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The Best (Games)

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  • REPRINT
  • PORTLAND ATARI CLUB
  • DECEMBER 1985
  • AUTHOR: STEVE BILLINGS
  • SUBHEADINGS & GRAPHICS ADDED BY ATARI BASICS

I was trying to think of something new and exciting to review this month, but I thought instead that I would just sort of think back on 1985 and remember some of the better software I have seen and played with and force on you my opinion of what was the best. 

Unfortunately I cannot afford to buy every piece of software that I would like, so I cannot compare all of them, but I do buy a lot and my wife Debbie has figured out that computer software makes a surefire Christmas and birthday present. I am working on the rest of my family now. 

Box art for four classic Lucasfilm Games titles published by Epyx: The Eidolon, Rescue on Fractalus!, Koronis Rift, and Ballblazer. Each game is shown in its original packaging for platforms like Commodore 64 and Apple II.

Some long-awaited programs from Epyx finally arrived from the studios of Lucasfilms*. Four games are now on the shelves for the Atari. Three of the games are based on the programmers’ use of a technique called fractals which are used to create 3D landscapes. Of the three, Eidolon, Rescue on Fractalus, and Koronis Rift, I think Koronis Rift is by far the best. Their other game called Ballblazer is a first-person futuristic soccer-type game and is also good, especially as a two-person game. 

Infocom continued their hit parade: Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe [sic], Wishbringer, Suspect, A Mind Forever Voyaging (sorry, ST version only). All these games are great, but I liked Hitchhiker the best, though I have not played A Mind Forever very much yet. For a beginner I would recommend Wishbringer. Another one that I am eagerly awaiting is the final chapter of the Zork series called Spellbreaker, but I guess I will have to tell you about that one next year. 

Box art for three interactive fiction games: Zork I and Spellbreaker by Infocom, and Mindwheel, a Synapse and Broderbund electronic novel. Each cover highlights the game's genre and platform, including Atari compatibility.

Another text adventure that I tried out was Mindwheel by Broderbund/Synapse. It was different. The story was good, but the implementation could have been better. 

The game I spent the most time on was Bounty Bob Strikes Back from Big Five Software. This is a sequel to Miner 2049er and is better. 

The game I played the second most this year was F15 Strike Eagle by MicroProse, who have done a number of outstanding flight simulation games. I was amazed one time when I saw on the video tube a show about new military planes and they had a demo of a real flight simulator for training F15 Eagle pilots. Other than an improved landscape, the H.U.D. (heads up display) was remarkably similar. Maybe I am ready for the real thing now? Yikes! Look out Beruit. 

Box art for four Atari-era games: Bounty Bob Strikes Back and Miner 2049er by Big Five Software, F-15 Strike Eagle by MicroProse, and Ghostbusters by Activision. Each cover features distinctive artwork representing the game's theme and style.

Another game I played for a while was Ghostbusters, but this one is not in the running. Cute, but not too great. Ghostbusters goes to the other end of the shelf. 

Kennedy Approach, another game from MicroProse, shows a lot of potential. I have not had much opportunity to play with it since my little bundle of joy arrived in October, so I have not been too successful at being an air traffic controller. This is an intriguing game though that features binary recorded speech. It may take some work to get the hang of it. 

Box art for three software titles for Atari systems: Kennedy Approach by MicroProse, Earth Views by Antic Software, and The Print Shop by Broderbund. Each cover highlights the software’s unique function, from air traffic control simulation to educational mapping and desktop publishing.

Earth View, a game from Antic magazine’s APX Classics, is another recent addition to the library. This features some great graphic world maps and an education in geography along with a simplistic game to demonstrate your lack of knowledge of geography. 

Another program that I played around with quite a bit and is on my Hits list is Printshop. Printshop allows you to create cards and posters with your printer. Yes, even I find uses for my computer other than playing games! 

OK, that was about all I could afford this last year. Hopefully I will get a raise in 1986 so that I can buy more stuff. All the above games are good ones. I also have played some games on the 520ST. Mudpies and Hex by Michtron are both good and give a glimmer of the great things to come. The graphics and sound are there. 

Box art for four Atari software titles: Mudpies, a fast-paced action game; Hex, a colorful strategy puzzle game; AtariWriter, a word processor for Atari home computers; and NEOchrome, a full-color paint program for graphic creation.

The application programs are also appearing for the ST. Essentially complete versions of STWriter, a word processing program, and NeoChrome, a drawing program, have both been released to the public domain by Atari. Both work great and are easy to use. There are other programs appearing every week for the 520ST, but be cautious. Some are dogs and were released before their time… There will be a flood soon so be sure to read your newsletter to pick out the diamonds from the coal. 

There you have my reminisces of the past year in Atari software. Not too complete of course, but heck, I try. You may have noticed that I did not pick out one favorite of the bunch. That is hard to do. Let’s just say that these are all my favorites right now. You won’t go wrong with any of them. 

PHOTO CREDITS:
  • The Eidolon, Rescue on Fractalus!, Koronis Rift, Wishbringer, Suspect, Zork, Spellbreaker, Mindwheel, Miner 2049er, Kennedy Approach, Earth Views,  The Print Shop, Mudpies, and HEX box art images courtesy of AtariMania.com.
  • Ballblazer, A Mind Forever Voyaging, F-15 Strike Eagle, Ghostbusters,  box art image courtesy of MobyGames. Used under Fair Use for educational and historical reference.
  • Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy box art is the intellectual property owned by The Infocom Gallery. Used under Fair Use for educational and historical reference. 
  • Bounty Bob Strikes Back box art image courtesy of Launch Box Games Database. Used under Fair Use for educational and historical reference. 
  • AtariWriter box art courtesy of InverseATASCII. Used under Fair Use for educational and historical reference. 
  • Atari NEOchrome box art image courtesy of Atari Sales & Service. Used under Fair Use for educational and historical reference.