Gaming News — Atari

We're now starting a new month, and while we did slow things down a bit in the past few weeks, we need to kick things up a notch to make up for last time. We never forgot about the fast-paced nature of retro gaming friends, so don't worry. 

From Atari to MS-DOS to Commodore 64, we're going coast to coast with three different titles that'll pique a variety of interests. It's always great to have options when choosing a game to keep you company over a busy week. It's time to make a choice, so watch on to see what you're working with.

TRAX

The year was 1993, and the Bitmap Brothers dropped one of the hottest games of that year. The original Chaos Engine initially made for the Amiga. It pits one or two players against horrible demonic entities in an intense top-down shooter. Fast forward to 2023. We have a very sweet love letter from Shanti77, to the OG Chaos Engine called Trax.

This time around, It'll come out on the Atari XL/XE. It's still too early to say if it'll be turned into a full game, but we're getting some development notes from the developer. So far, Trax features a variety of enemies, items to pick up, keys to collect, sound effects, three new levels, improved AI and some graphical improvements. So far so good. It looks like Atari XL and XE owners have a great game to look forward to. 

GOLD MINE RUN

It's quite a special occasion as we don't get that many MS-DOS releases, especially on GOG. This retro title comes from Juan J. Martinez, an absolute Chad who's released other great games like Hyperdrive for the CPC and Night Knight for the MSX.

This time we're getting a sweet MS-DOS game called Gold Mine Run, a high-quality platformer inspired by the classics, but with a twist. You have to collect all the gold throughout each of the 30 stages to progress. Now that's intense. So far, we know that Gold Mine Run is a single-screen arcade platformer that totally channels that old-school nostalgic vibe of eighties arcade classics.

The game's design was strongly influenced by Night Knight for the MSX, and Juan J. Martinez made sure of that. As for the requirements, of course, you’ll need MS-DOS to run it, plus a 386 DX at 33 megahertz, VJ Graphics, a sound blaster, and at least 4 megabytes of RAM. So to anyone on GOG who runs with the MS-DOS crowd, it's high time you checked out or took part in the Gold Mine Run.

BILL & TED'S EXCELLENT GAME BOY ADVENTURE

Last but not least, we get a very hip and cool blast from the past on the Commodore 64. If you're a fan of the nineties and, at the very least, own an old school Game Boy, then you'll be psyched to know that this latest release by Roman Werner is a wonderful Port of Bill and Ted's excellent Game Boy adventure for the C64. 

This title will definitely rekindle some of those very late eighties and early nineties memories because Keanu Reeves, even if it's just tiny pixels of him. Yes, LJN and Beam Software's legendary game has finally made its way to the Commodore 64 more than 30 years later.

Currently available on itch.io., this is a very accurate conversion of the legendary Bill and Ted Game Boy game for modern C64 sensibilities. It's remained from scratch, optimized for the C64 and features SID Music by Nordischsound. Did we mention that Pixel Keanu Reeves is in it? Yes, of course. What's more is, it's absolutely free on itch.io. So, if you wanna relive the glory days of the early nineties, best to download Bill and Ted's excellent Game Boy Adventure for the C64. 

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Another week, another trifecta of Action Pack games. Yes, we've had a bit of variety for the month of April. So to cap things off, we're featuring a more intense selection of titles for any retro gamer who prefers something a bit more high-octane. We got what you want, from old-school martial arts to modern spycraft, a futuristic cybernetics shooting! Let’s go!

INTERNATIONAL KARATE RCX/RC 2023 by Homesoft

We got a special treat for anyone who uses their bare hands to bring the action. And this time, we're looking at an Atari XL karate remake called International Karate RCX/RC 2023. A mouthful of a title by Homesoft and a game where you duke it out against the computer or another player in badass karate tournaments.

There isn't much info on this upcoming remake, but we can expect a few changes to streamline this old-school game for more modern sensibilities. If you're unfamiliar. International karate was developed and published by System 3 for the ZX Spectrum in 1985. And then poured into various consoles over the following years.

In the US, it was published by EPYX in 1986 as World Karate Championship, gained a following, and became a crucial part of fighting history. It was also the first European game to become a major hit in the US, selling 1.5 million copies. Given its popularity and legacy, you can say we're all hyped to see where this story goes.

SLY SPY by Ocean 

Now we're hopping over to the Amstrad CPC and catching wind of a new release. After quite a bit of time, It looks like we're getting an enhanced version of Ocean's Classic Game, Sly Spy, also known as Secret Agent. This remaster has a few improvements in the works, including brand-new in-game music, which is great.

The old-school Sly Spy was a fun and challenging game for its time, bringing players across different stages and switching things up every time. From dodging enemy gunfire in the sky to battling baddies in ancient ruins, there's quite a bit of action in spite of the game's title. It's safe to say we're pretty stoked about any development that'll come our way, so stay tuned.

CYBERPUNKS 2 by Mutation Software

We've had our fair share of Amiga releases, and Mutation Software has been on a roll for the past few years, especially for the Amiga CD 32. We're discussing remasters of classics like Doodlebug, Tommy Gunn, Castle Kingdom, and Cyberpunks. Now speaking of the latter, Mutation Software announced an official release date for a cyberpunk sequel set to drop on May 5th, 2023. Yes, boys and girls, we're getting Cyberpunks 2. 

If it's your first time hearing about this classic, Cyberpunks is a top-down isometric shooter game for the Amiga created by mutation software and published by Core Design way back in 1993. 30 years ago. However, this new game release is not only a direct sequel to Cyberpunks but also brings some cool new features.

Get ready for some two-player fun, three playable characters, and a variety of playable levels with high-quality detail and kick-ass gameplay. You'll be battling deadly enemies and big bosses across some atmospheric retro maps, all to a kick-ass soundtrack. Honestly, we wouldn't have it any other way. Cyberpunk 2 will get a big box edition and a digital download. So if this is right up your neon vaporwave alley, it's best to check it out once it launches in May.

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The wheels of the hype train stop for no one, especially for the retro gaming folk, as we're constantly treated to game, after game, after game. As you all know, we've been getting a number of remake hacks and brand-new titles in the past year, and it looks like 2023 is gonna be the same, if not a lot more exciting. So sit back, relax, and let's tear through a few titles that might tickle your fancy. 

THE LAST NINJA

Let's take a trip to 1987 where System 3 released one of the greatest action-adventure games ever to be made available for the C64, The Last Ninja. It was a great time for this title since it did make its way onto a variety of other consoles. But finally, in 2023, this legendary title is making its way to the Atari XL/XE. 

You follow the exploit of the Ninja Armakuni on his journey to the palace of the evil shogun, Kunitoki, to assassinate him, avenge his clan, and retrieve the sacred scrolls.

Very anime and very badass. The original game combined adventure, exploration, puzzle solving, and ninja-based combat. So in terms of mechanics, you can expect something familiar with a modern port. This version of Last Ninja is being created for the Atari XL/XE by Jakus Husak and will be a complete port of the BBC Micro version, which is good news all around. So if Slain Baddies from the Shadows is your kind of weekend getaway, then you just might be The Last Ninja.

CREEPING ME OUT HEX NIGHT

Mixel's upcoming Amiga platformer Creeping Me Out Hex Night is looking to be an absolute banger. It's a scorpion engine-created platformer that doesn't just feature complex levels, but it also delivers an intriguing story and a whole lot of action that one would expect from a game of the genre.

The game's creator has just released a new demo, which he says Features much better game performance, and now works smoothly on A1200s without the use of Fast Ram.

If you're interested, imagine a combination of Turrican, Castlevania, and a little bit of Addams family thrown into the mix.

You can expect a variety of playable characters, passwords, save game support, enhanced graphics, and a huge campaign with hours of gameplay, it's a nice, fun, challenging adventure that's worth your time. If you don't mind diving into the weird and quirky.

WIZARD OF WOR

If you're a fan of Pac-Man but aren't really fond of the cutesy roundish aesthetic, then this arcade classic just might pique your interest. The 1980s classic arcade game, Wizard of Wor was quite the hit back in the day and also appeared in other systems like the Atari 8-bit, Atari 2600, and 5200. Bally Astrocade, and of course the C64.

Right now we're looking to get its enhanced edition for the Commodore Plus/4, and it is looking pretty damn good. A lot of care was put into making sure that this release stays as faithful to the original as possible.

The game looks, plays, and sounds like a classic and features all the action-packed two-player monster shooting fund that most retro gaming veterans will remember. Hey, it's never too late to fall in love again, so why not with the Wizard of Wor?

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New year, new you, and hey, new games! The retro side of gaming will always have a thick dummy treasure trove that offers a lot of titles for everyone's taste. And while 2022 gave us a great offering of platformers, brawlers, and shooters, this year is looking promising from the get-go.

As always, we're starting the year by hitting the ground running action at its finest, just the way you like it. If you were planning to start things slowly, you'll have to wait a bit because this week, we're kicking a lot of ass. Responsibly, of course.

SCORCH

Now, they say there's beauty in simplicity and that's pretty much true. The same applies to games that employ a bit of action. As simple as they come, this new Atari XL/XE release is looking to encourage players to use a bit of imagination while using heavy machinery. Scorch is a very nice Scorched Earth clone developed by Pirx with help from Pecusx and Miker. It isn't just a multiplayer game with up to 6 players, but a battle royale that uses the power of physics.

You wipe out your opponent by working out the correct trajectory of your Baby Missile and making sure it actually hits something. It's a game that requires a bit of strategy, and you'll definitely find yourself, well, SCORCHED, if you decide to run and gun.

GREEN BERET

It's about time we showed our high school science teachers some appreciation. Now, for some side-scrolling action! The game Rush 'n Attack or Green Beret (to avoid a bit of controversy) was an action arcade game released by Konami in 1985. Just like the time, it reflected the Cold War setting while showing a surprising amount of brutality--seeing the player use a knife or even a flamethrower to dispatch enemies.

It was an absolute classic for the arcade and 8-bit ports such as the Amstrad or C64. If you were a fan, you'll be happy to know that Dante Mendes just gave it an update that's perfect for the Amiga. This more modern version doesn't just feature a great rendition of the classic soundtrack, but it also has 2 selectable difficulty levels, minor improvements, and a whole lot more.

So if you wanna go back in time and make that Cold War a bit hotter, then it's time to get your green Beret on the actual soldier, not the hat. 

IMPOSSIBLE MISSION 3

Yes. Impossible Mission 3. I know what you're thinking and no, this has nothing to do with Tom Cruise. Well, maybe.

Regarded as one of the best games for multiple systems, the original Impossible Mission was released in 1984. Dennis Caswell developed and Epyx published. It's a tense platformer where it's a race against time to reassemble and decrypt the password to Atombender's control room, while also avoiding killer robots.

This much-awaited sequel will be available for the Commodore 64 and will likely come with all the nice modern improvements that gamers crave. 

It's also worth noting that this will be an officially licensed sequel through Icon64, and it'll be built completely from scratch, so definitely worth looking out for, especially if you're a fan of action-packed sleuthing retro style. 

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