Tag Archives: Let’s Play

Atari A to Z, Videos

Atari A to Z: Thrax Lair

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Fie on your spaceships, I say, the true shoot ’em up connoisseur takes control of pterodactyl-esque creatures and uses them to penetrate deep inside their enemies’… err, lairs!

Well, okay, maybe not, but that’s the setup for Thrax Lair, anyway, in which you control a “Tarp”, a winged creature capable of firing lasers from its eyes with a strong (and eminently justifiable) grudge against the spider-like Thrax.

Gameplay-wise, it’s a bit like River Raid, but with enough unique elements about it to make it worth a look — even if it might not be the most flashy game the Atari 8-bit ever offered!

Find a full archive of all the Atari A to Z videos on the official site.

Atari A to Z, Videos

Atari A to Z Flashback: Space Duel

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How do you make Asteroids better in a more substantial way than just adding “Deluxe” to the name and making it look a bit nicer? Start by chaining two ships together and work from there.

Atari’s Space Duel was designed as another successor to Asteroids after the aforementioned Asteroids Deluxe regrettably failed to replicate the success and popularity of its influential predecessor. Featuring several ways to play — including both cooperative and competitive two-player modes — it’s a more obvious step forward than Deluxe was.

Don’t let the name fool you as it did me for many years, however; this game can very much be enjoyed single-player, and in one of its modes in particular provides an absolutely unique shooter experience that is well worth giving a go for yourself.

Find a full archive of all the Atari A to Z videos on the official site.

Atari A to Z, Videos

Atari ST A to Z: Mickey Mouse – The Computer Game

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Who’s the leader of the club that’s made for you and me? Some mouse, I think.

Yes, it’s time for the official computer game adaptation of one of Disney’s most beloved properties: one Michael Mouse. This game was produced by Gremlin Graphics, and was noteworthy at the time for being a licensed game that eschewed the usual platform game formula. (Granted, Mickey Mouse and friends had several very good platform games throughout the 8- and 16-bit eras, but it was cool to see something a bit different!)

This is a pretty cool game with a couple of aspects that are inordinately frustrating… most notable of which is the fact that actually completing a level is next to impossible thanks to a monstrously difficult boss encounter! Oh well. At least it looks nice.

Find a full archive of all the Atari A to Z videos on the official website.

Videos, Warriors Orochi, Warriors Wednesday

Warriors Wednesday: Shu Warriors vs Orochi – Warriors Orochi #44

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Well, the Shu warriors have finally reached the end of their journey: Koshi Castle, home of the dreaded Orochi.

This is what it all comes down to! Everything the team has been fighting for culminates in this final battle. And perhaps… just perhaps, if they’re lucky, they’ll finally be reunited with Liu Bei after a very long journey!

Although if you’re accustomed to how Liu Bei looks in more recent Warriors installments, be ready for a bit of a surprise!

Atari A to Z, Videos

Atari A to Z: Satan’s Hollow

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Tired of blasting aliens? Fed up of shooting soldiers? Punched enough gang members in the face to last a lifetime? Then surely it’s time you faced the ultimate evil!

Yes, indeed, in Satan’s Hollow, you are going after the Big D (not that kind of Big D) himself, ol’ Satan of the Hollow, Esq. And you’ve brought yourself a natty little bridge-building spaceship that seems just tailor-made for the task of crossing the pit of fire to where Satan hangs out.

But wait! It seems Satan has friends, and they’re not particularly pleased to see you. Can you fend off Beelzebub’s Hoover attack for long enough to even catch a glimpse of the lord of all devils himself? Only one way to find out — in an unreleased Atari 8-bit port of an elderly Midway arcade game!

Find a full archive of all the Atari A to Z videos on the official site.

Atari A to Z, Videos

Atari ST A to Z: Lombard RAC Rally

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The Lombard RAC Rally, known today as the Wales Rally GB, is a high-profile race in the annual rally calendar.

Back in 1988, we had the opportunity to strap ourselves into a state-of-the-art Ford Sierra Cosworth and take part in this prestigious event for ourselves. Some massive prizes of up to a hundred English pounds per stage were up for grabs!

Lombard RAC Rally by Red Rat software was a neat game that did  few things rather unconventionally for the driving game genre. So let’s take a look!

Find a full archive of all the Atari A to Z videos on the official site.

Warriors Orochi, Warriors Wednesday

Warriors Wednesday: I’m On Fire Today – Warriors Orochi #43

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We’re closing in on the end of the Shu campaign of Warriors Orochi now, with only two more side missions and one more story mission to go.

Today, Zhurong and friends decide to turn their attention to the peasants who are suffering under the yoke of Orochi’s oppression. She helps them escape in her own inimitable fashion — and is very keen to make sure we’re aware of her accomplishments at the conclusion of the battle.

I’m going to be sorry to leave this particular gang of misfits behind — they’ve been a lot of fun to play as!

Atari A to Z, Videos

Atari A to Z Flashback: Red Baron

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Chocks away, tally-ho and all that! It’s time for Red Baron!

A contemporary of the rather more well-known and successful Battlezone, Red Baron sees players taking to the skies in a World War I biplane and challenging an endless variety of enemy pilots, blimps and ground targets to aerial combat.

This is an underappreciated gem from Atari’s back catalogue, so while it may not have been a bit success back in the day, it’s well worth playing today!

Find a full archive of all the Atari A to Z videos on the official site.

Atelier Arland Trilogy, New Game Plus, Videos

New Game Plus: Iron Giant (Finale) – Atelier Rorona DX #20

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It’s time for the grand finale of our Atelier Rorona DX playthrough!

My “ambition” for this particular run has been to achieve the Adventurer ending, which requires you to get Rorona and Cordelia to level 50, then defeat the Iron Giant superboss in the depths of the Orthogalaxen dungeon.

Did I pull it off? Well, you’ll have to wait and see, won’t you?

Videos, Warriors Wednesday

Warriors Wednesday: Never Let Zhao Yun Tank – Warriors Orochi #42

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Orochi’s armies are growing in strength in an attempt to counter the growing confidence of the Shu forces.

Zhao Yun can practically smell his master Liu Bei now — not literally, ’cause that’d be weird — and his friends are relieved to know that victory is within sight.

There are still a few challenges left to overcome, though… and as we’ve seen numerous times up until now, complacency can be a Warrior’s worst enemy!