Psygnosis was one of the more prolific and better known developers of gaming software on the Amiga. They weren’t exclusive to the Amiga as they were well known for the Lemmings series on various platforms, Wipeout on the PlayStation and many others. However, they were one of the first to develop games that really pushed the Amiga hardware as opposed to just supporting the lowest common denominator across multiple platforms.
This particular ad is from the December 1990 issue of Amiga Plus and features three games: Armour-Geddon, Obitus, and Nitro.
Armour-Geddon is not one of their better games. Graphics and gameplay are good but there just isn’t enough to it despite the unique and interesting plot. You are part of a group that was apparently smart enough to build underground shelters before the nuclear war so you’ve had it relatively good, at least compared to the people outside. However, those outside survivors (or their decendants anyway) are a little upset so they are trying to build a laser canon with which to kill you. Your ultimate goal is to collect five pieces of an old neutron bomb to destroy the laser canon with. Along the way you’ll also battle in various vehicles with weapons you develop. It is played from a 3D perspective.
Obitus is an action RPG which starts with you as a history professor whose car breaks down in a storm. You seek refuge in an old tower and wake up in another land. Those that don’t mind making their own maps may like this one as map making is definately a key to success. It played from a first person point of view similar to games like Eye of the Beholder but with 8 directions instead of just 4.
Nitro is a virtual clone of Sega’s Hot Rod but with different tracks and graphics. It is a top down racer that can be played with up to three players. Top down racers are one of those genres that has seemingly gone away which is too bad because it was one of my favorites. Anybody know of any decent modern top down racers?
Microkids was a kids oriented magazine about computers. The content wasn’t bad but it only lasted a few issues. Too few kids with computers that could also obtain a magazine subscription led to poor circulation numbers I suspect. The premiere issue from December 1983 includes:
Feature Articles
Isaac Asimov on The Dawning of a New Era
Computer Piracy, Hollywood Style – Is it a fantasy…or could it be real?
Confessions of a Teenage Computer Whiz
An Introduction to Graphics Magic
The Vid Kid – News and views
Mastering Super Pac-Man
Rating the New Games for Christmas
10 Great Gift Ideas for Christmas
How to Grow an Apple
“Fame’s” Lee Curreri – King of the keyboards
Meet Michael Hyman – A demon in 3-D
Tune in Tomorrow…Today
The Coleco Adam – Everything you need and more
The Spectravideo SV-318 – A breed apart
3…2…1…Blast Off!
Computers in Space – Getting out of our sphere
Computers in Space – Flying solo on the Starship Enterprise
Rastan started life as an arcade game by Taito in 1987. It is a fantasy based side-scrolling fighting game. You fight you way through each level, facing various enemies and a boss at the end of each level. Various weapons and special items are available throughout the game.
The initial home ports of Rastan were done for various 8-bit home computers and first released in Europe. The Commodore 64 version, along with new ports for the PC (DOS) and Apple IIgs were released in North America in 1990, which was pretty late in the life of the Commodore 64. There was also a version released for the Sega Master System.
The 8-bit ports received pretty mixed reviews in general and the Commodore 64 version is probably one of the better ones though that is no great praise. It isn’t a terrible game but it isn’t one of the better ones in its genre either. There aren’t a huge number of fantasy based games in this genre so it is somewhat unique in that regard.
Of the home ports, I would probably pick the Commodore 64 version though the best to play overall is probably the arcade emulated version found on Taito Legends Vol. 1 released in 2006 for the Xbox, PS2 and Windows.
