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Atari Gaming Gazette Online Magazine
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
"The Lynx Specialists"
Published and Copyright ½ 1992 by
S \|/ L
T -*- I
A /|\ N
R BBS X
(602)/464-4817
"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'
December 13, 1992 Special Premiere & Holiday Issue
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Editor/Publisher - Jeff Kovach
Assistant Editor - Chris Baker
Game Reviewer - Dale Overton
Game Reviewer - Jarius Jenkins
This Month's Issue - Lynx Holiday Gift Guide, Lynx'n On The Line, Gazette
"""""""""""""""""" Newsfile, Could it Be?, Trade Publication Round-Up, and
Game Reviews: Baseball Heroes, Kung Food, NFL Football, Pinball Jam, Steel
Talons, Shadow of the Beast, Switchblade II, and World Class Soccer are all
covered in this premiere issue!
|"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"|
| COMPUSERVE WILL PRESENT $15.00 WORTH OF COMPLIMENTARY ONLINE TIME |
| to the Readers of |
| |
| Atari Gaming Gazette Online Magazine |
| """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" |
| "The Lynx Specialists" |
| |
| NEW USERS SIGN UP TODAY! |
| CALL 1-800-848-8199 and ask for operator 198 |
| |
| You will receive your complimentary time and |
| be Lynx'n with the best in no time at all! |
| |
| Be sure to join the Editors of Atari Gaming Gazette in the |
| Lynx support section of the Atari Forums [Type GO LYNX]. |
| |
| Jeff Kovach [70761,3015] Editor |
| Chris Baker [71542,1615] Assistant Editor |
| |
| In addition, the Lynx section enjoys occassional visits |
| from Lynx game developers from the US and the UK. |
| |
'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'
From the Editor's Joypad - Boy, are my thumbs sore. I just got finished with
"""""""""""""""""""""""" a lengthy Lynx playing session, trying vigilantly to
finish Switchblade II so I could review it from a finished perspective, to no
avail (so far anyway).
Anyway, you're now holding (..er, reading) the premiere issue of Atari
Gaming Gazette Online Magazine. Our goal is to bring you news, reviews, tips
and hints for all of your favorite Atari Lynx video games, and in '93 we hope
to expand our coverage to include the long-awaited Jaguar console. We will
publish monthly, and you will surely find our magazine on major computer
networks and BBS's worldwide. Our official online service is CompuServe,
where we may be reached in the Lynx section of the Atari Forums (type GO LYNX
and head for section #16). We may also be reached on the STAR*LINX BBS in
Mesa, Arizona @ 602-464-4817.
"Who are you guys?", you ask? We are Lynx enthusiasts like you probably
are. Most of us have owned the Lynx since it first became available in
December '89. I went a little overboard and decided to start a BBS to offer
Lynx news, info, and gaming help. I wrote a number of Lynx-related articles
that got circulated thru the computer networks, and also wrote for a couple
of Lynx newsletters (yes, the paper kind). Recently tho, I realized that
the BEST way to get Atari gaming news out with the least cost and most rapid
distribution would be to start my own electronic online magazine. Luckily
I wasn't alone in my ambitions, and have assembled a great (but small) staff
of Lynx enthusiasts like myself to volunteer their time and energy to help
write what you're reading today.
Thanks goes not only to them, but to Ron Luks and Don LeBow on CompuServe,
who have supported our efforts to promote the Lynx and made us feel at home in
the Lynx section which was created earlier this year. And also, to all the
game developers at Atari, especially John Skruch, Juli Wade, Eric Ginner,
Jerome Strach, Steve Ryno, and Terry Grantham (Telegames) for their support
and hospitality at the past Las Vegas CES shows that I attended, thank you!
We've got a lot of ground to cover in this special holiday issue, and for
the next one we will review Dirty Larry and any other new titles we can get
in our Lynxes! Also look for a player's guide to Batman Returns. Hopefully
we will be able to offer enough advice to get some people to the end of this
_tough_ but great game. And who knows, maybe we can even spell out some
cheats for it!
Until next month and next year, Happy Lynx'n and Happy Holidays!
Jeff Kovach
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Lynx Holiday Gift Guide
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Compiled from Atari Press Releases
$79.95 Lynx! First of all, thanks to a special holiday offer from Atari, the
'"'"'"'"'"'" Lynx itself is available for an incredible low price of $79.95,
either at your local retailer or direct from Atari. Here's the details,
courtesy of Atari:
Merry Lynxmas ..... Atari's Lynx - specially priced for the holidays
--------------------------------------------------------------------
A CHRISTMAS PRESENT -- from ATARI!
==================================
ATARI LYNX: And a special low price
*** $79.95 ***
Order now and get your Lynx faster than Santa!
Order by December 21 and receive your order by Christmas!
Free Federal Express delivery!
Hurry! Offer expires 1/31/93!
Call 1-800-327-5151 to order now!
This Christmas,
push your mind to the edge
with the Atari Lynx:
Backlit screen,
stereo sound,
50+ incredible games,
"Flip" controls for left handed players,
Play with up to 8 friends with "ComLynx",
Over 4,000 brilliant colors (16 bit graphics engine),
The worlds largest portable video game screen (3.5" diag.)
Atari Lynx has over 50 games - all jam packed with full color graphics,
digital stereo sound and radical arcade style action that you won't find
anywhere else. Get the picture? You'll find plenty of games at your
favorite store (call Atari for the location nearest you).
Many titles available at these fine locations:
Electronics Boutique, Software Etc., Babbages,
Waldensoftware,
Nobody Beats the Wiz, The Good Guys, Toys 'R' Us.
The entire Lynx game library is available from Atari, by calling
1-800-327-5151. And don't forget to order your Atari Lynx for only
$79.95 -- that's $20 off through 1/31/93! And get FREE Federal
Express delivery.
Or send check or money order to:
Atari Lynx
P.O. Box 61657
Sunnyvale, CA 94088-1657
(For CA residents, please add sales tax)
Call for further information 1-800-327-5151.
This offer expires 1/31/93.
"Atari", "ComLynx", and "Lynx" are registered trademarks of Atari Corp.
Atari: an American company traded on the American Stock Exchange
Over 50 Games! And now for the game lineup! Over 50 titles NOW AVAILABLE.
'"'"'"'"'"'"'" Remember, if your local store doesn't have the ones you want,
you can now order direct from Atari! So, here's the entire Lynx library in
handy alphabetical order: (Game descriptions courtesy of Atari and Telegames)
A.P.B., from Atari Games, (single-player action) -- Hey there, flatfoot!
Think you got what it takes to cruise the town in a brand new squad car?
You have to be on the tips of your toes every step of the way as you comb
the city in search of crime and people stranded by the wayside in this great
coin-op translation. Bust the law-breakers and help the needy or you'll face
the police chief's fury and wrath! Get too many demerits and you'll find
yourself booted off the force. The action never stops in this "good guys
vs. the bad guys" thriller.
Awesome Golf - Fore! Bring home real golfing excitement with Awesome Golf.
This simulation lets you adjust your stance, choose your club, check the wind
and control your swing. The golfer animation is unbelievably smooth and the
ball physics - including scaling - are realistic. Become a pro on your
favorite course in the U.S.A., Japan, or England.
Baseball Heroes - Batter up! Baseball heroes offers all the fun and excitement
of major league baseball. Watch the ball head right at you as it sails out of
the park, and check your player stats, strengths and abilities before calling
plays. You won't believe the realistic sounds of the ballpark recreated by the
Lynx digitized stereo sound system.
Basketbrawl - So you think you're tough? Well you might not be tough enough to
beat the School Boyz in the roughest game on the courts. The objective of this
one or two player game is to become the baddest gang in town by winning the
Basketbrawl tournament. There are no rules and you can do whatever it takes
to outscore your opponent. Is someone in your face? Better knock him out
before he takes you out. The trick is to score between fights, and you
better score quickly because you only have six minutes.
Batman Returns - Gotham City is in desperate trouble again. Catwoman and The
Penguin have joined forces to terrorize the entire metropolis! Only you can
help Batman foil their deadly scheme and save the city from their fiendish
clutches!
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure - Nothing heinous here dudes! Ride your time
machine to meet famous historical folks while you try to rescue your bodacious
babes. 1 or 2 players.
Blockout - Quickly place colored 3D blocks in to complete levels for a
major blockout bonus! But hurry, as you play the game speeds up, making this
the most exciting puzzle game ever! From California Dreams, (single-player
action)
Blue Lightning, an Epyx original, (single-player action) -- You've been
chosen to fly the top-secret Blue Lightning combat jet on its first flight.
Nine crucial missions combine the explosive action of combat with the quiet
stealth of night flight. Voted the best hand-held video game of the year,
this aerial jet combat game tests your skills against enemies in the sky and
on the ground
California Games, an Epyx smash hit, (1 to 4 players) -- California Games
is like taking a West Coast vacation (except they don't lose your luggage).
Four awesome wild games in one! Shoot the curl on some really tubular waves!
BMX through a rad course, hit the half pipe for some wild skateboarding, or
cool out with a footbag. Enjoy the California life no matter where you are.
Checkered Flag - Drivers start your engines! Checkered Flag is the ultimate
Formula One racing game. No other racing game has such a broad options mode.
You control the tracks, the difficulty and the number of cars. You can change
the color of your car, type of transmission and even choose between male or
female drivers. Rev up your engine and blaze a smoky trail of rubber down 18
different tracks. For the most intense driving action, link up to six
players and watch the asphalt sizzle.
Chip's Challenge, an Epyx original, (single-player action) -- Chip's Reward:
Unequaled prestige that comes with full membership in the exclusive Bit Busters
Computer Club--not to mention the undying love of Melinda, the Mental Marvel.
The challenge: Solve 144 mind-melting mazes and help Chip master the tools he
finds along the way.
Crystal Mines II - Blast your way through 150 levels as you attempt to
reclaim the crystal mines from the dangerous demons that inhabit them. Race
against time using the powerful robot you've been given to destroy the demons
and pick up valuable crystals. Sharp-witted players can explore the 31
bonus levels. (Single player action/strategy)
Electrocop, an Epyx and Atari collaboration, (single-player action) --
When the President's daughter is kidnapped, they call on you, Electrocop, for
help. You must search and battle your way through the abandoned research
lab of Megacorp, seeking clues and eliminating enemies to rescue the
President's daughter. Find weapons, neutralize robot guards, take control of
computers that can help bring you closer to your goal. Incredible 3-D action.
Fidelity Ultimate Chess Challenge - Face the master or another player in a
race against time or patience. The options screen lets you make the next move
in the most powerful chess game ever. One or two players, even on a single
Lynx!
Gates of Zendocon, an Epyx original, (single-player action) -- The hideous
spider Zendocon captured you and sent you deep into its interplanetary web.
You must survive each universe and its hostile alien inhabitants if you hope
to return home. If you do make it through all 51 deadly universes in one
piece, you can tell Zendocon yourself ... as you duel to the death.
Gauntlet: The Third Encounter, an Atari Games smash hit, (1 to 4 players) --
Generations ago, an enchanted Star Gem crashed to Earth at the base of an
ancient castle. Loathsome creatures crept from the castle and carried the gem
into the depths of the fortress. Unless it's taken from them, the evil ones
will soon have enough power to destroy mankind. Journey through 40 mind-
boggling mazes, defeating dangerous creatures along the way to rescue the
enchanted Star Gem. ComLynxable for up to 4 players.
Hard Drivin' - 3-D polygon graphics give this game the look and feel of real
road rally driving. The veins in your brain will bulge as you test your skill
on both the speed and stunt tracks. Race the clock and battle for open road
with other cars. Just like the arcade game.
Hockey - Enjoy the excitement of true color graphics as you fly across the ice
toward your opponet's net. Pass, shoot and steal the puck away from the
opposing team. You quickly get the feeling of skating on ice with the
realistic play mechanics. When the game gets a little rough, you may just get
into a nasty slugfest with your opponet. Battle it out in close-up view,
punching and ducking every blow. The action never stops. Comlynx with a
friend and play against each other.
Hydra -- Your hydra ship cruises at hyper speeds and also flies for short
distances. Speed down dangerous rivers blasting hostile forces with powerups
you purchase in hidden shops along the way. Nine death-defying missions!
Ishido - Train your brain with this ancient game of skill and concentration.
Place stones by matching colors and patterns according to centuries old rules.
Master the stones and the power of the oracle is yours. Feel your brain expand
as the wisdom of the stones is revealed. Play in solitaire, tournament, and
challenge modes.
Klax, an Atari Games coin-op hit, (single-player action) -- We don't know
which is more important to mastering KLAX...dexterity, logistics or just plain
self-control. You will certainly need all three and more to catch and stack
falling bricks as they move faster and faster down the conveyer belt. By
lining the colored bricks in horizontal, vertical and diagonal rows, you create
a KLAX and score points. Incredible sound and addictive game play make this
arcade translation a must.
Kung Food - A different kind of food fight, Kung Food is a battle against food
gone "bad" and gone mad. You contaminate yourself and your food with an evil
substance called Rynoleum. You have shrunk to the size of a bean can and now
you must defend yourself and your kitchen against mutated food. Battle your
way past Ninja carrots and rotten tomatoes to escape from the freezer levels
and the fridge, then fight across the kitchen floor, through the cabinets,
and out of the house - where the antidote and freedom await. This is no
cakewalk!
Lynx Casino - A Lynx original that gives you all the action of Vegas. Place
your bets on the roulette wheel, try your hand at poker or black jack, bet it
all at the craps table or just play the slots. You've nothing to lose playing
this winner. (1 or 2 players)
Ms. Pac-Man, a coin-op smash hit from Namco, Ltd., (single-player action)
-- Bring your credit card, because this date is expensive! Ms. Pac-Man eats
her way through maze after maze, gobbling dots faster than you can say "charge
it." When she finishes one course, she goes after the next, dodging ghosts
along the way.
NFL Football - Outscore the pros this fall with NFL Football for the Lynx.
Pick your favorite NFL teams and choose from a variety fo run, pass, or
specialty plays designed by real NFL offensive coordinators. Lynx NFL
Football packs hard-hitting action into great graphics and digitized voices
for all the realism you're used to. Play directly agaisnt the Lynx, or use
the Comlynx cable and play with a friend. NFL Football is an official
trademark of NFL Properties.
Ninga Gaiden - An excellent translation of the arcade smash. Battle the
Blade Brothers, the Dragon Team and other evil thugs. Grab powerups for
special weapons, powers and bonuses. Only by mastering the required
techniques will it be possible to conquer the nastiest neighborhoods known
to man. 1990 Arcade Game of the Year from Techmo.
Pacland - Pac Man is back in an all new adventure. This time, instead of
gobbling dots, you must run and jump your way through town, gobbling fruit,
dodging ghosts, and throwing obstacles in this great arcade hit. A cute and
colorful adventure that everyone in the family can enjoy. Licensed from
Namco.
Paperboy, an Atari Games coin-op hit, (single-player action) -- Imagine
that you've started your first real job, and it's a paper route that has more
obstacles than the training course at Marine boot camp. If the maniacal bikers
and mad dogs don't get you, there's a good chance that the brawling dudes and
crazed grannies will.
Pinball Jam - Two awesome pinball smashes, Elvira and the Party Monsters and
Police Force, combine to give you portable high-speed pinball action in the
palm of your hand. Hear Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, praise your ball-
handling skills in this witty game with beautiful graphics and smooth, fluid
motion. Police Force features the digitized voices of police dispatchers and
beat cops. Use your pinball skills to keep the ball in play and rack up points.
These are definitely two games you won't want to miss. Elvira is a trademark
of Queen "B" Productions. Elvira and the Party Monsters is a trademark of
Midway Manufacturing Company. Police Force is a registered trademark of
Williams Electronics Games, Inc.
Qix, (single player strategy/action) - Attempt to neutralize the mutant Qix and
its offspring, the Sparx, by claiming their territory before they destroy you.
The practice mode will hone your skill.
Rampage, from Bally Manufacturing Corp,. (1 to 4 players) -- An accident at the
lab turns you and your friends into huge hungry creatures. Wreck cities across
the nation, eating people, potions and food. With you controlling the action,
George the Gorilla doesn't climb tall buildings; he levels them with a single
punch. If the soldiers get too close, grab a few for lunch. And, if you're
feeling lonely, you can link up with your friends Lizzie Lizard, Larry the Lab
Rat and Ralph the Wolfman.
Rampart, from Atari Games, (1-2 players strategy/action) -- The castle is
under attack! Man the battlements! Load the cannons! Rampart gives you only
seconds to prepare for the battle with an enemy fleet. After the smoke clears,
you must quickly rebuild your ramparts or the castle will fall.
Road Blasters, from Atari Games, (single-player action) -- It's pedal to
the metal with your finger on the trigger as you race through 50 rounds,
annihilating anyone or anything that stands in your way. Swerve to miss toxic
spills and land mines, wipe out Rat Jeeps and darting cycles.
Robo-Squash, an Atari Games original derived from "Breakout," (1 or 2 players)
- Battle a friend or the computer in a deadly game of squash. Nail special
powerups, including a bigger paddle, a spotter and a cannon to outwit your
opponent.
Robotron 2084 - The year is 2084. Technology and advancement are at a
dangerous peak when man perfects the ultimate species. A species so advanced
that man falls victime to his own creation - the Robotron. Your mission:
to stop the Robotrons and save the last of the Human Race. You are the only
hope for mankind! A faithful translation of the coin-op classic, including
all original robots, wave variations, and more than 15 sounds digitized from
the original coin-op machine.
Rygar, the 1989 coin-op Game of the Year from Tecmo, Ltd., (single-player
action) -- You are the chosen one ... Rygar the Warrior. In order to purge
your people's land of monsters and dangerous demons, you must make your way
through 23 dangerous terrains. At every turn, you're greeted by lurking
creatures and bloodthirsty hellions.
Scrapyard Dog, an Atari original, (single-player action) -- Scraps the dog
has been dognapped! Mr. Big has captured your canine and left you howling!
You need to take on thugs and creeps if you ever want to pet your pup again.
Journey through the scrapyard, the city, the suburbs and the sewer, throwing
cans at rats, killer rabbits, and birds. Find hidden shops to purchase
weapons and power-ups then take on bosses in tanks and submarines.
Shadow of the Beast, from Psygnosis -- Advance reviews said the Lynx version
of Shadow of the Beast is the best version yet of this popular game! Its
animation is the fastest of any Lynx game available and provides action-
packed fantasy adventure featuring 96 monsters and more than 200 sound effects.
At the begining of the game, your character is transformed from a human to
a hideous creature, and your mission is to return to the lands of the
Necropolis to avenge the death of your townspeople. Skill is necessary as
you travel through the evil kingdom into the Shadow of the Beast. Watch out
for dangerous creatures and treacherous traps. Once you have conquered the
land you can move on to vanquish the Beast Lord and regain your human form.
Shadow of the Beast is a trademark of Psygnosis.
Shanghai, from Mediagenic, (1 or 2 players) -- Reminiscent of the ancient
game Mah-Jong, Shanghai is a testing ground of strategy and concentration.
There are 6 Shanghai levels with 144 tiles, each representing an old Chinese
proverb. The player starts with the Dragon puzzle, masters the suit of Bam,
then catches the four winds of the world. As in the original Mah-Jong, the
game can be played solitaire or with another player who is either competitor or
ally. This ancient solitaire concentration game requires skillful selection
to remove pairs of tiles from the board. Seven different puzzles await your
strategy.
Steel Talons - The most popular helicopter simulation arcade game is now
available on the Lynx, and the awesome chopper gunship battle is right in your
hands. There's only one objective here and that's survival! Thread between
dangerous obstacles in your path, and outmanuver the enemy in any number of
different missions. A terrific title for those who love flight and battle
games. Steel Talons is a trademark of Atari Games Corporation.
S.T.U.N. Runner - Use your brain's involuntary reflexes to survive this
stunning, 360 degree racing action. There's no time to think as you
hypercruise through the highway tunnels of tomorrow's world in your radian
conveyor. Use centrifugal force on the turns and literally hit the ceiling
to avoid enemy ships as they try to keep you from making it across the finish
line. 23 levels of mind blowing 3-D action.
Super Skweek - Skweek must conquer five islands with 50 levels each by
painting tiles pink. Destroy the islands' monsters that have captured the
Skweezettes. Mined, cracked and black hole tiles add to the danger. Collect
Zarg coins to purchase weapons, and don't forget to eat -- killing monsters
is hungry work!
Switchblade II - After 200 years of exile, the evil Ninja Lord Havok has
returned to threaten Cyberworld. As Hiro the warrior, you have the power to
defeat evil Havok and free the empire. On your way to the showdown, you guide
Hiro through six different levels of this futuristic world. You must jump,
kick and slash your way through, constantly looking for ways to upgrade your
weaponry as you advance. Switchblade II is a trademark of Gremlin Graphics
Ltd.
Todd's Adventures in Slime World, an Epyx original, (1 to 8 players) -- You are
Todd, a brave explorer who must clear 6 challenging levels of bizarre and
dangerous creatures and plants on this unusual slime-infested planet. Up to 8
players can participate at once. Slime World is not your typical location for
retirement condos. The residents of Slime World, including maggots,
blood-flies and other nauseating creatures, are all drooling to make your stay
in Slime World as slippery as possible. You slosh your way through six
complex single-player adventures, or link with up to seven friends and fight
your way out.
Toki - The evil voodoo chieftain Vookimedlo has turned you, Toki, into
an ape and has kidnapped the Princess Miho. Use powerups like high top
sneakers and football helmets while you bounce, spit, climb and swim your
way through the tropics to rescue her in this great adaptation of the coin-op
game.
Tournament Cyberball - Fusion Football of the Future! Your robot team battles
for supremacy on the field. Awesome offensive and defensive plays await your
coaching skills. A faithful rendition of the arcade original licensed from
Atari Games.
Turbo Sub, an Atari original, (1 or 2 players) -- Aliens have infested
Earth's oceans and the fate of the world lies in the player's hands. The
submarine is surrounded and it will take some crafty maneuvering to keep this
tin can airtight. Better sink those ships and down those planes fast!
Viking Child - You are the Viking Child, son of Trebor the Magnificent. An
evil magician has captured your fair princess and is holding her prisoner in
his castle. You must battle your way through foreign cities, gloomy caverns
and castles, picking up hidden treasures and powerful weapon upgrades along
the way. Make haste, Son of Trebor!
WarBirds - World War I dogfight game with multiple perspectives for true flig
simulation. ComLynxable for aerial battles with your friends! Unlike any
other flight-simulation game, "Warbirds" recreates the drama and intensity of
the infamous dog fights of years past. An Atari original, (1 to 4 players)
World Class Soccer - Fast reflexes and strategic planning are only two of the
skills players will need in order to score points in this high-kicking,
head-bopping sports favorite. Choose teams from countries all over the world,
and rip up the field by linking up with a friend, or play head-to-head
against the Lynx. The action scales in and out with close up shots of place
kicks, head butts, drop kicks and more.
Xenophobe, from Bally Manufacturing Corp., (1 to 4 players) -- While the
less qualified remain on Earth busting ghosts, you and up to three of your
brave companions have been assigned the formidable task of cleaning up an
alien-infested space station. The lizard-like creatures are growing, changing
and spawning additional creepy critters by the minute and quickly taking over
all levels of the complex.
Xybots, from Atari Games, (1 or 2 players) -- Fresh from the arcade comes
Xybots! This scaling land of mazes is a perfect translation of the coin-op!
All of the original powerups, enemies, and weaponry are here. You must clear
this space station of enemy robots. The amazing detail and smooth graphics
are mind-blowing to say the least! Any fans of the coin-op will want this
great 1 or 2 player game! Buy power-ups after each maze with coins found
in the levels.
Zarlor Mercenary, an Epyx original, (1 to 4 players) -- Some people become
soldiers out of conviction, you just do it for the bucks. Go alone or join up
with a friend in an alien kill-a-thon. With the money you make, you can buy
bigger and better weapons to help you thru the six treacherous levels.
COMING SOON: Joust, Pit Fighter, Dracula the Undead, Dinolympics, Power Factor,
Dirty Larry Renegade Cop, and more every month.
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GAZETTE NEWSFILE At the time of this writing, there have been three press
"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"' releases from Atari. Two of them caught us up on games
by Chris Baker already in the stores. One dealt with sports titles:
Baseball Heroes, NFL Football, Basketbrawl, and World Class
Fussball/Soccer. The other with action titles: Shadow of the Beast, Steel
Talons, Pinball Jam and Switchblade II. The third release is an announcement
that will make potential Lynx buyers happy this holiday season. The price of
a base Lynx unit (1 Lynx, no AC adaptor, Comlynx cable, pouch or California
Games) is being slashed by $20 to $79.99. This offer is good through the end
of January 1993. Some retailers will be carrying the Lynx at this new price,
but you can be sure to get it for $79.99 by calling this toll free number:
1-800-327-5151
There is free shipping included in the deal.
There is another promotion currently happening. This one is in
conjunction with Fisher Nuts. In specially marked cans, there is a coupon
booklet for discounts on various items. One of the coupons is for a free
Lynx game with the purchase of an Atari Lynx. Along with the coupon, you
must send the UPC symbol from the Lynx box, and your store receipt. There
are four titles to choosse from: Batman Returns, Blue Lightning, NFL Football
and Toki. Tell all your friends who want a Lynx. Between these two
promotions, this is a great time to buy one.
Unfortunately, Dirty Larry, Renegade Cop will be the last 1992 Lynx
release. Nothing against the game or its developers, Dirty Larry is looking
to be a HOT game with great graphics and gameplay. But with the additions of
Dracula, The Undead and Joust (which missed St. Nick by a mere two weeks and
are slated for a first week of January 1993 release), would have made
Christmas sizzle all the more.
Getting back to Dirty Larry for a second, it was developed for the Lynx by
Knight Technologies. They have also done Qix, which was released by
Telegames, and the next vaporware king: The Guardians:Storm Over Doria (C'mon
Atari, give them a hand in obtaining the 4meg/EEPROM setup for this one, you
won't regret the decision. This one's too good to get shelved over something
like that).
For those who haven't heard the news, Atari made a decision on their game
backup storage system. The chip is called an Electrical Erasable
Programmable Read Only Memory or EEPROM. A small electrical pulse either
programs or erases the contents of the chip. Since there is no battery
involved you could store your game(s) indefinitely. The only cosmetic
difference you might notice with games using this backup system is that the
top of the game card (where the curved lip is) is slightly thicker. The
first title to utilize this new system is the blockbuster SSI Dungeons and
Dragons game Eye of the Beholder.
While a late 1992 release from Telegames didn't pan out, the folks from
Texas have a big (y'know everything's big in Texas) lineup for the first half
of 1993. Let's take a peek:
World Soccer Challenge - February 1993.
This is a translation of a Mega Drive/Genesis game (World Trophy Soccer).
Developed by Krisalis Software.
Double Dragon - March 1993.
Super Off-Road - March 1993.
Both titles are being done in-house at Telegames.
Krazy Ace Minature Golf - April 1993.
Developed in-house at Telegames.
Desert Strike - June 1993.
This is a translation of the Genesis/SNES shoot'em up 3/4 perspective
chopper game. Developed by Krisalis Software.
Big goings on down there, let's hope we see them soon!
On a sad note, we must say goodbye to Atari's Lombard, IL office. While
some of the staff and programmers jumped ship, many stayed and relocated to
Atari's main offices in Sunnyvale, CA. Before it goes for good, there will
be two more titles coming out that were developed there: Rolling Thunder and
the three year (and counting) vaporware champion, Vindicators. Along with
Hyperdrome, Strider 2 and Geo Duel, they comprise the biggest of the "yet to
be seen" vaporware Lynx games (whatever happened to them?) As for Rolling
Thunder and Vindicators, there are no firm release dates yet, but they are
just about ready for beta testing.
That's all for now. Until next time, be well and happy LYNX'n.
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COULD IT BE? Sources at Atari will neither confirm nor deny the report of
"'"'"'"'"'"' European software house Flare being involved in the
by Chris Baker development of Jaguar. It is apparent though that some work
was contracted out to companies outside the United States...
Expect Jaguar to be a cartridge based system...while this really isn't a
rumour, it is related to the long awaited cat-in-waiting. At the heart of the
Jaguar is said to be a true 64-bit microprocessor designed in-house at Atari
but manufactured by Motorola. With the hardware finished and the software
development underway, how about a hint at who's developing software for it?
Maybe by CES in Vegas? Keep your fingers crossed...As for the Lynx...those
rumours of a Wolfenstein 3D title for the handheld are very persistent, but
can't get anything firm on it. In the same boat are Battletoads and Pro
Quarterback...Will Telegames port them over? I think we'll find that out
after they get Double Dragon and Super Off-Road out of the shop and into the
stores and our hot little hands...Can the new Atari coin-op blast Space Lords
be coming to Lynx??? It's a real posibility but my money would be on a Jaguar
translation although a 2 or 4 player Lynx title would be awesome...'till next
time....Happy Holidays!
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TRADE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP This will be a regular column in Atari Gaming
"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"' Gazette. Here I will give a quick rundown of
by Chris Baker what all the major gaming magazines are writing
about when it comes to Atari and its products.
This month I'll cover both November and December 1992 magazines. So here's
the round-up:
Die Hard GAME FAN, Volume 1, Number 2 - December 1992
This is a new magazine in the marketplace published by the Die Hard video
game store in California. in the December issue there are no reviews of Lynx
games but there are pictures of Steel Talons, Super Asteroids/Missile Command
(that's what the caption says but, it really shows Missile Command and
Vindicators), Ninja Gaiden III, Raiden, Lemmings, Battlezone 2000, and Cabal.
There is also talk of Battletoads and Pro Quarterback, Relief Pitcher,
Road Riot and possibly Space Lords.
ELECTRONIC GAMES, Volume 1, Numbers 2 & 3 - November and December 1992
Another new entry into the video gaming market, this one is published by
the makers of Electronic Gaming Monthly. The November has nothing on Atari,
while the December issue makes mention of the closing of Atari's Lombard, IL
office.
ELECTRONIC GAMING MONTHLY, Volume 5, Numbers 11 and 12 - Nov. and Dec. 1992
The November issue of EGM has a review of NFL Football, the name of a
possible developer for the Jaguar, and a preview of Pit Fighter. Also are
codes for levels 51-100 for Crystal Mines II.
The December issue has a review of Pit Fighter, and a preview of Dirty
Larry, Renegade Cop. There also is an unfounded rumour about the Jaguar's
base operating RAM.
GAMEPRO - November and December 1992
In their "Fantasy Game Preview", There are description of Daemonsgate,
Dracula, The Undead, Eye of the Beholder, and The Guardians:Storm Over Doria.
Pinball Jam is reviewed, previews of Dirty Larry, Renegade Cop and Rolling
Thunder. In the news section, is the latest Jaguar report.
As for the December issue, Dirty Larry, Renegade Cop and NFL Football
receive reviews, Dinolympics is previewed, and that's it.
VIDEO GAMES & COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT - November and December 1992
The news for the month of November is the relocation of staff from IL to
CA. There are reviews of NFL Football and Switchblade II.
December brings just one article, a review of Baseball Heroes.
Well, that just about wraps up the gaming magazine coverage for this
month. Tune in next time when I cover the January 1993 mags...
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BASEBALL HEROES
Published by Atari
Developed by Steve DeFrisco, Bob Pauley, Juli Wade
Special Thanks to Jerome Strach
Review by Chris Baker
Here is a great example of a game which the developers had their hearts in
the right place but didn't quite achieve what the Lynx population was hoping
for. You can choose between an exhibition game, final series (the manual
dosen't say how many games this is, but it appears that is seven, althought I
haven't had the thumb strength to find out yet), homerun derby (to work on
your hitting), and three flies up (to help your fielding).
The game does have some very nice graphics and ideas. The Baseball
card lineup was a pleasant surprise along with the rotating baseball card
team logo selection screen. Unfortunately, there are only four teams to
choose from and you cannot substitute players beyond your initial choice of
1st basemen.
The pitcher-catcher confrontation is the best feature of Baseball Heroes.
The close-up of the catcher's hand signals is amusing. While the game seems
to run a little slow, this face-off is one of the best I've seen in a
baseball game. On the flip side, the fielding is not as good. At times the
ball seems to move faster than the controls and the players. Catching a fly
ball is a real adventure. You must line up your player with the ball and
attempt to judge the distance correctly. If you don't, the computer player
has a triple easy.
There are several views in this game, but they are not always conducive to
the gameplay. The "over the fence" view in the outfield is the best example.
It is very difficult to judge distances from that view, whether it is the
center, right or left field view.
The sounds in the game are average for a Lynx. Digitized speech is ok but
not crystal clear like Klax or STUN Runner. Baseball Heroes echoes all the
familiar stadium tunes (but where's the guy yelling "Peanuts! get yer peanuts
here"?)
For all you baseball fans out there, this will be a temporary fix.
Baseball Heroes is not a terrible game, but I was expecting more. I hope
that there will be a sequel with more teams (at least 10 or 12), team rosters
(25 man rosters nice but not necessary. 5 fielders and 4 pitchers would be
good enough), and a modified gameplay system to make fielding a little
easier. If not, we all can look to the future where Relief Pitcher waits in
the wings.
Graphics: 7
Animation/Scaling: 6
Sound/Speech: 6
Music: 6
Gameplay: 5
Playability: 5
Overall Score: 6
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KUNG FOOD
Published by Atari
Coding by C.F. Urquhart and S.A. Mitchell
Artwork by Paul Johnson
Music and Sounds by Tim Harper
Produced by John Skruch
Original Concept by Craig Erikson
Review by Jeff Kovach
There is nothing quite like a game with an entertaining story behind it,
and there certainly is one for Kung Food!
"You are engaged in research at the top secret Odnet Videogames Center.
Your experiments create Rynoleum, a compound that deforms all life it contacts.
You discover that Odnet plans to use Rynoleum in their latest videogame,
risking millions of innocent lives. You decide they must be stopped. You
break into Odnet and retrieve your samples. As Rynoleum is only stable when
frozen you put it in your home freezer."
"Later that night you hear strange noises coming from the kitchen. The
freezer door has been left ajar and the temperature has risen. Realizing the
danger, you try to shut the door but it is too late. The power of the Rynoleum
overcomes you whole being. In a flash you are transformed. Now you must
fight through the mutated hordes created by the spread of Rynoleum."
And HORDES they are! These are some of the most entertaining and colorful
graphics you've ever seen on your Lynx. Monsters include Ice Men, Killer
Tomatoes, Ankle-Chomping Peas, Killer Carrots, Flies, Rats, Snails, Slugs,
and even Killer Plants!
Control is simple, using the joypad for movement, and the A button for
attacks in conjunction with the joypad. B makes you jump, with a jump kick
available when you press both A and B.
Although the control is simple, at first it can be quite difficult to
line up properly with your enemies so that your hits land on them. With
practice you will soon learn how to properly line up, using the feet of your
mutated man and the food monsters as a guide.
You start your battle in the freezer, and must ultimately get to the lawn
sprinkler outside, where you can wash off and become human again. Along the
way you will find four different types of power-ups: Energy, Extra Life,
Power Punch, and Invincibility. Most are in plain site, others are hidden.
You must be careful to get as many as you can. After each 'wave' of enemies,
you move past a point where you can't go back! In addition, you must kill
EVERYTHING before you can move on. No running thru the levels on this game!
Finally, you are racing against the clock. A timer on the screen reminds
you of how much time you have remaining before you have failed. I haven't
found it to be an object of much concern tho... I usually get killed before
it runs out!
Sound effects are good, but a couple of digitized screams would have really
added atmosphere to the game. There is also music, which can be turned off
with Option 2.
All in all, this is a good game that will probably be enjoyed most by
8-14 year olds. My only dislikes with it are the lack of passwords (even one
halfway thru would have been nice!) and the lack of a selectable difficulty
level. The audience for this game would have been expanded if there were a
hard and easy setting to pick from. I'm sure I'll finish the game someday,
because I so badly want to see all the luscious graphics, but the action is
so intense that it is hard for your hands to perform up to par for more than
a couple of games in one day!
If you like intense kick and punch games, this one's probably for you,
and it offers an imaginative setting that offers unique and entertaining
gameplay!
Graphics: 9
Animation: 7
Sound: 6
Music: 5
Gameplay: 7
Originality: 9
Overall Score: 7
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NFL FOOTBALL
Published by Atari
Review by Dale Overton
There is nothing quite like wrapping yourself in multi-layer Arctic gear,
hot dog in one hand and hot chocolate in the other, screaming yourself hoarse
while twenty-two men brawl over the possession of an oblong pigskin. Nothing,
that is, except trotting out onto the gridiron personally and commanding your
troops down the field for the game-winning touchdown.
Unfortunately, the closest most of us will come to experiencing that thrill is
making the perfect toss from the desktop to the wastebasket. NFL FOOTBALL
purports to provide a more realistic simulation, but falls short in too many
areas.
After the opening screen, the player is allowed to choose any of the current
NFL teams. There is no need to worry about choosing a weak team as the only
difference between San Francisco and Seattle is the team colors and logo. An
opponent will automatically be chosen for you.
A digitized voice announces "Kickoff!" and the scoreboard is displayed. Just
like real NFL stadiums, this scoreboard includes a viewscreen for television
coverage. The only screen shots you'll see, however, is of the cheerleaders
and the referee.
Gameplay begins with a close-up, overhead view of the kicker and a slow pan
skyward. When roughly half of the field is visible, the "camera" stops and
the ball is kicked. The ball grows larger as it climbs, smaller as it falls,
and the camera follows it down the field to your receiving team. The kickoff
is done very well and is the best feature of the game. (Special teams' coaches
rejoice!)
After the runback you select from four options: Run, Pass, Specialty, or
Timeout. The run and pass plays are numerous and vary widely. There are only
two "specialty" plays: Field Goal and Punt. Select your play and assume the
role of quarterback. During a running play, move the QB towards the running
back and press A to handoff. You now control the RB. On a pass play pressing B
gives you "crosshairs" to aim the pass while the QB drops back in the pocket.
Release the button and the QB throws the ball.
A field goal begins with the kicker approaching the holder after the long
snap. When he reaches the holder, press B. A cursor appears at the top of the
screen, which rapidly scrolls back and forth. When the cursor is centered,
press B again and the ball is kicked. The accuracy of the kick depends on how
close to center the cursor was. Extra points are identical, with the exception
being the cursor moves more slowly (and subsequently makes extra points
"gimmees.") Punts consist only of pressing B when the punter catches the ball,
though it is possible to run from any rushers.
Defensive play selection is identical to offense, with the same variety of
options. Specialty plays again consist of only 2 options: Field Goal Block and
Punt Return. Just before the snap, pressing B will allow you to select a
different defensive player. After the snap, you may press B again to change to
the defenseman closest to the running back or receiver.
This is another game that is played vertically on the Lynx. While unsettling
at first, it does not hinder gameplay. The field is too wide and long to fit
on the Lynx screen, so the field is scrolled from sideline-to-sideline and
endzone-to-endzone following the ball. When passing, the scrolling will follow
the "crosshairs" enabling the QB to see any receivers off-screen.
Enough of the mechanics, how does it play? Sadly, NFL FOOTBALL had a lot of
potential given the great capabilities of the Lynx. This game fails to take
advantage of many of them.
As previously mentioned, the kickoffs make liberal use of the Lynx's scaling
ability. The same effect is used at the beginning of a play but adds little
to the game.
The sound sees fairly limited use, and the sound used to simulate player
collisions is annoying. The crowd cheers are used very sparingly; however,
they at least sound like a crowd. The referee's digitized voice is a nice
touch, but he appears only on scores, timeouts, and first downs. There are
no penalties.
Like many football video games, FOOTBALL suffers from poor running plays and
passing plays that too often end in big yardage. After the first few minutes
of use, you'll find yourself passing more than John Elway and looking for the
option to sign Barry Sanders (stop looking, it doesn't exist.)
Your opponent lacks smarts as well. The computer-controlled team will not
call time-outs, will never go for it on fourth down, and will not go to a
strict passing game when behind. Additionally, opposing running backs often
freeze (with fear?) when confronted with your blitzing lineman, and the
kicker often misses chip-shot field goals and extra points. Unless you enjoy
pummeling your opposition more profoundly than a Cowboys vs. Patriots game,
stick to the two player option and a human opponent (NOTE: The two player
option requires ComLynxing.)
Overall, what FOOTBALL tries to do it does satisfactorily. The problem is not
enough was even attempted (especially given the long wait for its release.)
A list of things I'd like to have seen added would be as long as this review.
However, some basic minimum requirements would have included: a statistics
screen (available at any time), each team given different strengths and
weaknesses, onside kicks, fake punts and field goals, fumbles, and an
effective computer opponent (perhaps an option of different skill levels.)
NFL FOOTBALL is not a sports simulation. It may be best described as a
"pass-n-slash" game. For the sports addict who cannot live without an
electronic version of the game, NFL FOOTBALL is currently the only option
for Lynxers. For those looking for a quality game to add to a Lynx library,
spend your money on HOCKEY or hope for the quick release of a real football
simulation.
Graphics: 8
Sound/Speech: 6
Music: 2
Gameplay: 6
Playability: 4
Overall Score: 5
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PINBALL JAM
Published by Atari
Developed by Joel Seider and Music Comp.
Review by Chris Baker
Up at 2am with the need for a little pinball but the arcade's closed?
Just whip out your favorite hand-held cat and jam with Pinball Jam! Atari
brings us two action-packed pinball games in Pinball Jam: Elvira and the
Party Monsters, and Police Force.
The graphics in both games are well-rendered, right down to the slim
flippers generally found on Williams pinball machines. Elvira is shown in
all her low-cut glory, while Police Force is a little less flashy, but no
less fun.
Sound is good with your usual assortment of pings, rings and dings. What
is noteworthy (soundwise that is) is the fine digitized speech of Elvira
either complimenting or taunting your pinball prowess. The speech in Police
Force is well done too, but the voices seem muffled (I guess they should,
since they're supposed to be the voices of police dispatchers). There is a
solid music track for both games which I have yet to tire of.
The only flaw this enjoyable game has is that the pinball will not act
like a pinball every now and then and move in a direction it shouldn't.
Pinball Jam's scrolling is fast and smooth, but can be a little dizzying when
the pinball is really flying. But that's something you'll adjust to pretty
quickly. There are lots of bumpers and targets to hit in both games and
plenty of bonuses. Multi-ball play, bonus multipliers, nudges, and in Police
Force a shooting range give you the feel of banging away on a machine in the
arcade. Gameplay is simple with the joypad being the left flipper, the A and
B buttons for the right one and the OPTION 1 button for nudging the game
(don't do it too much tho, it'll get even by 'tilt'ing you and dumping your
poor pinball down the hole without so much as another point scored or a by
your leave). Both games have high score tables but there is no battery
back-up to save your scores.
Overall, this is a very well-made game which will give you many, many
hours of hot pinball action that won't bore you anytime soon.
Graphics: 7
Sound/Speech: 8
Music: 8
Gameplay: 8
Playablilty: 8
Overall Score: 8
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SHADOW OF THE BEAST
Published by Atari
Lynx Version by Digital Developments
(c) Psygnosis
Review by Jarius Jenkins
The Lynx may just be a handheld system but, as such it has accomplished
some pretty amazing things. For example, the game KLAX for the Lynx is said to
be one of the best versions, aside from the arcade version, for any system,
including consoles like Sega Genesis. Likewise it has been said that the
upcoming version of Pit Fighter for the Lynx will be better than the Super
Nintendo version. So we have KLAX on the list and Pit Fighter soon to join that
list of amazing games for the Lynx, but now there has recently been released a
game that should also be added to that list. This game is Shadow of The beast.
Shadow of The Beast (SOTB for short) is set in the world of the Beast
Lord, a creature who has banished all light from the world. It was prophesied
that a child would one day destroy the Beast Lord and return light into the
world. You are that child!... Ah, there's only one problem. The Beast Lord
learned of the prophecy and in an effort to stop you changed you into one of
his minions, and it worked... for a time. When you reached maturity, you
learned the truth of your past and are now on a mission to destroy the Beast
Lord. You must now search the Beast Lord's kingdom for the objects of power
that will help you defeat all creatures and traps that would stop you in your
quest to destroy the Beast Lord.
If that story line didn't encourage you to just jump right up and get
yourself a copy of the game, then perhaps these few facts will:
1. 30+ COLORS ON SCREEN - This game makes use of the special
graphical capabilities of the Lynx to produce more colors
than the competition. Screens with over 30 colors and full
of FAST animation and action!
2. PARALLAX SCROLLING - What's that you ask? Well, parallax
scrolling means how fast thing close to you move when
compared to things far away, and SOTB has numerous levels of
it, making for some great 3D effects. Try that on other
handhelds and gameplay would slow to a crawl.
3. SUPERIOR GAMEPLAY - Shadow of the Beast has excellent
gameplay. Unlike other games that are too easy or too hard,
SOTB has achieved a balance. The game is hard enough to make
you put it down out of frustration, but is such that when
you pick it up again you'll probably be able to get a little
farther.
4. MUSIC SCORE - Although the game didn't utilize .MOD files as
I hoped it might, the music that it had was written
beautifully. Unlike most Lynx games, you'll probably find
yourself leaving the music on (although the option is there
to turn it off).
5. GAME CONTROL - The control system of the game is nice.
Pressing option 1 on the Title screen allows you to choose
if A=JUMP and B=FIRE or A=FIRE and B=JUMP. During the game,
option 1 can be used to choose between the different objects
you may have found in your exploration. Besides that, the
game responds nicely to joypad input.
6. VARIETY - The game is not just a jump and shoot type game.
You must think before you move. Some situations can be no
win situations where one false move can trap you with no way
out. These traps and puzzles add a level to the game that is
missing in many other 'platform' games. They add the touch
that makes this game one you'll want to come back to.
SOTB is not a new game. It has appeared on many home computers as well
as on a few consoles. Like the games named at the beginning this game for the
Lynx has also surpassed it's 16 bit counterpart. This version not only flat out
beats, in every area (sound, graphics and gameplay), the Atari ST version, but
also has gameplay that is superior to that of Commodor's Amiga. The Amiga
version is said to have great graphics but lack both gameplay and fun factor.
The Lynx's version has graphics, gameplay and fun. This is ironic since Amiga
is the system on which Shadow of The Beast was born!
All in all this is the type of game that any serious gameplayer needs.
It is fun to play, and at the same time is a good demo game to show friends
who have yet to experience the power of the Lynx.
Graphics: 10
Sound: 7
Music: 8
Gameplay: 8
Playability: 9
Overall: 8
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STEEL TALONS
Published by Atari
Produced by NuFX Inc.
Programmed by John Sanderson
Music and SFX by Matt Scott
Review by Dale Overton
After a frustrating day of calmly listening to a supervisor who is about as
bright as a small appliance bulb, nothing is as relaxing for me as strapping
myself into the cockpit of a powerful gunship and wreaking havoc on a bitter
enemy. I begin grinning maniacally as I imagine it's my boss trapped in the
tank I'm about to blast into the New Age with my relentless machine gunning.
Then again, maybe I'm in need of some serious vacation time.
Even if you enjoy your work, STEEL TALONS for the Lynx is a fun way to work
out some aggression. This helicopter simulation, converted from the arcade,
features fast-paced fighting combined with tricky flying. Enemy targets are
found throughout the target area, usually hiding behind mountains or other
cover.
Your bird happens to be a "high-tech AT1196 Steel Talons combat helicopter."
It comes equipped with a targeting computer complete with radar, machine guns,
rockets, and guided missiles.
STEEL TALONS is another filled polygon video game, as was HARD DRIVIN'. This
game, however, lacks the sluggishness DRIVIN' had but still retains all the
detail. Those who were disappointed with the latter should give this one a
try.
After powering up the Lynx, a catchy drum-laden tune greets you while the title
screen is displayed. Next, you are given the choice of two missions to fly.
Upon selecting one, your commander gives you a quick instruction before you
begin. You may choose one of two viewpoints at any time: slightly above and
behind the helicopter, or looking directly out the cockpit window.
One of the surprising characteristics of this game is the ease of control.
With the number of weapons and selections to be made, it would have been easy
to create a nightmarish interface between the pilot and the chopper. This is
far from the case.
The joypad controls left and right as expected, as well as the speed (up to
accelerate, down for slowing.) Holding the B button allows the joypad to
control the elevation of the helicopter, and left or right causes the craft to
rotate in the respective direction.
Weaponry is controlled with equally simple combinations: the A button fires
the machine guns, Option 2 lets loose a guided missile, and B with Option 2
launches a rocket burst.
Once gameplay starts you set out on a seek and destroy mission. The faster
all targets are destroyed the better, as there is a time limit on completing
a successful mission. There are 4 features to help you find the victims.
Whenever you approach a target, a computer controlled sight will appear and
attempt to lock on to the target. While this sight is locked and white, a
launched missile will fly directly to the target (you only have 8, be stingy!)
You will also be in range to fire rocket bursts; however, rockets are not
guided so the helicopter must be facing directly at the target. (The view
inside the cockpit is best for rocket firing, as a permanent sight is found
on the windshield to aid in aiming.) As you get closer, the computer sight
will turn red and machine guns will be in range as well. Like the missiles,
machine guns will follow the sight independently of the helicopter's
orientation.
Another place to find target information is the radar and map. These are
pulled up at nearly any time by pressing Option 1. If you happen to be
locked onto a target, however, a detailed picture of th
e target is displayed.
Otherwise, the radar shows enemy targets as dots in a limited area around
you, with those in weapons' range appearing in a V at the top. The map shows
the entire target area, not only with enemies highlighted but the landscape
features as well. Other important information, such as remaining ammo and
lives (the AT1196 may be shot down 4 times before destruction), are found
here.
The final feature to aid in target location is the enemy radar warning. If
you get within range of the opponents' weapons, his radar will lock on you
and an alarm will sound warning you of your proximity. Take heed, because
you will soon find it is raining rockets all around you.
STEEL TALONS is nearly as easy to fly as a WARBIRDS' biplane and manages to
give the same sense of realism. You won't be doing any loops in TALONS, but
you'll be having more fun scattering enemy jets across mountaintops.
Did I say enemy jets? Perhaps the most fun of all is pitting yourself
against opposing jets and helicopters. It is a fairly simple task to find
other pilots through the use of the map and radar. Shooting them is a
different matter entirely! Some good ol' fashioned dogfighting is required
to bring these puppies down to Earth.
For those who enjoy lauding their warrior prowess over others, there is a high
score table kept for each Lynxing session. You will have to kill something
to be inscribed on it, though. There are already entries upon powerup (don't
worry, you'll be climbing the list the first time out.)
You may think all this senseless destruction gets old after you've knocked
several craters into the playing field. Not to worry, each mission you
survive brings the chance to play an entirely new mission (you also have the
option to replay the old one.) Interesting variations appear as you get
deeper into the game, such as night flying and low-level passes through
canyons.
One option I would like to have seen added is the ability to start at these
later levels, perhaps through a password. It does get tiring blazing
through the early levels every time you fire up the game. It would also have
been nice to try battling the enemy in tandem, or fight against a human pilot;
unfortunately STEEL TALONS is one player only.
Given these minor caveats, I have to rate STEEL TALONS a must-buy. I was
never a big fan of the arcade version (perhaps the 50 cents per play had
something to do with it), and I had serious reservations after seeing the
disappointing HARD DRIVIN' translation. My doubt was completely unnecessary.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this game and rarely do I let a Lynxing session
pass without a TALONS fire fest.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to do a bit of aerial supervisor surgery.
Graphics: 10
Sound/Speech: 7
Music: 8
Gameplay: 10
Playability: 8
Overall Score: 9
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SWITCHBLADE II
Published by Atari
Developed by Gremlin Graphics Ltd.
Review by Jeff Kovach
In this game you play the part of the warrior Hiro and your mission is to
defeat the evil Havok (again). In the first game (not available for the
Lynx) you defeated Havok, but he survived and vowed to return. Don't you
hate it when that happens?
You have the option before starting the game to choose A/B or B/A for
attack and jump control. This is a simple feature that really should be
included in all Lynx games, much like the screen-flipping feature.
Gameplay is simple but addictive. Jumping with the joypad pointed up
lets you jump higher. Attacking at close range allows you to use your
switchblade, otherwise you fire whatever weapon is in your possession (if
you have the ammo).
The monsters you battle along the way occupy various outdoor and indoor
settings, ranging from a horizontally flowing platform type level with
girders and fences, to a cliff-like outdoor setting with multiple terraces
and scrolling several screens in all four directions. Other locales include
an indoor setting that looks like a military base, armed with robotic lasers
and force fields, an outdoor setting with 45 degree hills patrolled by
robotic menaces and airplanes, a waterfront with huge rockets being launched
from underwater, and a cave with fiery lava.
Along the way you must maintain your health by eating burgers and pizzas
you find, replenish your ammo when you find it, and collect the coins you
find when you defeat the bad guys, using them to purchase health, extra
lives, and more powerful weapons at the shops located throughout the game.
There are also jewels you collect to obtain points.
The entire game is divided into 6 levels, with each level divided into
at least 4 sections. Some sections are completed by simply reaching the end.
Others require you to defeat a boss at the end of the section.
All enemies are quite mechanical in their behavior, limited to a pre-set
range of movement and attacking in a predictable manner. You can use this
to your advantage, and it is not uncommon to kill all enemies and collect
all bonus items on a level for maximum points.
While gameplay is simple and predictable, it is addicting. You will
probably make more progress each time you play, enticing you to play again.
Enemies rarely overwhelm you, enabling you to relax and have a good time for
the most part. Sound effects, tho simple, are adequate. There is no music
beyond the title screen. Graphics are well-detailed, but there is no use
of scaling or parallax effects. Not that it's needed, this is a solid
hack and slash platform game that is simple but addictive.
My only complaint is the size of Hiro's wallet. There have been several
times that I have exceeded his $99 carrying capacity due to my lack of
buying anything at the last store... You stop getting credit for the coins
you pick up after you reach $99.
I really enjoyed this game. While it doesn't break any new ground, it's
a solid platform battle game and it's simplicity of play is addicting.
Graphics: 7
Sound: 5
Music: 5
Gameplay: 6
Playability: 8
Overall Score: 6
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WORLD CLASS FUSSBALL/SOCCER
Published by Atari
Developed by Brian A. Rice, Inc.
Review by Chris Baker
World Class Soccer was the final piece in Atari's first wave of sports
titles. You can choose from over 100 countries from a well-rendered map of
the earth. You can choose from several options: you can play a 10 to 90
minute game, one of three skill levels, automatic or manual player switching
and dry or muddy field conditions. The graphics are decent and well-rendered
but not spectacular. The sound is pretty much old hat and rehashed from
other Lynx games and disappointed me somewhat. The only music in the game is
during the title and selection screens. The playing field scales in and out
depending on where the action is. While this is a very nice feature, it can
bog down the gameplay a little. The active player for your team is shown
with an arrow over his head (he is usually the one closest to the ball).
The game plays reasonably well despite the nice scaling feature.
Controlling and keeping the ball is difficult but not impossible with a
little practice. When there are several players on your team in close
proximity, the game can get a little hectic (the arrow denoting the active
player bounces from one player to another very quickly (when using automatic
switching) and makes controlling the action ackward).
If you like soccer and want a challenge, World Class Fussball/Soccer is the
game for you.
Graphics: 7
Animation/Scaling: 7
Sound/Speech: 5
Music: 4
Gameplay: 6
Playability: 7
Overall Score: 6
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Lynx'n On the Line Welcome to our first installment of Lynx'n On the
"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"' Line. This monthly column will cover the more
Compiled by Jeff Kovach interesting messages found on CompuServe in the
Lynx support section (section 16 of the ATARI8
forum, type GO LYNX to get there) and on my BBS, STAR*LINX. There is always
a lot of interesting things going on, especially on CompuServe, and we invite
you to join us there. For information on joining CompuServe, see the ad
near the beginning of this issue. STAR*LINX BBS may also be reached at
(602)/464-4817.
From the ATARI8/LYNX Forum on Compuserve:
\\\Bob Hamilton is looking into NFL Football...
Nat,
So football looks like it is worth the money eh? How does it compare to hockey?
(if you have even played it) I thought about picking it up the other day
(finally got a Babbages within 300 miles!) but balked at the price. If you do
buy it, post some of the more exciting details, OK?
Thanks, CRH
\\\To which Nathan Wong replies...
Okay, I'll do that. My little brother (15 years old) loves the football
cartridge, so I'll need to get it so I could beat him. The only problem I don't
like is the price of these cartridges. I've been seeing more and more $39.95
for these things, which is far more than I have to spend on games, at the
moment. Where's all those $19.95 games that I see so many people buying? I
can't find them anywhere.
\\\Marty Mankins asks about CES...
Jeff,
Are you going to be at CES this year? What about the Lynx? Will it be there?
Marty
\\\To which I replied...
I personally cannot afford to go to CES this year, but I will receive a press
kit and will pass on the info I get.
The Lynx will be present in the same limited fashion as last year. Telegames
will have a booth promoting their products, and some Atari staff will probably
hang out and help out with things there. Atari will have a suite in a hotel
(last year at the Rio) where they will make presentations, etc. I would love to
go, but my finances won't permit it.
Jeff
\\\Brian @ STI asks Mary Mankins about Hockey...
Hi Marty, how did you like Hockey, I've not seen it yet. Pinball Jam is a great
one, Just mindless enough toget into!
Brian @ STI
\\\To which Marty replied...
Brian,
Hockey is really nice. I mostly played the shot part of it (where you hit the
puck into the goal, trying to get by the goalie). It's a great way to pratice
your shots.
The actual game is really detailed and play is nice. I think this game would
suck on a Game Boy (which we just bought a used one for $30 - for company and a
couple of games my wife likes, but aren't on the Lynx).
Marty
\\\Ian Bernard offers a tip for A.P.B....
APB- To get to level 99. When you have finished your quota
for the day, go to your space but don't park instead
press and hold Opt 1 and 2 when doing that accleerate
and park. Continue holding until bob says "yeh ha"
then let go. After you talk with the chief you'll be
there. If youll notice- in level 99 there is no time
or gas limit. That means you can slack off as much as you
want. Only one problem, you can still get demerits. RATS!
\\\Lots of comments on Pinball Jam, first Dana P. Jacobson says...
Believe it or not, Pinball is incredibly addictive!! Every chance that I get,
I get dem crazy flipper fingers goin'!!
Dana @ STReport International Online Magazine
\\\SYSOP Bob Retelle adds...
Pinball addictive..? No way...
I just got Devil's Crush for my TG16, and I was able to walk away from it after
only six or so hours..
(Maybe "walk" isn't the right word.. after sitting on the floor that long.. :)
BobR
\\\To which Dana Jacobson humorously replies...
Hehehe!! I made the mistake of sitting cross-legged while playing. I got
thirsty after awhile. When I went to uncross my legs, they were painfully
asleep. That was an ordeal just to get out of the chair!! Last time I do
that!
Dana @ STReport International Online Magazine
\\\Andy Eddy at VideoGames and Computer Entertainment Magazine comments on
Joust, which is due out in early January....
Actually, I've been hooked on playing the prototype of Joust. Very nice
translation, and good for two players too.
A E
\\\Nathan Wong reports that the Lynx got a cameo appearance in on the TV
show Full House...
Just watching Full House and there were two girls visiting their house and they
were asking one of the little girl's what she had to do and when she said
nothing what did the twins pull out but two Atari Lynxs'! Cool.
\\\Brian @ STI asks for help with Shadow of the Beast...
Thanks, I can jump far enough about half the time, and I finally made it down
to the red dragon. Problem is having enough strength left to survive long
enough to kill him!
BTW, what did that Power fist do for me, I didn't notice anything.
Brian @ STI
\\\to which James Thornhill replies...
Brian,
Which one is the red dragon. I haven't played in a couple of weeks to let
my frustration factor settle down a bit. To get through the underground level
where the machine is that you have to put the missing gear into so that you can
go up. At the end of that level where the dragon is blowing fire and there is
one I will call it a spike moving up and down is where you need the power
gloves. This is the only way I have found to kill that monstor. You have to
put the gloves on then when the dragon quits breathing fire you have to jump
the spike and hit him a few times then jump back across the spike so that the
fire won't hit you and keep doing this until you kill him.
Jim
\\\John Bonavita reports on the Lynx in the Wall Street Journal...
All, In a very small paragraph (in the WSJ) Atari was mentioned as selling 1
Million Lynx game machines. The paragraph also mentioned that 7 million Game
Boys have been sold and 1.7 million Game Gears sold.
John
\\\Rob Nicholson of Hand Made Software, in Manchester, England adds...
Here in the UK, the Lynx outsells the Game Gear but only just.
Rob.
\\\Word from Atari about the delayed Batman Returns promo cartridges...
The LATEST word is that all of the Batman Returns carts have been sent out, and
should arrive no later than December 10. If you still need to check further,
the number is 1-800-242-5969. Apparently, most of the problems stem from the
fact that we did not anticipate the response, and ran out of carts _several_
times. Sorry for the delays, everyone!
\\\Scott Everts wants more multi-player games...
So, any idea when we will get some new titles? My Tuesday Lynx group is
getting bored with our present games and we want more multiplayer titles!!
We are especially interested in Battlezone 2000 and the new adventure games
coming out. I believe Storm Over Doria is suppose to be multiplayer?
If anyone from Atari is one here, there's a bunch of crazy people where I work
that really, really want to hand you some money for new titles!!
Keep lynx'n!
\\\Nathan Wong comments on Baseball Heroes...
Would you happen to know if they're revamping Baseball Heroes so at least you
can tell how high the ball is by looking at the shadow? I thought that was a
pretty bad planning on Atari's part to think that people would be able to judge
height by just seeing some white ball in the air.
\\\To which I replied...
I don't know of any plans to revise Baseball Heroes.
I haven't had much of a chance to play it, but in the 2 games I did get in, I
was able to field the ball pretty decently after the first couple of hits. I
thought I was able to judge the height of the ball by looking at the distance
of the shadow from the ball, but I could be wrong.
Jeff
\\\and Nathan responds...
You are right about the ball/shadow relationship, but in my eyes if the shadow
were to change size then it'll be easier to judge distance. (oh, and height
too).
\\\And, our friends at Atari added...
Let me just jump in here and say we have absolutely no plans to re-do Baseball
Heroes. All of our game experts really like it the way it is, and still play
it on a weekly basis. When you can hear the laughter and the joking around all
the way at this end of the hall when they're playing ANY game, you know it's a
good game. I will never understand you views on this one.
\\\Atari also comments on upcoming games...
Here's the latest "scoop" on Lynx titles for all of you who are asking: There
are 53 Lynx titles available. 2 of these, Fidelity Chess Challenge, and Qix,
are by Telegames. Shadowsoft, who did Robotron and Joust, is the other most
active 3rd party developer, but we've contracted to do their distribution for
them, so these games are considered "Atari" games. There are upwards of 25
third-party Lynx developers at the present time; they just don't seem to be
very BUSY\\\! For those of you awaiting new titles, be on the lookout for Dirty
Larry - Renegade Cop, Dracula - The Undead, Pit Fighter, Power Factor and
Dinolympics. Oh, and Joust. I would also wait a while before making those
Christmas purchases. Something might be in the works for a couple of weeks
from now. (You just never know with those wiley little elves, do you?!?!) Bye
for now!
\\\In case you're wondering, what was 'in the works', it was the new $79.95
Lynx holiday special. Way to go Atari! But what's Power Factor, I had
to ask...
Could you tell as a bit about Power Factor? I've heard the name before, but
that's about it...
Happy Lynx'n! Jeff
\\\and our Atari friends responded...
Power Factor is a collect-parts-of-the-nuclear-reactor while blowing up stuff
game....you know the type! There are 11 levels, 3 difficulty settings, and it
looks really good! Should be out around the 1st of February. Later!
\\\to which I responded...
Almost sounds like Power Factor could be a sequel to Electrocop (the scenario)
but it's all a matter of perspective. What kind of perspective does this game
have?
Jeff
\\\and Rob Nicholson at Hand Made Software answers...
Well it's a bit like Electrocopy but louder :-)
Rob (we wrote it)
\\\Atari announces the Lynx Xmas deal...
Hi, everyone.... Well, apparently this Xmas deal is out in the open now, so
here it is: Atari is offering Lynxs for $79.99, as well as all game software
until 1/31/93. This deal includes free Fed Ex delivery. Order by 12/21, and
receive your order in time for Xmas. AND -- you can do it all over the phone.
Call 1-800-327-5151 to order. Now's your chance to get all those cartridges you
can't find! (OK, so it's not a new game system.... picky picky! It _does_ save
you from having to go to the mall...!) Merry Christmas-----!
\\\Reed Hubbard asks about Battlezone 2000...
Do you have any info on the upcoming Battlezone 2000 (which I saw mentioned in
one of the earlier messages)? I am assuming it is an updated version of the
old arcade Battlezone.
\\\and Rob Nicholson at Hand Made Software responds...
I'm going to keep quiet in this one - the game is at beta test but may change
between now and release. However, I'm pretty safe in saying it's four player
(oh no! not another mammoth multiplayer test session..), with solid 3D graphics
mixed with scaled sprites. You can configure your tank with lots of extra
goodies. It pushes the Lynx to it's limits :-)
Rob.
\\\As you can see, people are really talking it up on CompuServe about the
Lynx! Before we go, here's some messages from STAR*LINX BBS:
From: Jeremy Weinstein
To: Chris Baker
Date: October 7, 1992 at 1:05pm
The Amiga version of Shadow of the Beast is just as "short", but a lot
more difficult. Technical achievements aside (the parallax scrolling on
the Lynx and background action is absolutely awesome) thr Lynx SOB is a
more playable game.
From: Fruitman
To: All
Date: October 7, 1992 at 6:38pm
Does anyone have any info on Dirty Larry? Jeez, it was supposed to come
out almost a year ago, and it never did! Oh, I really like Kung Food, and
am steadily making progress. Has anyone beaten Rampart yet? Anyone notice
when you quit playing it for awhile, you get lousy at it? If you don't
keep playing, you get terrible at it.
Fruitty Tooty
From: Animator
To: All
Date: November 2, 1992 at 10:41am
Hey does anyone have the map of Xenophobe, I know it's on internet, but I
don't have access to it. Just wonder if you had it, and could up load it
on here. Hey does anyone know how many levels there are for Xenophobe,
and is there and Ending to it. Anyone gotten to the end of Rygar, was
wondering if there was an ending to it also?
Thanks
Animator
From: Chris Baker
To: Animator
Date: November 2, 1992 at 4:17pm
Animator previously wrote...
> Hey does anyone have the map of Xenophobe, I know it's on internet, but I
> don't have access to it. Just wonder if you had it, and could up load it
> on here. Hey does anyone know how many levels there are for Xenophobe,
> and is there and Ending to it. Anyone gotten to the end of Rygar, was
> wondering if there was an ending to it also?
> Thanks
> Animator
To which Chris Baker replies...
I think there are 27 levels to xenophobe..a friend and I finished the
game comlynxed once...I've beaten Rygar too...there's an ending but not a
spectacular one. Kindo fo a let down in that department, great game
though...
chris
ps...dirty larry is coming in December and World class Soccer was just
released
From: Jeremy Weinstein
To: All
Date: November 7, 1992 at 6:30pm
Well, I finished this game, after a decent amount of work. I'd say the
challenge of the game, although initially pretty frustrating, is just
about right. While working on it I had some real concerns, since I did
not doubt that Psygnosis would have it in them to make the game
impossible (like the Amiga version). Fortunately, that was not the case,
and the game is a lot of fun to pick up now and just go through to the
end, since the graphics and sound are so stunning. A great game!
From: Bobby Tribble
To: All
Date: November 8, 1992 at 4:02pm
Anyone know anything about the rumor of Wolfenstein 3-D coming out for
the Lynx? I've heard there are plans for it...
Also, anyone know anything about a 3rd party game called Battlecars? Some
guy on Usenet was talking about it (BTW, no relation to Driving Demons,
rumored game by Intense Gaming...anyone know anything about THAT?)
Anyways, until later...
From: Chris Baker
To: Commodore
Date: November 12, 1992 at 5:44pm
Commodore previously wrote...
> i saw in the november issue of EGM that Atari is releasing a game called
> Power Force. Do you know anything about this game?
>
> ?
To which Chris Baker replies...
All I know about it right now is that it is being developed by Hand Made
Software and it is a Sci-fi action/shooter...supposed to be some great
graphics and scaling...
Dracula, The Undead also by HMS, should hit the streets in January!
From: Rygar
To: All
Date: November 23, 1992 at 8:24am
Anybody finish RYGAR? I get to the end no problem, but I can't seem
to beat "the big guy". When I go in with my extended reach, I can hit him
without him attacking me. I THINK I do damage, but this only works until
I die, which is usually due to running out of time. On my next life, my
weapon can't reach far enough, so I get it 2-3 shots, and have to run,
turn and get in 2 shots, run etc. It ain't workin'! Plus... any
interesting codes?
From: Jarius
To: Rygar
Date: November 24, 1992 at 10:37am
Rygar previously wrote...
> Anybody finish RYGAR? I get to the end no problem, but I can't seem
> to beat "the big guy". When I go in with my extended reach, I can hit him
> without him attacking me. I THINK I do damage, but this only works until
> I die, which is usually due to running out of time. On my next life, my
> weapon can't reach far enough, so I get it 2-3 shots, and have to run,
> turn and get in 2 shots, run etc. It ain't workin'! Plus... any
> interesting codes?
>
To which Jarius replies...
I beat the thing a long time ago... I think you have to hit him in the
head with your long shots... How about Toki? What do you do for the guy
with the feet hands and heart?
From: Rygar
To: Jarius
Date: November 25, 1992 at 10:26pm
Thanks for the info... I'll give it a try. Sorry, don't have Toki. At
the $50 bucks a pop we pay for games here in Canada, I buy most of my
stuff used, and I ain't seen it yet, although it's #1 on my "must aquire"
list.
I have... Blue Lightening, Stun Runner, Rygar, California Games,
Viking Child, Klax, Zarlor (with built in LIFE game... cool!). Any other
" must haves" out there?
From: Hawk
To: Rygar
Date: November 25, 1992 at 10:59pm
Rygar previously wrote...
> I have... Blue Lightening, Stun Runner, Rygar, California Games,
> Viking Child, Klax, Zarlor (with built in LIFE game... cool!). Any other
> " must haves" out there?
>
To which Hawk replies...
SLIME WORLD!!!!
From: Chris Baker
To: Rygar
Date: November 26, 1992 at 8:59pm
Rygar previously wrote...
> I have... Blue Lightening, Stun Runner, Rygar, California Games,
> Viking Child, Klax, Zarlor (with built in LIFE game... cool!). Any other
> " must haves" out there?
>
To which Chris Baker replies...
STUN Runner, Hockey, Shadow of the Beast just to name a couple...
chris
From: Jarius
To: Rygar
Date: November 26, 1992 at 9:55pm
Rygar previously wrote...
> I have... Blue Lightening, Stun Runner, Rygar, California Games,
> Viking Child, Klax, Zarlor (with built in LIFE game... cool!). Any other
> " must haves" out there?
>
To which Jarius replies...
Sure... Chips Challenge. It is about the best puzzle game that you'll
encounter. Of all the people I have allowed to use my Lynx (about 100)
only 1 person didn't like Chips (mainly because he hates most anything
that isn't real action oriented). I think that Chips is a classic that
all Lynx owners should experience (I mean past the first 12 levels as
those only scratch the surface of the beauty of the game!)
From: Star*Master
To: Rygar
Date: November 27, 1992 at 12:50am
] I have... Blue Lightening, Stun Runner, Rygar, California Games,
] Viking Child, Klax, Zarlor (with built in LIFE game... cool!). Any other
] " must haves" out there?
I recommend Chip's Challenge, Checkered Flag, Hockey, Shadow of the
Beast, and Rampart.
From: Chris Baker
To: D.J. Paris
Date: November 29, 1992 at 9:26pm
D.J. Paris previously wrote...
> DOES ANYBODY KNOW OF A PASSWORD FOR THE END OF BILL AND TED'S? COULD
> SOMEBODY TELL ME HOW TO GET THROUGH THE LAST PART WITH THE DEMON IN
> BANDT'S
> WHEN IS GUARDIANS AND DRACULA?
To which Chris Baker replies...
Can't help you with Bill & Ted's.
Dracula, The Undead is slated for the first week of January, 1993.
Expect to see Joust from Shadowsoft at the same time.
As for The Guardians:Storm Over Doria...don't hold your breath...the game
has been put back in the shop for the time being...look at an earlier msg
for the next series of releases from Telegames.
chris
From: Jarius
To: Chris Baker
Date: November 30, 1992 at 7:34am
Chris Baker previously wrote...
> Gotta help those in need...what do you think of the first wave of Lynx
> sports titles now that they're out?
>
> chris
To which Jarius replies...
The games aren't bad... Football could have been better (although it is
good when linked up), Baseball is nice and Hockey is great (although I
always win). What needs to be done though is the production of some
really high quality games with playoff/regular season play that keeps
stats (battery) so that if friends link up, then they would have their
favorite team that they could each play, and keep doing so until two
players reach the end of the season (my friends do that with their sega
basketball and football games). IT would also be interesting to see a
sports game that could link up about 4-8 players and have them pair off
to play in groups of twos. During the individual games, they could
receive highlights from the other 2-3 games in progress...
From: Bobby Tribble
To: All
Date: December 6, 1992 at 5:11pm
Well, the guy on Usenet posted more info about this game from Beyond
Games. It's a first person driver in which you shoot other cars with
bullets, missles, other weapons and if you win you get more money to buy
better weapons and upgrade your car for the next battle. You can also get
out of your car and walk around to kill your opponents. Up to 6 players
can comlynx together and compete! The guy got a beta version (to test for
bugs) and really likes it. Better yet, he said Beyond Games was looking
for more people to look at the beta version to look for bugs and he said
there were 100 copies available and the first 100 people to respond would
be able to look at the game for $35 (refundable after you return the game
back to Beyond games, or you can trade in the beta cart for the final
release) so of course I responded and two of my friends also said they
were interested, and we all got on the waiting list. He said the carts
were supposed to be back from the plant or wherever the carts are made
and that I would get Beyond Games' address and phone # when he heard back
from them. Oh yeah, the carts were supposed to be back from the plant
around Dec. 2 or so, so I should be getting e-mail about it soon. Well
that's all I know so far. If I get the game of course I will leave a
message about it and how the comlynx feature is, etc. Or I will say how
I got gyped out of $35 :) But I think it's for reals. Whelp, I guess
that's about all, and I know, I am a lucky dog ;)
Oh and about Rygar, isn't there a 'floating sheild' trick? Hm, well if
you're curious it IS a code for Rygar, technically...
(On my want list is Klax, Ms. Pacman, Toki, Pinball Jam, and Robotron)
Rampart is highly reccomended...
From: Bobby Tribble
To: All
Date: November 8, 1992 at 4:06pm
Okay, I know about the Slime World invincibility, but was wondering if
anyone knows the code that brings you close to an exit that gives you
Epyx's address... I read it in Video Games & Computer Entertainment a
while ago (before I had a Lynx, so I didn't write it down). Anyway, if
anyone has it or doesn't mind going through some back issues, I'd be
interested. The trick has something to do with one of the walls that you
can shoot away with your gun. The exit is supposed to be near impossible
to get to (unless you already know where it is :) I guess it was Epyx's
way of finding some master gamers/testers...
=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=
Wrappin' It Up Well, this concludes our first issue of the Atari Gaming
'"'"'"'"'"'"'" Gazette. The next issue will be available in mid-January,
by Jeff Kovach and as mentioned earlier, it will contain reviews of Dirty
Larry: Renegade Cop, and any other games that are released
by then. Also planned is a player's guide to Batman Returns, plus all the
regular columns that you see here now.
We welcome your comments and questions. If you would like to write for us,
drop us a line on CompuServe or the STAR*LINX BBS, as mentioned at the top
of the issue.
Happy Lynx'n, and Happy Holidays! See you all next year.
P.S. I did finish Switchblade II before completing the review!
92,800 points...
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