Sometime back I gave you the heads up about a new alpha demo of 'Rastan' that was made available by basementApe for the Commodore Amiga. Well fast forward to today and if you're hoping for some new updates in regards to this Arcade development using Earok's excellent scorpion engine, then make sure to check out the latest gameplay video. A new video to go along side a new demo, which features new stages, retouched enemies and so so much more.
Here's what the website says about the game and the demo that can be downloaded below. "Released in arcades in 1987, Taito’s Rastan was one of the best fantasy action-platformers of its time. Now, after eight months down in the basement, the Amiga version of Rastan emerges. This is still an alpha demo of the first level, featuring remastered sprites and brand new, reimagined backgrounds, all running on a stock Amiga 500 with 512kb extra ram! No ETA on the finished game yet, but development is going full steam."
Credits :
- Remastered & new graphics: basementApe
- Music: JMD, basementApe & Tsak
- Audio: Tsak & basementApe
- - Stage 2-1, 2-2, and 2-3, loosely based on the arcade version.
- - Two brand new enemies and a re-invented Stage 2 boss.
- - Retouched Stage 2 enemies.
- - Stage 2-specific gameplay mechanics; slope sliding, traps, fireballs etc.
- - Continue screen with unlimited credits (for now)
- - Stage select on the title menu.
- - Keyboard controls as an alternative to joysticks; arrow keys to move and Z/X to attack/jump.
- - Two button control scheme that can be toggled on the title menu.
- - Player movement closer to the arcade.
- - Stage 1 is a teeny bit easier.
- - Winged gargoyles and half-armored castle dudes cause less slowdown than before.
- - Downward plunges work properly now.
- - Getting hit while on a moving platform no longer causes Rastan to fall off!
- - Probably some other stuff I forgot about : P
Links :1) Source
Looks better than the arcade version. Imagine if this was released back in the day!
ReplyDeleteI always wanted Rastan on my Amiga back in the day. if THIS version had been released I would have lost my mind!
DeleteStatues on background are really anticlimatic cause are too small and i think the ones on ms-dos version are way better but for the rest it's totally on par with the arcade! Great job,keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteJust masterful work with the visuals! They're really well reimagined within the constraints of the palette and everything reads so clearly. What really impresses me is that it doesn't feel like it has less colors than the original, rather it feels like it was redesigned to have a grimmer (more Conan-like) mood. Thanks IRN for keeping us posted on this diamond.
ReplyDeleteEach time better... Fabulous Christmas Gift ! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteOutstanding! May Barry Windsor-Smith and Mike Ploog guide your sword arm, barbarian!
ReplyDeleteFantastic !
ReplyDeleteLooks amazing. Apart from the excellent graphics and sound, this is also a very good example of what can be done with Scorpion Engine.
ReplyDeleteLooks really nice so far!
ReplyDeleteamazing. super stoked for this :)
ReplyDelete😍
ReplyDeletebetter than the arcade. God bless the Amiga and the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that the work on this excellent game contiues !
ReplyDeleteEasily best conversion of this Apple II GS is kind of buggy. It looks like game was published as RC2. Screen tearing and kind of too fast
ReplyDeleteYes, I hear you: the Apple II GS version is kind of jerky, has screen-tearing and also moves too quickly. On the other hand, they did a surprisingly good job at being faithful to the arcade version's graphics - using only 16 colours!
DeleteAn amazing project! The fact it works on an OCS Amiga is fantastic, and a great example of proper optimization.
ReplyDeleteI do wish it used a more vivid palette though, as currently the game is a bit too subdued-looking.
"subdued-looking" is a method for getting around limited colors on screen. It allows better reuse of colors to be paired with others. It's not JUST an art-style. It's also an art trick for limited onscreen colors (the game is using just 4 bit planes).
DeleteI'm loving this palette. Overall, I prefer it to the arcade version. Basement Ape is an expert at getting maximum use out of a small number of available colours - in this case only 16. But he makes it look like there are a lot more than 16 colours on screen.
DeleteEach level gets better and better. Lovely graphics - I prefer these visuals to the arcade version. A superb example of how great design skills are the main determining factor in creating attractive graphics - NOT zillions of colours on screen.
ReplyDeletePicts! We've gone beyond the Black River!
ReplyDeleteI love this game, even though I've always been weak, I can barely pass the first level haha
ReplyDeleteThis is my favourite project of yours, so please try and finish this one.
ReplyDeleteWhy LEVEL 2 BOSS is changed?...why NEW ENEMIES?...this game is a coin-op conversion and probably one of the most excellent coin-op conversions...please to rember basementape...❤️
ReplyDeleteThe fact that it pays tribute to the classic and has new and improved ideas and features make it even more exciting and unique. I’m really excited and looking forward to this project. It looks amazing and like a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteSure...but it was RASTAN...not RASTAN NEW EDITION. In any case it's my personal idea. In any case finally AMIGA will have his RASTAN. No problem...❤️
DeleteWhat an excellent work of reinterpretation !
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see the aga version too with all its bells and whistles.
There will be, won't there ?
Looks amazing and smooth, but sorry the music is a bit naff and annoying.
ReplyDeleteThis Amiga version of Rastan is interesting. Graphically, it is quite different, but familiar. The characters sometimes look better, sometimes not. The backgrounds are quite different, and I think I like the Amiga version better. Changing the background mountains from "Rastan colored" to greys and blues makes the characters stand out much better. The backgrounds underground are nicer and less distracting. They both have parallax, but differently. I think the less busy sky is somewhat of an improvement, but I think the sky does need some sort of clouds. The Amiga version does have black bars under the life meter and scores, which is a bummer. Also the water looks a bit better in the arcade version...it isn't animated, but it's more detailed and uses color cycling to kind of mimic movement
ReplyDeleteSuperb! May John Buscema and Alfredo Alcala guide your sword arm, barbarian!
ReplyDelete