Atic Atac

Atic Atac

Infobox VG |
title = Atic Atac


caption =
developer = Tim and Chris Stamper
publisher = Ultimate Play The Game
designer =
engine =
released = Late 1983 (Spectrum)
genre = Arcade adventure; Maze
modes = Single player
ratings = N/A
platforms = ZX Spectrum
BBC Micro
media = Cassette
requirements = 48K RAM (Spectrum)
32K RAM (BBC)
input = keyboard, joystick

"Atic Atac" is a ZX Spectrum video game developed and released by Ultimate Play The Game in 1983. [cite journal |year=1983 |month=December |title=Coming Soon... |journal=Personal Computer Games |issue=2 |pages=7] It takes place within a flip-screen castle in which the player,cite journal |year=1984 |month=February |title=You'll be haunted by Atic Atac |journal=Computer and Video Games |issue=28 |pages=31–32] either a wizard, a knight or a serf,cite journal |year=1984 |month=August |title=Attack Atic Atac |journal=Computer and Video Games |issue=34 |pages=53–59] must seek out the "Golden Key of ACG". It was written originally by Tim Stamper and Chris StamperFact|date=October 2007, and later ported to the BBC Micro. [cite web |url=http://www.beebgames.com/games.php?company=295 |title=Ultimate Play The Game |accessdate=2007-10-07 |work=The BBC Games Archive]

Introduction

Typically for an Ultimate release, players are given a tantalising and cryptic introduction :

:"I never did believe in Ghosts or Monsters ...

:Not until now, not until the Main doors of the Castle closed and locked themselves behind me ...

:There's no key here!!! I'm trapped!!!

:HELP!!! ... HEELLLPPPP!!! ...

:No-one can hear me ... I'm alone ... Why do the doors open and slam shut??!! ... Is anybody there?? ... HHEELLLLPPPP!!! ...

:I can see strange shapes materialising on the other side of the room ... Evil eyes glaring at me ... Footsteps ... Something's' coming down the corridor ... Something large ... Something cold ... I must run quickly ...

:QUICKLY ... HHEELLLLPPPP!!!! ...

:I must escape before it's too late!!!!!"

Critical reception

"Atic Atac" was almost universally praised on its release. "Micro Adventurer" said "this game can be recommended without reservation", [cite journal |year=1984 |month=January |title=Hybrid wins the accolades |journal=Micro Adventurer |issue=3 |pages=28] while "CRASH" said "it is one thing - FANTASTIC!" and rated it at 92%. [cite journal |year=1984 |month=March |title=Atic Atac |journal=CRASH |issue=2 |pages=34 |url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/02/atic.htm |accessdate=2007-10-06] "Computer and Video Games" said it was "the best yet from Ultimate", and later in 1984 described it as "the favourite arcade adventure amongst computer gamesters". "Personal Computer Games" wrote that it was "another blockbuster game", [cite journal |year=1984 |month=February |title=Video horrorshow |journal=Personal Computer Games |issue=3 |pages=4] while "Sinclair User" said that "the depth of plot and the GAS graphics make it a superb game." [cite journal |year=1984 |month=February |title=Dangerous castle is highly recommended |journal=Sinclair User |issue=23 |pages=52 |url=http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/023/softwreb.htm |accessdate= 2007-10-06]

In 1991, "Atic Atac" was ranked as the 79th best ZX Spectrum game of all time by "Your Sinclair". [cite journal |year=1991 |month=October |title=The YS Top 100 Speccy Games Of All Time (Ever!) |journal=Your Sinclair |issue=70 |pages=31 |url=http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/ystop100.htm | accessdate = 2006-09-04] , while in 2007, Eurogamer described it as "a prime example of what passion can do when properly digitised" and rated it 8/10. [cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=85112 |title=Atic Atac |accessdate=2007-10-30 |last=Spencer |first=Spanner |date=2007-10-10 |work=Eurogamer]

Trivia

* The game was a major inspiration for the Children's ITV show "Knightmare". The wellways accessing different levels were a direct lift from the game, and the 'life force' featuring a disintegrating human face was based on the game's rotting chicken graphic. [cite web | url=http://www.knightmare.com/history | title=The History of Knightmare | publisher=Knightmare Infosite | accessdate=2006-09-04]

References

External links

* [http://www.ultimate-wurlde.com/games/aticatacintro.shtml "Atic Atac"] at Ultimate Wurlde
*WoS_game|id=0009305
*
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6176589319143102644 A walkthrough video of "Atic Atac" on the ZX Spectrum] at Google Video
* [http://retrospec.sgn.net/game-overview.php?link=atic "Atic Atac" remake] for the PC


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