasting at anyone who might get in your way. All other drivers are out for blood and want you dead by any means and their road rage antics are vicious - so defend yourself using the cannon fitted to your vehicle.

Use this to blast the suckers into oblivion but also watch out for hazards such as oil spills and explosives carelessly left lying in the road. Do note the gun turrets which line many streets and are annoyingly highly accurate.

It's demolition derby time when we can shove other cars into dark oblivion.

Explore and have fun!

An interesting "mechanic" is how your vehicle's appearance alters the more damage it endures, so I'm grateful the holocaust didn't destroy the repair shops which also offer a wide range of other services like fuel, weapons, and ammo. The mechanic working here scares me, but I like his T-shirt! There are some more places and these offer a good opportunity to collect goods like weapons and health, so look out for their location using the road markings (Pandy's Pork Palace is available right from the start and contains a handy ATV upgrade).

You soon discover that these various places are thriving with ghouls and other creatures lurking in the shadows. Nowhere is safe, but you're armed with a pistol so shoot first and ask questions later! Keep searching these areas and you should find an arena pass to the demolition derby. This event is pure Carmageddon and nothing beats pushing your opponents into a chasm! Success here, grants you access to the next city.

The mechanic is freaky. It's almost on a Chucky level here... (shudder)

Aesthetics?

Visually, this is a basic affair with crudely-drawn graphics and jerky scrolling to boot. However, I must admit being mightily impressed with the animation of the running men which reminded me of Impossible Mission.

Sadly, the sound effects are probably worse than the visuals. Truly terrible.

However, we need him because the roads in the future are just terrible.

The CryptO'pinion?

Motor Massacre has been a nice surprise. Sure, it's about as glam as a dog turd but I enjoyed the mix of arcade-style action with levels of adventure lurking below the surface. Also, being able to enter buildings adds that extra dynamic which I loved - and there's always something stupid waiting for you! So don't take it seriously and have fun.

I have enjoyed zipping around the city looking for my next victim. It's crude but fantastic and really enjoyable!!

Mel Gibson wannabes can download the floppies
Tear up the roads like Mad Max!