Something for the Atari ST today, as Neil Rackett is finally rectifying a 30+ year old disappointment for Atari fans by bringing Flashback to the Atari ST. While Delphine Software’s iconic 1992 cinematic platformer famously bypassed the system back in the day, Rackett has successfully ported REminiscence—Gregory Montoir's modern re-implementation of the original game engine—using STDL and Amiga data files. Described as a work-in-progress, this project will hopefully give a smooth gameplay experience on the Atari. Animations are optimized to run at a consistent 25fps on standard ST/STE models, while Mega STE users can enjoy up to a capped 30fps. The project even addresses the ST’s classic resolution limitations with clever menu options like "Fit," "Fill," and experimental "Overscan" modes to handle the original game's 224-pixel height on a standard 200-pixel screen.
Though cinematic cutscenes are operational, they currently skip frames by default to maintain proper pacing, and a few visual quirks remain—such as the protagonist’s trousers hilariously matching the background colour of the opening level. To run the game, players will need an Atari ST with at least 2MB of RAM, though 4MB and 3MB of hard disk space are highly recommended for optimal performance. Hardware-specific constraints mean that standard sound effects are strictly reserved for STE models, though experimental YM chip music support is included for all configurations. While Rackett is not offering technical support, Atari ST owners are invited to test the build, review the README configuration files, and submit feedback or pull requests to help polish this long-overdue piece of gaming history.
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wow... this is one of the games that should have been made for ST/ STE back in the day. One of the best games on 16bit for sure.
ReplyDeletethat's a great use of REminiscence source! This game is a masterpiece and we don't see enough ST ports.
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