New details of the games competing in ABBUC 2024 | Video
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With just one week to go until the 22nd edition of the Atari Bit Byter User Club (ABBUC) voting, anticipation among Atari 8-bit fans continues to mount. In this second part of our coverage of the prestigious retro contest, we take a look at more games that are shaping up to offer unique and memorable experiences to Atari XL/XE computer users.
"Eat Me!", developed by Peter "RetroCoder" Hinz, is a clever action game where the player must clear the screen of consumable items while evading the bullets from four cannons that constantly pursue him. The game consists of 15 regular levels plus an extra sixteenth level of high difficulty. The mechanics become progressively more complicated with items locked behind walls, requiring the player to strategically position his character so that the cannons destroy the correct walls.Hinz also introduces “Line Runner-24,” an endless runner that requires precision jumping and sliding to avoid green obstacles. The game incorporates a hit point system and energy mechanics that allow for higher jumps and aerial acrobatics. The difficulty can be selected at the start, offering an appropriate challenge for different skill levels.
Meanwhile, Lars "LarsImNetz" Langhans brings us Twist of Souls, an adventure set in an ancient temple with a curse that drains the life out of the protagonist. The game introduces a unique element: when the main character, Elsa, gains red hair, players must flip the screen using the space key and continue playing upside down. It supports PAL and NTSC, as well as having Pokey stereo support.
Veteran developer Peter "Dr. Irata" Prodehl is involved with Infinity, a top-down shooter that is billed as a spiritual successor to Battle of Eris. The game requires 128KB of memory and offers three sprawling maps with progressive difficulty. As a special feature, it includes a Space Invaders-style level that must be completed four times on the first map, rewarding the player with extra lives.
Created by Uncle Harry and Artax with support from Peter “JAC” Dell, QUIXX adapts the popular dice game to the digital format. It allows up to four players and offers support for Multijoy, paddles or keyboard. The game maintains the traditional rules of tabletop QUIXX, where players must complete rows of numbers by following specific dice combinations.
Finally, Thorsten Helbing presents us with “Landlord”, a management game programmed in ATARI Basic where players take on the role of a landowner. They must manage resources, feed the population and expand their lands while facing challenges such as epidemics and rat plagues. The game stands out for its strategic depth and its multiple variables to consider. Voting for these and other participating games will take place on the evening of Saturday, October 26, just after the ABBUC 2024 general assembly. The results will be published that same evening, generating even more anticipation about who will take home the prizes.
We thank the committee of ABBUCfor providing us with the PDF version of "ABBUC Sondermagazin 54", which summarized the reviews of the games mentioned in this article.
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