A Roundup of Recent Releases

It's been over three months since I last updated the blog, and for that I must apologise. Once again a busy work and home life has meant that my time dedicated to the Amiga has been limited to playing a few games on my Gotek equipped A500, and rummaging through the excellent Mod Archive.

I'm hoping that in 2016 I'll be able to keep the blog updated on a more regular basis, but if that's not possible I'll post as and when I can. The blog is far from dead. It's just that at times it may go through a quiet spell or two.

So, what's been going on in the Amiga gaming world since I posted way back in September? Here's a brief whistle-stop look at some of the highs over the past three months or so.


Elves Dreamland

Released in the run-up to Christmas 2015, Elves Dreamland is a flip-screen platformer that's been put together using the Jet Set Billy map editor.

The object of the game sounds simple - collect all 200 items to complete the game. Naturally, completing the task will be anything but simple.

With some really lovely colourful graphics, you'd struggle to spot that the Jet Set Billy editor has been used, such is the quality of the mod. Unfortunately, as the game runs the same code as Jet Set Billy, it still features one of the worst jumping mechanics known to man. You have to jump vertically, and then move left or right. It does take a bit of getting used to.

The jumping is my only niggle in what is otherwise is an excellent release.

Try Elves Dreamland if Jet Set Willy clones are your thing.

If you'd like to try the game out for yourself you can download it here, and if you'd like to see what the game looks like running, check out this clip over on YouTube.

Finally, if you fancy joining in the chat relating to this recent release, check out this thread over on the English Amiga Board.


Tales of Gorluth - Free Download

As Christmas got closer English Amiga Board moderator, and Amiga games creator Viddi announced that his Zelda-like RPG Tales of Gorluth Part 1, was now free to download.

Rated "The Best Amiga Game of 2014", the free giveaway was a nice Christmas present to the Amiga community, and at the same time a great way to drum up interest and pre-orders for Tales of Gorluth Part 2 (see trailer below).

To download part 1, go to the Tales of Gorluth web site, at http://www.talesofgorluth.de, and while you're there consider purchasing a physical copy of part 1 and pre-ordering part 2.

For more information, please visit the Tales of Gorluth Free Download thread over on the English Amiga Board.

WHDLoad Now Free to Download

It's not often I cover applications on this blog (I have dedicated a post or two to AMOS many moons ago), but WHDLoad isn't just any application. 

For those of you not in the know, WHDLoad gives you the ability to install classic Amiga games to hard drive (even those that weren't originally hard drive installable), apply patches/cheats, and even improve compatibility.

Previous versions have required pay for registration, but as of version 18.2, which was released on the 23rd December, the program no longer requires a keyfile. If the application finds a keyfile on your hard drive it will continue to display your name on the splash screen.

With the application now available for free many in the Amiga community were concerned that this would mean that WHDLoad would cease to be developed. Developer Bert Jahn confirmed over on the Amiga.org web site that; "Development will continue. There are no plans to change anything".

To download the latest version of WHDLoad, head on over to the official web site at http://whdload.de/index.html. If you'd like to join in the thread relating to this latest release, then check out this thread over on the English Amiga Board.

Shokaku 68020 Amiga 30th Anniversary Edition

Here's something you don't see every day - a new Amiga release from Japan. 

Entitled "Hanafuda", this game uses graphical representations of the Japanese cards of the same name.

The game is beautifully presented, and has been made to look like something you'd stumble upon in a Japanese arcade. Check out the footage below.

I have to admit that despite watching the demo I'm still at a loss as to how the game is actually played. Perhaps you'll have more luck.

For more information and download links, point your web browser over to: http://d.hatena.ne.jp/EXCEED/20151225

Hopefully developer Renya Iizuka will continue to develop games for the Amiga as it's clear that they're a very talented individual.

New Game, "Jump, Block, Jump" Released

It's the start of a brand new week, and details of a new Amiga game have just surfaced.

Here's English Amiga Board member amiman99 with the details;

"Introducing [a] new game from Amiman99, made with Backbone, called "Jump Block Jump!"  

The game plays similarly to other "run and jump" games popular on mobile platforms. It requires precise jumps and some memorisation. 

The game contains 11 levels and it's playable on Amiga CD32 and other 020 Amigas. [Due] to the fact that Backbone's speed depends on CPU speed, it is recommended to play the game on stock CD32 and plain A1200. I have play tested the game on CD32, A600 030 25MHz, and A1200 030 50MHz.  

The game was primarily tested on A1200 030 50MHz and the feel of the game is perfect, so if you are for a challenge try it on faster machine.
I'm providing 2 versions, one ISO for CD32 and second for other Amigas"

The game can be downloaded via the following links:

CD32 ISO: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8w0v6o3xuun6509/JUMPBLOCKJUMPR7.ISO?dl=0

LHA: https://www.dropbox.com/s/qeu5psbkhzpxwkc/jumpblockjumpR7.lha?dl=0

If you'd like to join in the discussion for this game then pop over to this thread on the English Amiga Board.

Dylan The Spaceman Demo Now Available

Things have been pretty quiet in the Amiga games scene over the past few weeks, but thankfully I now have something to report!

As work continues apace on the Dizzy-like arcade adventure "Dylan The Spaceman and the Smelly Green Aliens From Mars", author Chris Clarke has decided that the time is right to release a public demo.

Here's Chris with further details;

"[The game] should work [on both the] Amiga 1200 and Amiga 600 - there will be a version for Amiga 500 but it needs different in-game music - or you need to have at least 2 meg in your trusty Amiga 500"

To download the demo, read through the demo feedback, or provide feedback yourself, check out the following thread over on the English Amiga Board:

http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?p=1041301#post1041301

Dylan The Spaceman - Demo Coming Soon

It's been a fair old while since Chris Clarke updated the Amiga PD web site blog, as most of his free time has been spent working on both "Dylan The Spaceman" and his recently released shoot-em-up "Kingdoms of Steam".

Chris tells us that work has resumed on Dylan, and that he hopes to release a playable demo in the not too distant future.

Having played a work in progress version of this game I can tell you that you're in for a real treat. The game is already shaping up to be something very special, and easily up to the standard of the Codemasters budget titles of old.

To read Chris' latest blog post CLICK HERE.

Mutant League Hockey Sees Full Release!

It was way back in January of this year that the Amiga Gamer blog featured unreleased Ocean / EA sports title Mutant League Hockey.

Back then the long forgotten title had been unearthed by the original programmer Adrian Brown, and he was attempting to get the game up and running into a fully playable state, ready for release.

Well,  some 7 months on the game is now available to play, and it's courtesy of Galahad of legendary cracking group Scoopex.

Check out the Indie Retro News page which has further details about the game including those all important download links.

Could this be the Amiga release of 2015? It's certainly looking that way!

Rock-Hard Platformer Sqrxz 3 Lands on the Amiga

If you like your side-scrolling platformers to be challenging then Sqrxz 3 will certainly test your skills to the very limits. It's unforgiving in a very oldskool kind of way. Here's the press release from one of the Sqrxz developers, phx;

"Sqrxz 3 is a (extremely hard) jump and run puzzle game for any Amiga with 1 MB RAM. The ADF image can be downloaded here: http://www.sqrxz.de/sqrxz-3/ (for free, of course). It is my personal favourite of the series with brilliant graphics by Simon Butler and a dozen of great soundtracks by Alexander Wiklund.

But we also created a physical release, with a small printed box (inside and outside), a small booklet with instructions (20 pages) and a labeled DD-disk with the game. The so-called "deluxe version" can be ordered for at least 9 Euro from us, to cover expenses. Any higher amount is allowed and takes effect as motivation for future games.

Note that these 9 Euro cover all expenses, i.e.: DD-disk, printed box, booklet, package materials, postage, shipping, ... everything. The game and our time is free.

There is just a single drawback: to keep it simple for us we will only accept orders from the EU. This has the advantage that the postage is low enough and the same for everybody and, most important, that you can pay with a SEPA bank transfer.
If you are interested, write me (frank at phoenix dot owl dot de) an email with the subject "Sqrxz Order". Do not forget to include the address, where you want to receive the package. After some time you will eventually get a reply with more details, like the account number of our team leader (Shahzad Sahaib) in Austria. When the money arrived, Shahzad will send the game to you. But you have to fold the box yourself!"

Check out the game below in a longplay compiled by Hipoonios...


For more information, and to download the game, head over to http://www.sqrxz.de/sqrxz-3/. Note, the YouTube video on the Sqrxz web site is the PC version.

Tales of Gorluth II - Pre-Order and Trailer

Yes, it's been yet another long break between blog posts. Unfortunately life gets in the way, meaning that recently I've had very little time to devote to playing games on my trusty Amigas. I've been keeping up-to-date on all things Amiga 30 related, but I'm now in the process of catching-up on what I've missed in the Amiga games world.

First-up, and announced towards the back-end of July, was the news that Tales of Gorluth II is not only under development, but is also available for pre-order.

The original, voted as the best Amiga game of 2014 by many, was an ambitious Zelda, Link to the Past Clone, put together using the popular Backbone development system. While the sequel is also being put together using Backbone (meaning you'll really need an 030 Amiga or higher to play at a decent speed), developer Viddi reports that his new engine is faster.

Check out the trailer below, and listen to the fantastic music that accompanies it.


Along with the development announcement a limited to 200 copies Gold edition pre-order scheme was launched. Demand for this has been so great that all pre-order slots for this tier have now gone. Thankfully, a Silver edition is now available.
For more information visit the Tales of Gorluth web site at http://www.talesofgorluth.de/, where you can also pre-order the Silver edition.