Homebreviews - part 8
Entry posted by Nathan Strum
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Here we go with the last batch of reviews (for now).
I'd like to point out, that these are completely unbiased reviews. 
(Actually, that's impossible, since by their very nature all reviews have some sort of bias. But anyway...)
I should mention that I contributed something to each of these games. But I didn't program any of them, nor do I get kickbacks on any sales from the AtariAge store.
Although I should really talk to Albert about that. 
Anyway, in the interest of full-disclosure...
- For Rainbow Invaders, I created the label artwork, worked on the manual, and re-designed some of the sprites.
- On Lady Bug, I designed the sprites, and created the label artwork and manual.
- In Conquest of Mars, I made the title screen logo, the "extra ship" graphic, and created the label artwork and manual.
- And finally, for Four-Play, I designed the title screen graphics, and created the label artwork and manual.
I've been doing a lot of that lately, it seems. Currently I'm working on a label and manual for Space Battle, and collaborating with Dave Dries on a label and manual for Phantom II/Pirate. Plus I'm working on sprites for some other thing, too. 
I just uploaded my other recent reviews to the AtariAge store, so they should show up there pretty soon.
And with that... on with the show!
Rainbow Invaders
4/5
A nice twist on the Space Invaders genre, Rainbow Invaders adds color-coded power-ups that you must catch in order to boost your abilities, or avoid if they help your enemies. The basic gameplay is straightforward - shoot everything that moves. There are no barricades to hide behind, but your ship does have shields you can activate briefly by pulling back on the joystick. The graphics (which I should admit to helping with) are colorful and fun, and the sound is pretty good for an Invaders-type game. The game ramps up the difficulty very nicely, and by the time you get to the higher levels (where the invaders fire much faster and more accurately) you'll have quite a challenge on your hands. The power-ups are well designed, and it doesn't take too many games before you'll have all 16 of them memorized. But the main drawback to the game is that the power-ups are lopsided in favor of the invaders (4 for you, 12 for them). A more balanced set of power-ups would have made the game a bit more fair, and would have given the player more incentive to risk going after them, rather than just avoiding them. Still, Rainbow Invaders is definitely recommended for fans of Invader games, or anyone who likes a good vertical shooter. The power-ups add a lot to the game, and the few that are in your favor are a lot of fun when you get them.
Lady Bug
5/5
Lady Bug is a port of the classic arcade game, in which you maneuver a ladybug around a maze, eating dots (flowers), avoiding enemy bugs, and earning bonuses by collecting letters and hearts scattered throughout the maze. But Lady Bug isn't merely another Pac-Man clone, since you can swing doors around to change the layout of the maze and throw the enemy bugs off your trail, and earning bonuses figures into the strategy of how you play the game. Collecting enough letters to spell EXTRA earns you another life, and spelling SPECIAL earns you a bonus round where you can rack up a ton of points. You'll have to decide which letters to pick and when, since if they're the wrong color, they won't be credited to you, and even picking up the hearts at the wrong time can cost you big points. Do you go for points, or just try to get out of the maze before all of the bugs are released and chase you down? Lady Bug is an amazing achievement. All of the elements from the arcade game (and even the ColecoVision port) are here, including all of the enemy bugs, levels and bonuses. The graphics (which I may be a little biased towards) are colorful and bright, and considering how much is happening on screen, the flicker is expertly handled and hardly noticeable once you're into playing the game. The sound effects and music are first-rate, and excellent tributes to the arcade originals. Lady Bug may very well be the best and most feature-complete arcade port for the Atari 2600. Best of all, it's just a really fun and challenging game, and I highly recommend it!
Conquest of Mars
5/5
Conquest of Mars is a vertical shooter in which you descend deep into caverns to destroy Martian Destructo-Bombs before they can be used against Earth. As you careen through the caverns, you have to blast enemy cannons and fuel tanks, avoid laser gates and enemy missiles, and then escape back to the surface before the bomb goes off. Conquest of Mars is fiercely challenging, but not unfairly so. With patience (and a mercifully included "continue" feature) you can learn the enemies' patterns and weaknesses, and work your way through the game. The game is a lot of fun to play, with plenty of action, huge caverns to explore, and great flicker-free graphics. The game requires skill, quick reflexes, and the ability to develop different strategies for each level that you encounter. If that doesn't sound like enough of a challenge, you can also choose to have the enemies fire back at you while all of this is going on.
Originally written to replace the dreadful version of Caverns of Mars on Atari's Flashback 2 console, Conquest of Mars was left unreleased when Atari canceled plans for an update to that product. Fortunately, AtariAge and programmer John Champeau were able to release the game for us to enjoy, and it's one of the best games available for the Atari 2600. Not for wimps, to be sure. But anyone who likes a good shoot 'em up will love Conquest of Mars.
Four-Play
5/5
Four-Play is an adaptation of the classic board game Connect Four. You and your opponent take turns dropping red or blue marbles into a 7x7 grid. The first player who manages to line up four of their marbles in a row, wins. The game couldn't be simpler, which is what made the original so appealing, and why it has been a huge hit since 1974. Everyone I knew owned Connect Four. I always wanted it - but never got one. Well, now I've got Four-Play, and it's every bit as fun as the original, and even manages to improve on it. The grid in Four-Play is a row taller - expanding the number of possible solutions; you don't have to go hunting under the sofa for pieces after the board dumps them all over the place, and best of all - you can also play against the computer! No more scrounging around for someone to play against, and the computer is a very good opponent indeed. With four skill levels to choose from, everyone should find a level to challenge them. I can routinely beat the first level, so that's a good place for beginners to start, but I'm finding even the second level tough to defeat. If you're looking for a great board game that everyone can enjoy, pick up Four-Play.
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