Here's your weekly dose of retro
Retro: Running The Line
The Polish developer GR8 Software has recently converted and released a popular mobile game for the Atari XE/XL (with 64K or more RAM) from the Android platform called Line Runner by DJinnworks.
The task is to jump over and roll through numerous, oncoming obstacles as fast and as possible, with ten different tracks to race through, which is exactly the sort of simple 2D reaction game that works well on both the mobile and 8-bit platform.
The difficulty curve is nicely weighted, with the minimalist graphics and colour scheme from the original working well on the Atari.
This game is available as a digital download for your emulator, or as a real cartridge to plug into your old Atari. For more information, head over to gr8.atari.pl/joomla/index.php?lang=en.
Spikey!
![Spike C64 Dislike](/ills_small/c64/rgcd/rom_carts/Spike-C64-Dislike-000.png)
While we're on the subject of games originally released on mobile platforms and converted to run on 8-bit technologies, Spike C64 Dislike is a version of Spike Dislike for iOS and PC, originally by James Gamble (see Jayenkai.socoder.net to find out more information).
The C64 version has been developed by David Eriksson, and this is his first production for the old 8-bit monolith. In this you must manoeuvre a bouncing ball across a scrolling landscape while avoiding the oncoming spikes, which is a similar concept to Line Runner, except you have control over the movements forward but not the bounce of the ball. Passing each spike within a certain time limit will allow you to score more points with a 'combo' bonus.
This game is available as a digital download.
Game Of The Week: Bouncing Bomb: Redux
Platform: Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48/128
Developer: Phil Ruston
Publisher: Retroleum (www.retroleum.co.uk)
Recent times have seen several resurrected games for the old Speccy, and it would appear that this 30th anniversary year has uncovered unreleased projects from the 1980s that have been dusted off to be unleashed today. Indeed, Bouncing Bomb: Redux is the latest example, and there could be more yet to appear.
This started out in 1986, and was Phil's first attempt at a game written entirely in machine code, and it has been reworked to improve the game mechanics, with all free memory being filled with an abundance of secrets to discover. The object is to bounce your way through a total of twenty levels (excluding the ones that you're charged with discovering yourself). In each, you must collect the keys in a certain order before your bomb explodes. When you do, you must then navigate to the exit which opens up.
This is a novel, single-screen, 2D platform game in which your bomb is constantly bouncing - you may control the height of this by half. There are roamers and spikes to avoid, and you're on a short fuse too, so you need your wits about you.
If you find any of its hidden levels or extra features, please post them on the Retro Computer Mart forums over at forum.micromart.co.uk.