Akka Arrh (Llamasoft for Atari) - (in VCS Store)

[justclaws]

Update: 2023-02-21 - in VCS Store

A new title just announced by Atari, developed by Jeff Minter - AtariVCS is listed. 🙂


Official Product Page
https://atari.com/products/akka-arrh

 

 

[justclaws]

This is the background story to the original arcade machine, that was not released.
https://lostmediawiki.com/Akka_Arrh_(found_prototype_of_unreleased_Atari_arcade_game;_1982)

Also the controversy talked about here...
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/04/after-a-lost-atari-rom-leaks-retro-fans-ask-was-it-stolen/


The original game is also featured in Atari 50.

 

 

[justclaws]

There's also a new Twitter account just for this game, from Atari, for the game.

 

 

[negative1]

i wouldn't believe most of the stuff about the rom being stolen.

 

anyways i love the game. got it on arcade 1up partycade, and 3/4 cabinet, and played it in MAME too.

 

it only works with a trackball.

 

hope they add mouse support on steam.

 

the consoles analog sticks and d-pads won't work very well.

 

later

-1

[sirlynxalot]

This reimagined version by Jeff Minter looks fantastic.  In fact, this is basically what Atari should do with their arcade classics - hand them over to Jeff Minter to make them into an amazing spectacle for the new millennium.  I'd play an arcade cab of this.

 

The goofy trailer with the low voice is funny and interesting too.  I like the presentation like its some top secret mysterious polybius thing.

[negative1]

more coverage here;

 

Atari says the remake has two modes, 50 levels and saves, so you don’t have to start from the beginning when enemies inevitably overrun your Sentinel. Additionally, the company says it offers accessibility settings to tone down the trippy visuals for people sensitive to intense light, color and animations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.engadget.com/akka-arrh-remake-jeff-minter-atari-200603455.html

 

https://www.polygon.com/23498065/akka-arrh-jeff-minter-atari-trailer

 

https://www.gematsu.com/2022/12/atari-and-llamasoft-announce-akka-arrh-for-ps5-xbox-series-ps4-xbox-one-switch-and-pc

 

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/12/atari-announces-ultra-rare-arcade-shooter-akka-arrh-is-coming-to-switch

 

most of them say the same thing. but its good to see the coverage.

 

later

-1

 

 

[+x=usr(1536)]

5 hours ago, negative1 said:

the company says it offers accessibility settings to tone down the trippy visuals for people sensitive to intense light, color and animations.

Glad to hear that this is a feature.  As much as I have to give Jeff Minter credit for his graphics style, it seems as though the last few years have seen them ramp up in intensity to the point where it's just difficult to play the game because there's entirely too much going on at once, at least visually.  Repeatedly being unable to discern what killed you puts a damper on the enjoyment.

[Bill Loguidice]

1 hour ago, x=usr(1536) said:

Glad to hear that this is a feature.  As much as I have to give Jeff Minter credit for his graphics style, it seems as though the last few years have seen them ramp up in intensity to the point where it's just difficult to play the game because there's entirely too much going on at once, at least visually.  Repeatedly being unable to discern what killed you puts a damper on the enjoyment.

I'm with you on this. I get it's been his thing for decades now, but I'm frankly tired of the style.

[negative1]

1 hour ago, x=usr(1536) said:

Glad to hear that this is a feature.  As much as I have to give Jeff Minter credit for his graphics style, it seems as though the last few years have seen them ramp up in intensity to the point where it's just difficult to play the game because there's entirely too much going on at once, at least visually.  Repeatedly being unable to discern what killed you puts a damper on the enjoyment.

i don't have a problem with any of the visuals.

 

that's just part of the style.

 

not every game is meant for everyone, or for everyones taste.

 

i hated playing 'geometry wars' on the xbox 360 at first, because it was too busy (although there is a classic mode),

i eventually got used to it, and really enjoyed it after awhile.

 

but yeah, its good to have options.

 

later

-1

[Keatah]

I don't mind over-the-top visual cacophony, but not sure I like the harsh edges and unharmonious colors. 4k pixel art isn't my style. And part of the beef is because once one game does it ALL games do it.

[Mockduck]

This game looks very Jeff Minter. I'm down. Tempest 4K is one of my favorites on the VCS.

[MrMaddog]

Maybe it's an age thing like going to night clubs when you're in your 20's but not now with middle-aged senses and taste.

 

I used to love (well still do) Llamasoft games from Llamatron to Tempest 2000.  Then there's the "blurry" style from T3K to Space Giraffe which is way beyond senses overload.

 

I like the current clean vector style of Minter's recent games on Steam including T4K, so yeah I'll enjoy this "recharged" version of Akka Arrh...

[justclaws]

 

 

[Bill Loguidice]

To piggyback on the earlier comments, looks good in general, but it really needs a "no particles" option. There's too much happening on the screen. It's a shame he's fallen hopelessly and forever in love with particle effects for 100% of his projects. It's boring at this point and I feel like in this particular case it will detract from the gameplay.

[zzip]

25 minutes ago, Bill Loguidice said:

To piggyback on the earlier comments, looks good in general, but it really needs a "no particles" option. There's too much happening on the screen. It's a shame he's fallen hopelessly and forever in love with particle effects for 100% of his projects. It's boring at this point and I feel like in this particular case it will detract from the gameplay.

But it wouldn't be Jeff Minter game without gratuitous particle effects!  (and llamas, sheep, yaks, etc)  Kind of his trademark thing.

Edited January 23 by zzip

[Keatah]

I like the particle effect as long as they aren't totally over the top, like some of his later works. Just too much.

[MrMaddog]

30 minutes ago, Keatah said:

I like the particle effect as long as they aren't totally over the top, like some of his later works. Just too much.

 

I don't mind "some" of the effects with the vectorized look of Tempest 4000, so if the new game follows along that route then I'm ok with it.

 

Just not the "too much" stuff like for Yak's Xbox 360 games...

 

[justclaws]

Apparently there is a release date now. February 21st, all being well.

https://www.timeextension.com/features/interview-llamasofts-jeff-minter-discusses-his-new-game-akka-arrh-and-working-with-atari

 

[marss]

 

 

[justclaws]

Another interview with Jeff here.
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/jeff-minter-on-making-a-respectful-cover

 

[Flojomojo]

I like Jeff's psychedelic style, even when things get busy, because he's always careful with onboarding to make sure that even new players can hang with the game for a long time, and get a little "zoner" feeling from it. 

 

A long time ago, a friend told me I'm like someone who uses drugs but doesn't touch them because I like the Minter style games. Gosh, I hope I'm not having quiet epileptic seizures, or worse, when playing them. 

[Flojomojo]

Side note: Atari VCS is still not for me, but I'm glad it's getting these games along with the other platforms (I'll play it on Switch), and it's only natural that the discussion of them happen in the VCS section. 

[+swlovinist]

Here is my video I did on it:

 

 

[marss]

 

[marss]

In thé store 😀