Sinistar Version and Tips?

[SoulBlazer]

Checking out today some 2600 ROM's I never had a chance to try, I discovered a prototype version of Sinistar. I got the ROM as part of ZIP file a friend sent me a couple months ago with some other prototypes and rare games. Despite the fact the game would have come out in the arcades during my youth (I'm 32 now) I never played it, nor do I recall seeing it. I know, I know, many consider it to be one of the best arcade games made. I'm a little late, so sue me. :)

Anyway, I know this version is not finished, so I'm curious....which versions of the game exist, in finished and playable form? Is the arcade version the best one? I'm not sure I know exactly what to do in the game....I know I have to mine minerals to make bombs to blow this Sinistar thing up, but it seems like a very hard game, and I'm not sure how much of that is due to this port. Any advice and tactics to help increase one's enjoyment of the game?

[Tempest]

There are three versions, with the final one being the best (obviously). I'm not sure which ones you have, but all three have been released at this point. I posted them on AA in the 2600 rom thread.

You can read about the all here: http://www.atariprotos.com/2600/software/sinistar/sinistar.htm

Tempest

[SoulBlazer]

Ah, so you're the same guy who runs the AtariProto site? Very interesting site and a lot of nice info on there. Keep up the good work. :)

Now that you mention it, I do recall that I saw the game on there, and I did a check on GameFAQ's for other versions. Looks like besides the unreleased 2600 version there was also a unreleased Atari 8 bit version....was the proto for that ever released? I also see mention here of a modern PC remake. I'll have to see if I can find that.

[Tempest]

No, the 8-bit version has not been released yet (there is no 5200 version). The owner of the prototype is working to get it released, although I do not know when that will happen.

Tempest

[Chainclaw]

Sinistar proves that Resident Evil didn't invent the survival horror genre.

When I was a kid, I didn't quite understand the concept of mining the asteroids to get bombs to destroy him, I just thought it was a standard shooter, with a really scary monster that gets you, like Evil Otto in Berzerk. Berzerk might be the first survival horror game.

[NE146]

I know, I know, many consider it to be one of the best arcade games made.

Well, I wouldn't say that. The game's claim to fame I think is the scary atmosphere and overall Sinistar concept with the growls and all.. which is great. However, at the end of the day I think it's on the lower end of William's releases since the gameplay is not all that great.

Put it this way, Defender, Joust, and Robotron were difficult games but if you played them a lot, you could get really good at them. You can play Sinistar non-stop for years and I don't think anyone could really master it in the same way you can to their other games. Sinistar is nothing more than pushing in various directions and shooting to mine rocks and hoping you dont get killed. You cant avoid some shots, and pretty much your game will end after a couple of rounds even for the best players

Ok so maybe there's someone out there who can pass dozens of Sinistar stages with no problem.. But I haven't heard of any. LOL

[Steve W]

I've played the Atari 8-bit version at the Atari Age table at the Dallas VGXpo a few years back, and it was pretty dang good. It always amazes me that there's so many good games unreleased out there.