Koronis Rift for Atari 8-bit computers | Review

March 12, 2011 • Updated: Mar 11, 2025 - 08:06 PM

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Today we are going to analyze a game that -we assume due to its complexity- is not among the favorites of Atari computer users, but whose name is, without a doubt, synonymous with a captivating plot and brilliant technical details.

We are referring to Koronis Rift (1985) which, along with The Eidolon, was one of the games of the so-called "second wave" of Lucasfilm Games.

KORONIS RIFT

Posted by:Lucasfilm Games, 1985.
Gender:Strategy, 3-D.
Extra:1 player, joystick.

THE STORY

This time, you take on the role of a sort of intergalactic "recycler" who is lucky on February 24 (yes, there's no mistake) in 2249 (that's the date stated in the official manual).

By pure luck, you stumble upon the mythical planet Koronis, which served more than seven centuries ago as a testing ground for ultra-sophisticated weapons for an extinct alien confederation - known as the Ancients.

THE MISSION

Your mission will belocateThese teams (calledHulks) in the vast and rugged geography of Koronis - divided intodeep canyons, surrounded by mountains and dotted with small hills - and recover valuable modules, which allow you to enhance yourMK IV tank (Rover)with weapons, shields, power generators and the like; as well as being able to sell them forcoveted kilocredits. However, given the high levels of radiation on the planet, you will have to leave the dirty work to arobot (Repo-tech robot)

This would be a very simple task, if it were not for the fact that the Ancients left it forguardtheir mechanical devices to some not at all hospitableGuardians, in the form offlying saucersof different designs and colors, which will not hesitate to attack you to hinder your search for new modules.

Fortunately, our vehicle comes equipped with two basic modules, which include some weapons, apart from a radar with which to locate the numerous hulks on this planet, which is divided into aTwenty cannons. Finally, the only way to get your hands onall the lootis to reach theGuardians base-in the last rift- anddestroy it

Canstop the gameat any time, returning to themother shipand selling all the technology that you have looted. However, you will only be able to get all of it once you have destroyed the Guardians' base.

While it seems like some kind of "shooter", Koronis Rift is actually from aexploration gameand discovery. Most of the time, the player will spend mapping each canyon, identifying the enemy as well as the type of modules they defend, as well as trying to understand what benefits/detriments he gains from the latter. In parallel, he must be aware of theenergy expenditurefrom his rover.

GAMEPLAY DYNAMICS

To start the game, press the fire button. When you start the game, you land on Rift 1, apparently the least dangerous. To pause, press the space bar. Press it again to continue. If you want to abort the current mission, press the Escape (ESC) key.

The joystick will allow you to perform various functions, depending on the game screen:

a. On the surface of the planet Koronis

Scenario where the action of searching for Hulks, recovering modules and, in addition, fierce battles with the Martians take place.

1. Shooting sight:Before you destroy the Guardians' base in Rift 20, they'll make your life a little difficult. You have two options:evadeeitherdestroy. For the second, move the cursor with the joystick, center the enemy in your sights and press the fire button. Remember that sometimes you will need tomore than one shotand your cannon can overheat, which will prevent you from firing for a while. By the way, be careful when facing your enemies when you are near a hulk, as your shots can end up destroying your potential loot.

2. Radar:The circle on the left is the radar.red dot3. Direction indicator) indicates the location of the next hulk. To head towards it, turn your rover until the red dot is pointing up and push the stick forward. Move your joystick to the bottom of the screen to stop.

4. Machine indicator: It will show green if you are moving; yellow if you are stopped; and red if you are crashing into something.

5. Weapon power reserve indicator: According to the official manual, the system allocates 10% of your total resources to enhancing your weapons.

6. Special monitors: These light up when you find and activate certain modules (such as the mapping module).

7. Shield Indicator: Displays a series of bars at the six available frequencies (red, blue, yellow, orange, green, and purple). A black bar at a given frequency indicates that the shield's energy at that frequency has run out.

8. Message area: This section allows you to be informed of changes in the situation, as well as to perform various actions. Message functions are activated by the cursor. Move your crosshair until it is located at the bottom of the game window, and press fire. The crosshair becomes a selection cursor. Move the joystick to the right or left - the light indicates the selected function. Press the button to activate your selection. To return the cursor to the crosshair form, push the joystick forward.

As we mentioned before, thedeadly radiationof Koronis - a product of being a testing laboratory for these weapons - forces you to send arepo-tech robotto inspect the hulks. Once you have gotten rid of the UFOs protecting each hulk, you will be shown the options "LOOT HULK" and "CALL SHIP

When activating thefirst, by using the trigger button, you will send yourrobotto collect whatever valuables there areartifact. You will then be shown the message "Repo-tech robot acknowledges request

Instead, forgo backto yourmother ship, activate "CALL SHIP". When you choose this option you will get as a response "Tractor beam on, entering scoutcraft". By the way, when you receive the message "Danger! Guardian Saucers Approaching" means that there isenemiesin thesurroundings. For security reasons, yourcommunicationswith themother shipwill besuspendeduntil the danger has passed.

9. Module area: To access the modules area, place your cursor in the message area. Then, pull the lever. You can now move it to the right or left. The light above each module indicates whether the system is active. Your tank can hold up to six modules. You start the game with two (one laser and one shield), which are availablefour spacesfor the same number of modules. Every time your robot explores a hulk, you can add the technology found to your rover. To do this, when the robot has returned, place the cursor in one of the empty spaces and press the fire button. Note, however, thatIt's not the samehaveinstalled a new module to activate it. To do this, place the cursor over the module to be activated and press the trigger button. You will see that it will "turn on" in colorwhiteBy the way, you can only have one module of a given type active at a time. For example, if you have two shields of different colors, you will have to choose which one to keep active. We will go into more detail about modules and their characteristics later.

b. Mothership (Scoutcraft) onboard screen

This is where you can analyze the properties of the modules you find, exchange them for others in storage, and sell them for kilocredits.

1. Psytek 7500 Science Droid: Your specialized robot that evaluates each module, resulting in its power, efficiency (in percentages) and value in kilocredits.

2. Conveyor belt: For the purposes ofAnalysis and dismantling of modules. Modules placed on the conveyor belt can be placed back into the tank. They are only lost forever when they are dismantled for sale or if you accidentally replace them (a bug in the game?).

3. Message area:When you enter the ship, you are shown four default options:

Dismantle: Hemoduleplaced on the conveyor belt will bedismantled and sold. You will then be shown a message with theAccumulated kilocreditsso far.

Analysis: Hemoduleplaced on the conveyor belt will besubjected to analysis. Psytek will inform you of itspower and efficiency percentages, as well as its value in kilocredits.

Exit ship: What does it imply?abandon shipIf you choose this option you will have to choose between the alternatives:Stay here(continue on the mothership);Same Rift(return to the same canyon);Next Rift(you will be promoted to the next cannon); andSkip One(You will be transported two canyons ahead.) By the way, once you move on to the next canyon you will no longer be able to return to continue exploring the previous one.

End trip: What does it imply?end the game. As is logical to deduce, the alternativesSave gameandLoad gameare only valid for the original version of the game (on the A8);End gameis equivalent to aborting and shows you the Rift you ended up on and your current score. InsteadResumerefers you to the previous menu.

4. Module area: From here you canchoose moduleswhich will be analyzed and/or sold by Psytek. Place your cursor over the module you want and press the fire button. It will be moved to the conveyor belt. Now, you can choose the option of your choice in the Message Area. In the case of analysis, once the process is finished, place your cursor on an empty space in the Module Area and press the fire button. You will see how the module is repositioned.

Important.-A silly way tolose modulesThis is when you ask Psytek to analyze one and then ask it to return to its place. If at the time of reinstallation, you move the cursor to the position of anothermodule NOT empty, the analyzed moduleThey will definitely replacethe latter. This also happens when you send your Repo-tech robot to pick up a module and choose an occupied space to install it.

THE MODULES

One of the things you will notice almost immediately is that each module is made up oftwo icons:the one of theleft, suggests you aspecific functionas we detail below:

Laser: Gives you a new weapon to finish off enemies.

Shield: A new defense against Guardian attacks.

Radar: Allows you to locate certain hulks.

Map: Shows you a graph of the cannon in progress.

Accelerator: Gives your tank more speed.

Generator: Provides more power to your vehicle.

Battery: Allows you to store extra energy produced by your generators.

Detonator: Causes certain objects to explode (does not apply to flying saucers).

ECM (Electronic Counter Measurement): Distracts your enemies' attention, making it difficult for them to locate you quickly.

UFO: Temporarily freezes your enemies so you can attack them. Once you exit the mothership, deactivate it. Then, when a guardian appears, activate it. Now, ONLY SOME of your enemies will be slowed by the module, making it easier for you to eliminate them.

Improved sights: Automatically focuses your sight on the enemy. Same as UFO, but applies on rare occasions.

Sound: Car radios with popular tunes from Lucasfilm Games.

On the other hand, to theright of the module, there is ainsigniarepresenting thealien racethat created that module. According to the official game manual, each one had a particular specialization (but for us, it's just chatter...).

Every timere-enterFrom the mothership to the Koronis Rift, your systemswill automatically activateone module of each type. There are some that consume a lot of energy - such as the detonator or the map - and it is advisable to deactivate them; there are even some that are useless. Fortunately, you canactivate and deactivate modulesat any time - even while the ship is relocating you to the ground. It is possible to deactivate all modules - including the laser and shield pre-installed in your tank.

LASERS AND UFOs

ThecolorsThey are very important in the game when it comes toweapons and defenses. Lasers and shields, both your own and the enemy's, depend on thecolor coordinationfordetermine its efficiencya. For example, ared shieldteaprotects betterof ared laser.Therefore, it is advisable to have lasers and shields of the same color as the opponent, and activate them as needed. The color of enemy shots is visible, as is the flash when it hits your tank.

Thecolors of the dishesare related to theirdefensive systemo. In contrast to the previous example, ared ufoIt is advisable to attack it with aopposite color laser-be it green or blue- to inflictmore damageThe color of the UFO only refers to its shield; the UFO's laser can be (and usually is) a different color.

Apart from the colors listed above we also have thebrown-which according to the game developers "has a special meaning"...and very secret, since nobody knows what it is about.

STRATEGIES

Each rifthas a total ofeight (8) hulksundiscovered, except for vehicle #4 in Rift 9. Although it is detected by radar, it is not possible to reach it.

- Insome rifts, Hulks cannot be checked. It happens that if you send your Repo-Tech robot, it takes a long time to return; but it will eventually return. Even if you have moved away from the point where the Hulk was.

- While the Repo-Tech robot is checking out a hulk, the Guardians do not appear.

- Each form of UFO has aparticular pattern of attack. Pay attention to theProgression of colours in arms and shieldsfrom your enemies. It is possible to come up with a strategy and route to obtain the necessary modules and complete the mission.

- Caneasily evadeTo all the guardians, returning to yourmother shipafterten (10) secondsexploration in Koronis.

- You cannot call the ship while your Repo-Tech robot is checking a hulk. However, you can shoot the hulk and the robot in the process. If you destroy the second one, you will receive the message "RT Unit destroyed, CALL SHIP to replace...

- You can also destroy hulks when taking off towards the ship.

- Someunusual modules(like the UFO) only work against UFOs of a particular color or for a limited time.

- Apparently, there is no module that can be used to fill out thefifth monitorsuperior.

- Some radars you find work differently than the ones pre-installed on the tank - i.e. they don't locate the next object. Some allow you to spot a specific object: According to the manual, "Most radar modules target only hulks created by the same race. If you figure out from the start which modules a race is superior at, then you can use radars made by that race to guide you to where you can place more of their modules."

- It is possible to accumulatemore than six modules; In fact,up to TWELVE (12). To do this, go to the mothership and move the modules you have one by one to the conveyor belt. Now, you can return to Koronis to collect more modules. When you return to the ship, place the cursor on the conveyor belt (it turns blue) and move the joystick to the right or left. You will be shown the modules you left before!

- Hesound moduleof theRift 7It is a light version of the immortal Ballblazer music(first hulk, blue Ballblazer); in theRift 11, the first hulk (pink Balblazer) is theintro melody of Rescue on Fractalus!

- In itRift 9It reads© LFL(Lucas Films Limited); inRift 13, you see the phrase "SEE LABYRINTH tm" in reference to the (then) upcoming film.

- UnlikeRoF!where the landscape is random, in Koronis there is abase topography, on which the program fractally "improvise[s]" the terrain, to the point that each Rift (canyon) can be mapped. All maps of the game- in version forCommodore, which is the same thing - are available at this link.

- TheEuropean version(PAL) of the game was not 100% playable due to apoor copy protectionfrom Activision (the company that distributed the game) that ruined a data sector.

- According to the game's most die-hard fans, it is possiblesolve Koronis Riftinjust 10 minutesand it is required to obtainjust a modulein particular. The base to finish is object 7 in Rift 20 and you can't destroy it with shots. The only way to blow it up is to usethe detonator-a module that consumes a lot of energy- that when activated and sending your Repo-Tech robot to loot this hulk, causes it to explode. An easy-to-locate detonator is located in theRift 2, on the first hulk. Once with it in our arsenal, we can advance by calling the mothership and go"jumping" Riftsuntil the end; even during landing in a Rift, the ship can be called. However, dealing with the level 20 guardians may not be an easy task. In any case, you will receive100 thousand pointsto destroy this base.

REMAKE

Searching for information to put together this guide, we discovered thatan 8-bit fanaticHe took the trouble to create aupdated versionof the game. It is aboutGeorg Rottensteiner, author of a remake of the game that contains the original rifts plus some unlockables. They can download it for freehere.

This version runs on the various versions of Windows (95/98/2000/XP) and requires DirectX 8.1 to be installed. It should be noted that Rottensteiner is also responsible for aremakefrom another Atari classic:Bouny Bob Strikes Back

THE BEST 8-BIT VERSION

Like other Lucasfilms Games, Koronis Rift has given rise to a Intense debate over which version of the game is the bestAnd although it was originally developed for the Atari 8-bit and the Commodore 64, this game was "ported" to other platforms such as Amstrad CPC, Apple II, MSX, TRS-80 CoCo and ZX Spectrum.

Defenders of the a8 point out that theAtari versionrequired the computer to have the GTIA chip to display the game properly. Instead, it is said that in theC64the game wassimplerThe program ran somewhat slower. Add to that the fact that the landscape of Koronis lacks depth and there are no gradients, and the Psyteck robot looked quite flat compared to its Atarian counterpart.

Finally, David Fox, project leaderRoF!He tried to bridge the gap at the time. "Both versions were developed in parallel and we tried to make each one the best according to the capabilities of the machine."