For those who remember the days of the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64, the launch of the Atari ST in June 1985 represented a significant leap in home computing and was the successor to the Atari 8-bit family. The 1040ST, released in 1986, contained 1 MB of RAM and was part of the mid-80s generation of computers, which used 16- to 32-bit processors.
The initial model, the Atari 520ST, was the first personal computer with a bitmapped color GUI and was popular in Europe for CAD, desktop publishing, and midi-sequencing. But it was the advancement of video games for which the Atari ST will be so well remembered. Here are some of the greatest games launched on it.
15 Falcon (1989)
An impressively accurate flight simulator, Mirrorsoft’s Falcon put players in the cockpit of an F-16 fighter and was one of the first flight simulators to allow the player to view the plane from any angle.
The game had a number of difficulty settings, allowing players new to the genre to ease their way in with unlimited ammo as 1st Lieutenant, or as Colonel, for those who wanted a challenging simulation experience.
14 Speedball 2 (1990)
This is how sequels should be. The original was a great game, so The Bitmap Brothers retained the aspects which worked and refined the areas which could make the sequel even better.
What stood out about Speedball 2 was how slick and crisp the graphics looked. Not just the in-game graphics, where you pounded your opponents to the floor, but the team management interface was crisp; buttons and icons were well-designed and a pleasure to interact with.
13 Oids (1987)
Somewhere between Asteroids and Lunar Lander, Oids saw the player pilot a small spaceship across the surface of a planet, wiping out surface-mounted turrets and rescuing fellow Oids (whatever they are!) from various prison installations.
The gameplay was simple: shoot, destroy, land, take off and, whatever you do, don’t crash! But the game worked really well and was a joy to play.
12 Sensible Soccer (1992)
Possibly one of the most influential soccer games of all time, Sensible Soccer featured a bird's-eye view of the pitch, bucking the trend of popular soccer games of the same era, which opted for a top-down or side view.
The game’s greatest strength was its simplicity. With customizable club-level and national teams, and a straightforward user interface, Sensible Soccer quickly became an iconic sports video game.
11 Captain Blood (1988)
Anyone who played Captain Blood is likely to have the surreal experience etched into their minds, due to the unusual, but well-executed sci-fi elements.
Amid the backdrop of a Jean Michel Jarre soundtrack, players were forced to land on different planets in search of the protagonist's clones; the only hope of saving themselves from a deadly virus. Avoiding mind-bending geometric terrain in the flight sequences and using a strange symbol-based interface to interact with aliens, this game was one of a kind.
10 Vroom (1991)
Players of Vroom will remember three things: it was fast, it was smooth, and it was immersive. 3D structures and detailed backgrounds made the game feel ahead of its time.
It wasn’t easy either; if drivers went for corners too hard, it would go badly. The game required a deft touch on the controls, so it was as much about timing those corners just right as slamming one's foot on the gas.
9 Lemmings (1991)
A truly original, albeit bonkers, game that was executed so well that it soon progressed from a "crazy idea" to an iconic computer game.
In Lemmings, the player had to stop their strange green-haired creatures from falling from great heights to their death, by utilizing a series of tools. This was easier said than done as it required the player to spin many plates, and the later levels became insanely difficult.
8 Turrican II (1991)
An alien invasion and a hero in a mechanical suit niftily sum up the background to this outstanding platform game. With a wide variety of interesting power-ups at the player’s disposal, as well as a plethora of strange alien creatures to battle against, the game was pitched just right in terms of its difficulty and pace.
7 Prince Of Persia (1989)
Prince of Persia gave an unnamed protagonist the goal of rescuing the sultan’s daughter from the clutches of the evil Jaffar, who intends to seize the power of the kingdom by forcing her into marriage. To achieve this, the player must first escape from Jaffar’s dungeons, battle guards, and negotiate deadly traps. What’s more, this had to be achieved in just sixty minutes.
Set in medieval Persia, the game formed the basis of several sequels, but what stood out about this game was the excellent animation of the characters and the simple yet effective sword fighting mechanics.
6 Super Sprint (1986)
If Vroom represented a more immersive car-racing experience, then Super Sprint was its fun older brother.
Taking a top-down view of a very simple racetrack, up to three players could race around the screen, collecting wrenches (which allowed improvements to traction, acceleration, and speed) and avoiding obstacles such as oil spills and mini-tornadoes.
5 IK+ (1987)
The sequel to International Karate, IK+ was arguably the best beat-em-up game on the Atari ST. As with Speedball 2, this was about taking something which worked well and then upping the ante for the sequel. In this case, the addition of a third fighter changed the dynamic immensely from a slow tactical fight to an all-out brawl.
4 Carrier Command (1988)
This game was on another level when it came to strategy and real-time management of multiple vehicles. In Carrier Command, the player is put in charge of an aircraft carrier and tasked with repopulating an archipelago of islands. Trouble is, that there’s another (enemy) aircraft carrier trying to do the same thing.
Using the amphibious Walrus (on land), the carrier itself (on sea), and Manta aircraft (in the air), this was one of the first real-time games which allowed simultaneous, instantly switchable control of multiple vehicles, and it was surprisingly seamless.
3 The Secret Of Monkey Island (1990)
One of the most popular point-and-click adventures of all time, The Secret of Monkey Island, puts the player in control of Guybrush Threepwood, a young and clumsy pirate-wannabe, who has a knack for finding trouble.
Set in the Caribbean and packed with memorable characters, the Monkey Island series of games have been hugely popular and the sixth installment, Return to Monkey Island, is due for release on September 19, 2022.
2 Another World (1991)
Years ahead of its time, this remains one of the most atmospheric games ever created. Another World sees the protagonist turn up for work at an underground laboratory when the machinery he is working on transports him to, well, the clue is in the title.
From there, the player must avoid poisonous biting slugs, escape from armed guards, and help a fellow (albeit alien) prisoner escape from prison. The set-pieces. The animation. The detail. This was a gameplay experience that was totally unique.
1 Dungeon Master (1987)
Resurrect yourself as a hero. Recruit three characters to join you. Find the fire staff. That was (simply put) the basis of FTL’s 1987 masterpiece Dungeon Master.
To say this game revolutionized RPGs is to say almost nothing. As well as being the first real-time RPG that utilized 3D perspective with mouse control, it was also unique in the immersive experience it offered. The user interface was simple and intuitive, the puzzles varied, the combat straightforward, and the dangers vivid and suspenseful.