Homebrew/Rediscovered Games.

[Aswald]

So nice...long after your favorite console was declared "dead," along comes a whole new batch of games.

Which ones do you have, and how do you rate them?


For me (all are for the ColecoVision):

Space Invaders Collection- Absolutely amazing translations of Space Invaders and its sequel, Space Invaders Deluxe, for the ColecoVision. The many options, and the accuracy, all for $30.00...or about $18.00 in 1982 money!

Amazing Snake- Plays like Snake Byte or Nibbler. This isn't one of the greatest CV games, but it's pleasant, appealing, fun, and has quite a few options. Snake Pong is also included, and it's truly unique. It holds up well over time, as do many classic genres.

Cosmo Fighter 2- The programmer was intrigued to hear that I had this game on cartridge. It plays a bit like Gorf; that is, it's a multi-screen contest. It has several great programming features, such as the multi-plane scrolling starfield, and the size of the boss enemy, but overall, it was just meant as a sort of demo.

Dac-Man- It has choppy movement, and it returns to its original difficulty after screen 9, and it only has 21 screens...but the sound is great, the mazes and prizes are beautiful, and it somehow is very satisfying. Must be the sound effects.

Space Invasion- Curiously enough, it reminds me of an Astrocade game. This version of Space Invaders is slower and simpler than SIC, but it's professional, and plays very well, especially the "deluxe" version. The title screen is great. It compliments SIC perfectly! Great fun.

Star Fortress- The closest thing to Star Castle on the ColecoVision. Since it doesn't get tougher over time (but by fortress), you can stay at any castle you want, or you can just blow up as many as possible! It's the only game of it's kind, and it's great. Try it with the Roller Controller!

Bejeweled- The options (Bomb!), and the strategic untimed game, help make this game really, really good. The timed games are not as difficult as the on-line versions, but trying to fill that line is great. That first game is a mixture of luck and skill; my favorite. It's also the only recent popular game for the CV. A total winner. Appealing graphics and sound, too! And that title screen is NES quality.

Steamroller- 1984 Activision game. This game should have been in the arcades, since it's better than 90% of arcade maze-chase games. Graphics, power-ups, design, and the more than 25 mazes, all show what the ColecoVision was capable of. The two-player version is the most fun you'll ever have trying to annihilate your friends.

Lord of the Dungeon- Battery backed RPG from 1983. Over 150 monsters. 10 levels. It's a simplified Wizardry, and it's absolutely incredible. From the moment you go through the character creation process, to when you're blasted by evil Wizards, Dark Lords, Green Dragons, or the dreaded Titans, you know that this game is something else! POISON, oh, %&#$!!. Take this, CUTLEVULEN! FLAVULEN! Play it, and you'll understand...

Kevtris- the first of the homebrews for the ColecoVision, this Tetris-style game has terrific one-player games, but the 2-player games are defective (everything counts double). Even so, it's a must-have. Maybe Kevin Horton started the whole trend?

[SegaTecToy]

The homebrew scene is getting stronger. I hope this means more great games released for "dead" systems.

[Aswald]

Have there been any homebrew games for the Astrocade, Odyssey 2, Intellivision, or Arcadia 2001?

[Sniderman]

Have there been any homebrew games for the Astrocade, Odyssey 2, Intellivision, or Arcadia 2001?

Well there's Amok! for the Odyssey 2 programmed by that homebrew bastion himself, John Dondzilla (he of the Vectrex/Colecovision scene). His website - www.classicgamecreations.com - has ordering info. And the Intellivision and Arcadia have had homebrews too. (The Intellivision had 4-tris and other homebrews - never released on carts that I know of....)

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Steamroller- 1984 Activision game. This game should have been in the arcades, since it's better than 90% of arcade maze-chase games.

Steamroller is actually based on the arcade game Make Trax (also known as Crush Roller in some places), though the arcade game doesn't feature that insane two-player mode.

Amok! for the Odyssey2 is some gaming goodness. I really need to pull that one out and play it some more as soon as I get my consoles hooked up again - it's fun and fast.

Also have to give props to Skeleton+ for the Atari 2600, and the CGE Services release of Looping for the 2600 as well. On the 5200, Castle Blast and Koffi rock. Highly recommended on all of 'em.

Oh, and I can't get outta here without recommending Backfire for the 2600, but that has nothing to do with my picture being on the label artwork.

[opcode]

Have there been any homebrew games for the Astrocade, Odyssey 2, Intellivision, or Arcadia 2001?

Hey, nice list of homebrews. The reviews are also very well writen.
The O2 is getting a new game, Kill the Attacking Aliens, an impressive effort that is very worth playing.

Eduardo

[kainemaxwell]

I'd love to try some homebrews one day should I ever get my old system working.

[ManekiNeko]

[quote="opcode"]

Hey, nice list of homebrews. The reviews are also very well writen.
The O2 is getting a new game, Kill the Attacking Aliens, an impressive effort that is very worth playing.

It might be a good game, but that name really needs work.
"I know what I'll call it! 'Shoot Those Things At The Top of The Screen Before They Swoop Down And Drop Bombs On You!' Catchy title, huh?"

JR

[o2william]

I don't know, I rather like the title "Kill the Attacking Aliens"... it's so unpretentious.

Of course, it's nowhere near as good a title as "This Planet Sucks," which is the best homebrew game title ever.

[Cafeman]

There is something about 'homebrews' for the Atari systems that instantly and continually appeals to me. Most of them at least, some are far better than others.

I also love Skeleton+ on the 2600. It is my current favorite 2600 homebrew. I like Marble Craze too, and Space Treat Deluxe is a quick but really fun game to play. SCSI-cide too but it almost stops my heart, it gets so maddeningly fast. Qb is fun and Oystron too. These are just ones I've bought so far. I still haven't picked up Thrust but I have played it and it is very impressive, I'll get it someday soon no doubt.

I like Castle Blast and Koffi on the 5200. Castle Blast probably could have had a few more enemies or 'things' in it, and I HATE it when my shot doesn't knock out a brick (grr!), but as the first 5200 homebrew plus having met & corresponded with Ronen back in those days, Castle Blast has a special place in my 5200 library. I love the music too. And even though I made Koffi myself, I still have fun playing it now & then. Mostly I play on Hard and Start at level 3 or up.

Adventure II will be done sometime this year. It's been a long time since we started it (and discarded it, then restarted it again) but it is gonna get done. Raccoon Lad and I are both pretty busy these days but it makes progress in spurts. I think folks will be pleasantly surprised when they see the latest incarnation of it at the PC5 show in March.

There's a few other 5200 projects I'm keeping my eyes on, too. Swordquest: Airworld is making progress, there is an ongoing Tempest effort, and Castle Crisis is debuting at the PC5 too -- one HECK of a great Warlords port! I assume there are other projects too that I'm not aware of, but it looks like Mean Hamster might have stopped his (John's) 5200 efforts.

[opcode]

Umm... Nice 5200 homebrew status report! I was going to ask about Adventure II, which I must confess is my most wanted title this year, even if the 5200 isn't one of my favorite systems.

I know there will be some good CV releases this year too. Daniel is working on a new pack, Good Deal does have some planned titles, and even AtariAge will release something. Scott Huggins is working on a nice port of Phoenix, but I am not sure when it will be released or even publicly displayed.
From my side, I can now say Sky Jaguar will be released this March, at PhillyClassic5. Magical Tree and Ping-Pong will also be there in demo form, and hopefully both will be released this summer. For the second semester of the year I am planning Yie Ar Kung Fu, Road Fighter and King's Valley. Pac-Man Collection is also a possibility later this year

Eduardo