Atari Emulator -> Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar

Most likely for the best. Didn't I want to do something else with my life? I almost finished this game some 35 years ago on my Atari 1200XL, but this was before you could go online and look up cheat codes... I mean, helpful advice. You start out with only one player. You don't have enough gold or enough torches for the dungeons. I keep "barely wounding" orcs and rogues with my pitiful weaponry... hmm! Nah, I should try to get some sleep right now. Okay, what the hell. Get busy gaming, or get busy dying. 

(a few minutes later) Nope. Still not working.

 
Atarimania home of Ultima IV

Atari Emulator -> UPGRADE!

As I've blogged before, I always like to try new things. Whelp, according to the file information it's been almost 20 years, so I went to virtualdub.org to see about an upgrade. Also, a big thank you to free time in college! As you can see, Blue Max now works (Zaxxon, please. This one's WAY better than Zaxxon) and, more importantly, so does Bristles. Ah, that really takes me back. As for something like Zone X... nope! STILL a no go. But if I ever get some free time, I'll look into it some more. And unlike MAME, may they never shut us down... I'm just saying! I gotta re-upgrade all my shi... stuff again! Where's the plethora of mirror sites that once was?

Zone X: Level 1, Zone 8

Wow! Getting a lot of hits lately! Oh... I get it. I guess anything on the internet named "Zone X" is bound to get a lot of hits. Anyway, despite the fact that this level... this zone has a warp, it's an unnecessary warp, and the zone can be completed without it. It would probably be easier if I used some of those "mats" thingies, but what can I say? I'm a glutton for punishment. So, even though it can be done without the warp, I did have to sacrifice one life... yup, sorry, but I was relying on the "save" feature, unlike with that Bounty Bob game... which is probably why I still haven't completed it yet! SPOILER ALERT For those of you who are fans of going all the way back to the beginning to get that one last item, are you in for a treat!

Zone X: Level 1, Zone 7

As with 'Boulder Dash', where you're only allowed to start at levels A, E, I or M, so too with "Zone X" are you only allowed to start at certain zones. In this game's case, 1, 4, 7 or 10. In math terms, divided by 3 with a remainder of 1. But this lovely bipartite level is a great place to start for the seasoned Zone X player. And hey! There's a brand new feature: the shovel, or 'spade.' It works exactly like keys and locks: one shovel for one piece of extra-tough dirt... what will future generations think of us? Why is it not like "Doom"? One key for all doors of its color! Makes sense, don't it? Not to us gamers of the previous generation it doesn't. What about Dandy? What about TUTANKHAM????? ...what else about this level? For some reason, I'm trying to resist using mats to block my many, many enemies. Maybe because of the bonus points you get at the end, maybe because it's kind of an unfair fight anyway. Of course, as a gamer, I tend to get hypnotized by flying bullets and walk into them anyway. Didn't play enough Zig Zag as a child, I guess. So there you go... I exposed another one of my weaknesses just for you. As for my password? I don't care how many times I get hacked, I'm never changing "Handsome69" ever. Not for anything. But I am going to try to get something else done this week, so this is the last Zone X map I'll make for a while. Unless there's a great public outcry?... no? Okay, I'll take a break, and you probably should too.

Zone X: Level 1, Zone 5

A perfectly lovely level: nice color scheme, nice long, narrow hallways so the slow bad guys can really stick it to you... and a nice new feature to try out: the 'warps' from Tutankham. UNFORTUNATELY, even though I was able to synthesize a full map of this one, there's an error in my Atari Emulator program that prevents me from trying out the warps. Same thing happens when I try to turn left in 'Bristles,' so it looks like someone else is going to have to bring you Zone 6. But I did manage a map of Zone 7! Let's get that one over with now!

Zone X: Level 1, Zone 4

Back to fundamentals! Another mean level. The meaner the better, as far as I'm concerned. No new functions yet, or whatever you'd call them. Still the same Herbrand Universe (TM)(R)(C), so to speak. One major difference, depending on your point of view: the slow enemies of Zone 2 are now the fast enemies here. And in case you don't see the influence of Boulder Dash yet, the fireflies are the slow enemy here. This zone has the structure of Boulder Dash level 'A' (original), and the color scheme of level 'L' (original). I guess the programmer didn't have time to be influenced by the official Boulder Dash sequel which came out in 1985 as well.

Zone X: Level 1, Zone 3

Got through this one faster than I thought! The programmer's influences are a little clearer here: the dirt of Boulder Dash (same font, too!), the big empty spaces of Tutankham's Level Two, second half... the creepy-crawlies of Shamus. This game forces me to use my limited patience to outwit the easily-outwittable enemies. Their strength? Brute force and superior numbers. As in life, what chance does one player have against it?