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Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story – Review (Steam)

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  • TITLE: Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story
  • PUBLISHER: Digital Eclipse
  • DEVELOPER: Digital Eclipse
  • PLATFORMS: Nintendo Switch, PS4 / PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
  • RELEASE DATE: March 13, 2024 (It’s out right now!)

We had been looking forward to Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story for a while, so when the opportunity presented itself to take the Yak’s game for a spin, we weren’t going to say no!

Right off the bat, this second release in Digital Eclipse’s Gold Master Series ticks all the boxes, including very importantly, the nostalgia inducing and retro gamer boxes. If you are unfamiliar with Jeff Minter, that’s fine, this title will acquaint you (or reacquaint you if you had forgotten) who Jeff Minter is, and what this Llamasoft business is all about. For anyone that’s a Gen X’er, we’d be quite surprised (Ed: and appalled) if you hadn’t heard of the Great Yak and/or played any of his games over the years!

With the pedigree of Digital Eclipse, it was never in doubt that they would create a treasure-filled archive of Jeff Minter’s body of work in their uniquely interactive documentary, just as they did with their amazing titles, The Making Of Karateka and Atari 50.

The gameplay in Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story offers a unique and engaging experience that allows players to delve into Jeff Minter’s creative evolution and explore his extensive catalogue of games. Players can play through 42 Llamasoft games released between 1981 and 1994, providing a comprehensive look at Minter’s work. And before you ask, no, the Atari Jaguar game, Defender 2000, is not included in the list of playable titles. Neither Jeff nor Atari own the rights to Defender, which is a shame. Oh yeah, for those with superhero hearing, you may also notice that Llamatron 2112 sounds a tad different. Again, this was due to a couple of things, one, certain sounds had to be replaced due to licensing, and two, there were multiple versions of Llamatron 2112, each with differing sounds and effects.

This interactive documentary game not only showcases Minter’s classic games but also contextualizes them with archival material, video interviews, photos, quotes, and magazine articles. By playing these games chronologically, players can witness the evolution of Minter’s design skills and creative process in real time.

The gameplay experience varies depending on individual preferences and familiarity with retro gaming, but the controls do feel like second nature. Players can expect to encounter a diverse range of titles, from career-defining hits like Iridis Alpha to more experimental and creative games that reflect Minter’s unique style. The game offers a mix of short and longer gameplay experiences, catering to different levels of interest in gaming history.

Overall, Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story provides an unmatched journey into the mind of one of gaming’s most distinctive figures, offering a blend of entertainment, historical insight, and appreciation for Jeff Minter’s contributions to the gaming industry.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – If you are a Jeff Minter fan, then this is a MUST HAVE title!

 

Disclaimer: Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story Steam review code supplied by Digital Eclipse

Celebrate MAR10 Day In Australia & NZ

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Wahoo, Happy MAR10 Day!

Celebrate MAR10 Day in Australia and New Zealand with exclusive rewards on a range of Mario titles, including 10% back in Gold Points on Nintendo eShop, and collect an assortment of user icons parts from Super Mario games.

But wait, there is more! From now till 24th March, an assortment of user icons parts from Super Mario games will be available as Nintendo Switch Online member-exclusive rewards. There’s also a special mission you can complete by playing the Super NES classic Super Mario World to earn some Platinum Points.

Happy MAR10 Day to you all!

image source: Nintendo

BattleKart Action In Melbourne

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Have you ever dreamed of playing Mario Kart in real life? With BattleKart, you don’t play the game; you play IN the game!

If you are in Melbourne, then you are in luck! BattleKart is the perfect combination of electric karting, video games and augmented reality (AR). A unique mix to thrill your senses! Full throttle aboard an electric kart, on a track where different circuits, bonuses and game modes are projected onto the ground, interacting with the scenery and the other players to win the game!

So put down that Switch with Mario Kart 8 and get to BattleKart to play for real!

The lowdown:

  • What: BattleKart Melbourne
  • Where: 50 McArthur St, West Footscray VIC 3012
  • Open: Wed – Sun (closed Mon and Tue)
  • Price: starting from AU$69 for a single session
  • Booking: https://www.battlekart.com/en/melbourne/

The Great GameOnCancer® Giveaway Returns to Raise Funds for Groundbreaking Cancer Research

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The Great Game On Cancer® Giveaway (GOCG) is back with more than 400 prizes on offer during the fundraiser, valued at more than $30,000

Running through all of March (1st – 31st), anyone who donates AUD $50 or more to Cure Cancer during this period will get a prize valued at $50 or more, randomly selected from the assortment of donated prizes. People can donate as many times as they like or as much as they like, with each $50 donation worth a prize (e.g. if you donate $200, you will receive 4 prizes).

It’s a win/win situation, you get to donate to cancer research and you get a prize that could be greater than the value of your donation!

To claim one of the incredible prizes, people simply need to go to https://www.curecancer.com.au/giveaway, make a donation and then, at the end of the four-week campaign, they will be informed about which prize they have won. Yes, it’s that simple!

Major brands are on board including the likes of Xbox and EA Games, who have all donated prizes to the campaign, which aims to raise $20,000 plus for Cure Cancer. Prizes include Xbox Series S consoles, and a Moza R5 Racing Bundle, just to name a few.

Other brands involved are Logitech G, Turtle Beach, Nanoleaf, Bethesda, Twelve South, Satechi, Quokka Mousepads, 2K, Massive Monster, CATAN Studios, Fantasy Flight Games, Pandasaurus Games, Andaseat, MOZA Racing, Bungie, PAX Australia, Annapurna Interactive, Neon Doctrine, Keychron, Fellow Traveller and Fortress.

The money raised will go directly to Cure Cancer to fund ground-breaking cancer research by brilliant scientists to save millions of lives. Cure Cancer’s community of researchers, fundraisers and partners take on every cancer, working together to find the most impactful solutions in record time. Driven by a bold ambition –  What if we cure cancer?

The charity recently announced that it has raised over $1.25million through its Game On Cancer® initiative; vital monies driving vital research into all cancers.

Donate to support ground-breaking cancer research today and your generosity will be rewarded with one of the fantastic prizes!

Every Single Nintendo Game From 1985-2000

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We know this is now old news (over 5 years ago), but for those that missed Aaron Norton’s (aka: NintendoTwizer) Nintendo collection, check it out!

Unfortunately (or fortunately for) Aaron, he sold it all for US$164,000 (approx. AU$250,000), which some say is a pittance, considering the complete collections of NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy and GameCube games!

Anyway, we are glad that Aaron did one last tour of his collection before it was sold – WARNING: You may drool!


source: Aaron Norton on YouTube

Unlicensed Free Slasher Fan-Made Video Games

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It may not be Halloween, but who cares when you can play some fan-made free slasher games on your PC and/or NES emulator!

Decades ago, Steve McCall was tinkering with a PC program called Klik & Play, to make slasher fan games where the player got to play as the actual antagonist. These late 90s games had a cult following, which thanks to Steve, he has now demade them for the NES, after teaching himself how to program on the 6502 8-bit chipset. The four games created by Steve McCall include:

  • Friday the 13th: Return to Camp Blood (1998)
  • Halloween: October 31st (1999)
  • A Nightmare on Elm Street: Son of a Hundred Maniacs (1999)
  • Candyman: Be My Victim (2006)

If you want to play these fan made NES games on your fave emulator, then check out Steve’s 8-bit demakes site at 8bitslasher.itch.io. If you want to experience the original PC versions of these games, then head on over to 5kids2feed.itch.io.

image source: Steve McCall



Docuseries – TerrorBytes: The Evolution of Horror Gaming

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Our good friend Richard Moss, who has written some awesome books and produced great podcasts, has now turned his talent into movie making, specifically a documentary series called TerrorBytes: The Evolution of Horror Gaming.

TerrorBytes will be five hour-long episodes, each digging into a different aspect of horror gaming — survival horror, licensed (and unlicensed but closely-inspired by film/book/TV) horror, FMV and interactive movie horror, indie horror, and “cursed and controversial” horror games (i.e., horror games that were banned, censored, or that never existed beyond an urban myth).

To whet your bloodthirsty appetite, TerrorBytes will be interviewing 40 well-known people from the horror gaming genre, including (but not limited to!):

  • Ken and Roberta Williams (Sierra co-founders; Phantasmagoria)
  • Jane Jensen (Gabriel Knight)
  • David Mullich (I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, Dark Seed II)
  • Graeme Devine (The 7th Guest, The 11th Hour)
  • Rob Fulop (Night Trap)
  • Noah Falstein (Sinistar)
  • Hifumi Kouno (Clock Tower)
  • Hubert Chardot (Alone in the Dark)
  • Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill composer)
  • John Romero (DOOM, Quake)
  • James Rolfe (aka The Angry Video Game Nerd)
  • Christopher Carton (author of A Guide to Movie Based Games)

TerraBytes: The Evolution of Horror Gaming can be pre-ordered now, but you better hurry if you want all the ghoulish goodies, as this pre-sales window closes on March 3rd!

image source: TerrorBytes



PSA: The Mario vs. Donkey Kong eShop Demo For Nintendo Switch Is Out Now

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When Donkey Kong raids Mario’s toy factory and makes off with the merchandise, Mario has to once again face his biggest rival

Starting today (Feb 1st), a demo featuring four levels from the first world of Mario vs. Donkey Kong, the enhanced version of the Game Boy Advance classic, is available for download on Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch. Check out the demo before the full game launches on Friday 16th February and take a closer look at the Mario vs. Donkey Kong – Overview Trailer below for additional details!

Solve puzzles, overcome challenges and find the keys to rescue the Mini-Marios and thwart Donkey Kong. The demo also gives players a first look at the new Two Player Co-Op mode, in which they can share a Joy-Con with a friend and team up as Mario and Toad. Players will also have access to the game’s new difficulty settings –Classic Style features the same difficulty level as the original Game Boy Advance version. Anyone who wishes to take things easier, can try Casual Style with no time limit and the ability to restart from checkpoints.



‘The Walking Dead’ Arcade Game

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

Over Christmas break, I discovered the arcade game “The Walking Dead” at a local Dave & Buster’s, a sports bar and video arcade. The object of the game is to shoot as many zombies as possible for a high score, and to get through the stages without getting nibbled on. As an enormous fan of the television series and comic book, the game was calling out to me when I bought a massive number of tokens.

When I’m playing the exciting game, shooting zombies with my crossbow, I’m not thinking about anything else in the world. My troubles and the bad news headlines all fall away. It’s an escape into a fun, fictional world, created by the great Robert Kirkman. You begin in the West Georgia Correctional Facility in Story Mode, and you’re fighting your way through the corridors and the expansive, open yard. One of the most thrilling parts when you’re in the yard is when you shoot a tanker with an arrow with an explosive on it, killing all the surrounding zombies. Some of them are just dazed, but it gives you time to escape from the starving herd.

The Raw Thrills, Inc. game is fantastic because you can easily reload your crossbow by pulling back on the handle to load again. The action is so hurried, you have about a split second to decide where to aim.

image source: Raw Thrills

It’s somewhat annoying when parents and kids walk by the outer doors, and they peek at my gameplay. Hours fly by when I’m enthralled in the combat of the game. I like it when you open a door of the prison and a zombie is right there behind it, ready to pounce on you and bite you if you’re not careful. “The Walking Dead” arcade machine is in a dark area of the arcade, so I have a feeling of isolation and total immersion when the place isn’t crowded.

I still go back and watch some of my favorite “Walking Dead” episodes, and they are usually centered around the character, Daryl Dixon. I really like the episode “Still,” that aired during the fourth season. Most of the episode is Beth and Daryl hanging out at a golf country club. It’s a haunting episode and the performances by Emily Kinney and Norman Reedus are superb. The episode is a rather dramatic one with some heft. The new Daryl Dixon series on AMC had one of the best pilot episodes I’ve seen in some time. It’s called “L’ame Perdue.”

As I finish writing this on a snowy, frigid night, I’m contemplating going to Dave & Buster’s to play “The Walking Dead” game again. Luckily, they’re open late.



‘Zelda’ Film Needs a Good Script

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

Off the success of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” we are now getting a “The Legend of Zelda” film adaptation. Money talks. It’s smart for Nintendo to get a “Zelda” film in pre-production. The “Mario Bros. Movie” made $1.36 billion at the box office, globally. And it had a budget of $100 million.

The thing about the “Mario” film was that everybody knows “Super Mario Bros.” Do people know “The Legend of Zelda,” yes, but is it as massive a global brand like “Mario”?

Nintendo must have an exceptional script. A good story that sticks to the video game’s lore is essential. That’s what the “Mario” film did so well, and audiences went back to see it more than once.

I hope the film doesn’t take itself too seriously, but the “Zelda” games have a more serious tone than the “Mario” games. The movie should still be a fun ride. If it’s live action, whoever is cast as Princess Zelda and Link is crucial. The film would be better if it was animated like “Mario.” They could have the same studio, Illumination, that worked on the “Mario” movie. Live action could work, but why take that risk when Nintendo hit a homerun with “Mario”? The voice acting was superb in “Mario,” especially Jack Black as Bowser. Will there be musical numbers in the “Zelda” film?

The “Mario” movie had a smart structure to it. It didn’t feel overstuffed with easter eggs, and the runtime was just right. “Zelda” will probably have to be a longer film. It needs to have the feel of an epic and still have a tight runtime and be fun for children. That’ll be tough to pull off, but with an intelligent, entertaining script, a good film is certainly possible.