/ _ ___ ,
/ /\ \ / / | / \ | _
| | / | \ | | | | |* \
| | \ | _/ | |/ | |__ \ * \
\ , _ ___ __ _ \ * \
/ / \ / | | | / / * * |
| | | \ | | |- \ /\* * * |
| |/ | _/ | |__ |__ _/ \ \______\
\ \_______/
The A-maze-ing Adventures of Bentley Bear
Model Number: CX-26110
Released: 1984
Size: 16k
Developers: Peter C. Niday (Programmer)
|-Sorcerer's Apprentice
|-Rubik's Cube 3D
|-Crystal Castles
Robert Vieria (Graphics)
|-Millipede
|-Gremlins
|-Crystal Castles
Michael Kosaka (Sound)
|-Crystal Castles
Despite loving Crystal Castles having originally
experienced it on the BBC Micro from a pirated tape I never
knew the "back story" of Bentley, here's the opening lines
of the Crystal Castles 2600 manual:
A Bearable Tale
Once upon a tim Bentley Bear was rambling through the woods
daydreaming about poached salmon. He stopped to take a nap
in his favorite hollow tree trunk. But when he awoke, he
found himself inside a huge castle glittering with diamonds
emeralds, and pearls.
Though Bentley didn't know it at the time, he was trapped
in Crystal Castles, home of Berthilda the Witch and her
evil cronies. To escape their spell, he must harvest the
gems in the castle before Bethilda and her malicious gang
sned him into permanent hibernation.
Thoughts
The Atari game has almost everything from the arcade with
the exception of the tunnels. It has 12 different Castles
which then repeat with increased difficulty (enemies and
speed) giving unlimited game levels. It doesn't officially
support the trackerball, but people report that it does
work with it.
The select switch allows you to start from levels 1-8, I
personally find it quite challenging to get Bentley to
line up with the crystals which can be frustrating at
times. There is some flicker when multiple enimies share a
scanline; however it doesn't detract from the game. When
you consider the limitations of the Atari 2600 it's pretty
impressive that a single level can have so many different
sprites on the screen simultaneously without the Atari
exploding!
At the time it was panned by critics, but it really is an
amazing port of the Arcade. There is a high level of
attention to detail with brilliant 2600 graphics, sound
and gameplay.
Crystal Castles (PAL) 16k