2600 Homebrew Review - Dead of Knight

[RickR]

This game was placed in the last Retro Junk box by Rowsdower70 (Thank you, sir!)

 

I finally took the time to really play it, and thought I'd give my impression here.

 

The game itself is labeled as #17 of 20, and signed by Joe Grisaffi (one of the designers and director of the film) and was made in 2013. I have not seen the film this game is based on, but it appears to be available for free on-line, and I'm going to check it out. I also don't know if only 20 copies of this cartridge were created. If so, that's a shame, as the game is really good. It came with a manual which is simple and well done.

 

The game has a really nice opening screen with great music. You start as a naked guy who has to find his armor. Once you find it, you can use your sword to hack up 4 victims that you have to search for. Each time you kill a victim, a policeman is spawned. They shoot you, and you are unable to kill them. After the 4th victim is killed, the goal becomes to find a character named "Marla" and drag her into a castle. Once inside, you must defeat a Boss Queen by shooting away at her shields and then the queen herself.

 

The game reminds me a lot of "Haunted House" -- lots of searching and exploring, while avoiding the bad guys as best you can. I think it's really a lot of fun. It makes you want to keep playing until you can defeat at least one boss. The graphics are great, and there's no flicker at all.

 

RickR's final grade: A

 

Anyone else have more info on this game, or an opinion on the gameplay?

Edited March 13, 2017 by RickR

[Rowsdower70]

Joe buys them in small batches, so 20 is all that have been made for now.    

Sounds like it is a total blast, and I love the review!     

Thanks for posting

[TeddyGermany]

The picture on the cartridge sticker looks fantastic!

I would like to have that as a poster!

 

Is it possible to make a second edition of the game via Atari Age or anyother producer?

I bet, there are many grateful consumers.

Edited March 13, 2017 by TeddyGermany

[Rowsdower70]

The picture on the cartridge sticker looks fantastic!

I would like to have that as a poster!

 

Is it possible to make a second edition of the game via Atari Age or anyother producer?

I bet, there are many grateful consumers.

I'm almost positive that Joe paid Albert to make the 20 copies he had, so I'm sure it's possible to make another batch if there was enough interest. 

[Atari Creep]

Sounds fun. Going to look up gameplay footage!

[slobu]

Hey, thanks for the review RickR (and input from fellow Atari.io'ers). 

 

I'm glad the lack of flicker got noticed.  I got to email Howard Scott Warshaw and tell him about the Yars Revenge-like effect when you beat the boss.

 

I think Joe and I have a deal where I can make some "developer" editions.  Though, I've been stuck in the mud with other projects.

 

​I'll definitely check back here if people have more questions!

[RickR]

Hey, thanks for the review RickR (and input from fellow Atari.io'ers). 

 

I'm glad the lack of flicker got noticed.  I got to email Howard Scott Warshaw and tell him about the Yars Revenge-like effect when you beat the boss.

 

I think Joe and I have a deal where I can make some "developer" editions.  Though, I've been stuck in the mud with other projects.

 

​I'll definitely check back here if people have more questions!

More questions:  What other games have you worked on?

 

Thanks

[slobu]

More questions:  What other games have you worked on?

 

Thanks

That have had physical releases?

 

Boss https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/boss-a-brand-new-atari-2600-game#/

Dead of Knight (of course!) http://www.atari2600homebrew.com/dead-of-knight.html

Conjoined https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/575397277/conjoined-the-atari-2600-game-inspired-by-the-movi

Super Trash Truck http://atariage.com/forums/topic/238950-super-trash-truck-official-interest-thread/

CandyBar https://panic.com/blog/candybar-2600-found/

Upp! (No longer in stock - digital only) https://theloon.itch.io/upp

Twist R Shark http://atariage.com/forums/topic/264393-twistr-shark-limited-edition-atari-2600/

M.M.S.B.C. https://thisisbitpop.wordpress.com/retro-games/

M.M.S.B.C. II http://indiegames.com/2013/02/atari_2600_homebrew_release_mm.html

A.C.i.D. 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYI4bQ_LAW0

Game Panic http://www.atari2600homebrew.com/home/category/game-panic-lcd

Bigfoot's Family Search https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1468389582/bigfoot-family-search-for-the-atari-2600-homebrew

Nitebear on Sleepystreet (no physical stock left - digital only) https://theloon.itch.io/nitebear-on-sleepystreet-atari-2600

Bacon Blast (Given to vendor at ArcadeRX to sell 2015-2016)

Strangeland http://neoclassicgames.blogspot.com/2013/12/strangeland-atari-2600.html

C@tacombs of Chaos (aka Atarowg) http://atariage.com/forums/topic/237201-update-sold-out-limited-edition-atari-2600-game-catacombs-of-chaos/

 

There are also titles that were finished but the contractors haven't published yet

RVG Blast (Client couldn't find manufacturer for carts)

Duel (Client received product not sure of publishing status) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xb26kYNwRE&t=13s]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xb26kYNwRE&t=13s]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xb26kYNwRE&t=13s

Laughing Boy (Joe Grisaffi commissioned for his movie. Physical release seems to be on backburner?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWlttiswu90]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWlttiswu90]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWlttiswu90

Balloon Girl (Haven't published it on my own) http://retrogamingmagazine.com/2015/03/14/balloon-girl-shows-flappy-bird-clones-how-its-done-on-atari-2600/

 

Digital only games:

Tornado Blast http://www.romhacking.net/homebrew/63/

Drunken Pooper 2600 http://retrogamingmagazine.com/2016/03/24/drunken-pooper-strange-tales-from-classic-game-development-2/

UppaCreek http://atariage.com/forums/topic/165449-uppa-creek/

Cyber Willy (compo version of Boss) https://www.romhacking.net/homebrew/8/

 

Sega Genesis Titles:

Game Panic 2 https://www.etsy.com/listing/496262397/game-panic-2-for-the-sega-genesis

Space Foxes (re-branded version of Code Eliminator) http://segabits.com/forums/index.php?topic=3887.0

Code Eliminator https://gbatemp.net/threads/code-eliminator-for-the-sega-genesis-to-be-released-at-prge.397393/

War in the Machine http://www.gooddealgames.com/inventory/Sega%20Genesis.html

 

For PC:

Super Pitifall (digital only) http://www.retrotaku.com/remake/super-pitifall-le-demake-de-la-version-nes/

Simply Cavern (Digital Only Ludum Dare release) http://ludumdare.com/compo/2009/08/30/simply-cavern-done/

 

Probably missing some

Edited January 3, 2018 by slobu

[RickR]

WOW!  Well, glad to have you here.  Pretty cool.

[Arenafoot]

That have had physical releases?

 

Boss https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/boss-a-brand-new-atari-2600-game#/

Dead of Knight (of course!) http://www.atari2600homebrew.com/dead-of-knight.html

Conjoined https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/575397277/conjoined-the-atari-2600-game-inspired-by-the-movi

Super Trash Truck http://atariage.com/forums/topic/238950-super-trash-truck-official-interest-thread/

CandyBar https://panic.com/blog/candybar-2600-found/

Upp! (No longer in stock - digital only) https://theloon.itch.io/upp

Twist R Shark http://atariage.com/forums/topic/264393-twistr-shark-limited-edition-atari-2600/

M.M.S.B.C. https://thisisbitpop.wordpress.com/retro-games/

M.M.S.B.C. II http://indiegames.com/2013/02/atari_2600_homebrew_release_mm.html

A.C.i.D. 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYI4bQ_LAW0

Game Panic http://www.atari2600homebrew.com/home/category/game-panic-lcd

Bigfoot's Family Search https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1468389582/bigfoot-family-search-for-the-atari-2600-homebrew

Nitebear on Sleepystreet (no physical stock left - digital only) https://theloon.itch.io/nitebear-on-sleepystreet-atari-2600

Bacon Blast (Given to vendor at ArcadeRX to sell 2015-2016)

Strangeland http://neoclassicgames.blogspot.com/2013/12/strangeland-atari-2600.html

C@tacombs of Chaos (aka Atarowg) http://atariage.com/forums/topic/237201-update-sold-out-limited-edition-atari-2600-game-catacombs-of-chaos/

 

There are also titles that were finished but the contractors haven't published yet

RVG Blast (Client couldn't find manufacturer for carts)

Duel (Client received product not sure of publishing status) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xb26kYNwRE&t=13s]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xb26kYNwRE&t=13s]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xb26kYNwRE&t=13s

Laughing Boy (Joe Grisaffi commissioned for his movie. Physical release seems to be on backburner?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWlttiswu90]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWlttiswu90]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWlttiswu90

Balloon Girl (Haven't published it on my own) http://retrogamingmagazine.com/2015/03/14/balloon-girl-shows-flappy-bird-clones-how-its-done-on-atari-2600/

 

Digital only games:

Tornado Blast http://www.romhacking.net/homebrew/63/

Drunken Pooper 2600 http://retrogamingmagazine.com/2016/03/24/drunken-pooper-strange-tales-from-classic-game-development-2/

UppaCreek http://atariage.com/forums/topic/165449-uppa-creek/

Cyber Willy (compo version of Boss) https://www.romhacking.net/homebrew/8/

 

Sega Genesis Titles:

Game Panic 2 https://www.etsy.com/listing/496262397/game-panic-2-for-the-sega-genesis

Space Foxes (re-branded version of Code Eliminator) http://segabits.com/forums/index.php?topic=3887.0

Code Eliminator https://gbatemp.net/threads/code-eliminator-for-the-sega-genesis-to-be-released-at-prge.397393/

War in the Machine http://www.gooddealgames.com/inventory/Sega%20Genesis.html

 

For PC:

Super Pitifall (digital only) http://www.retrotaku.com/remake/super-pitifall-le-demake-de-la-version-nes/

Simply Cavern (Digital Only Ludum Dare release) http://ludumdare.com/compo/2009/08/30/simply-cavern-done/

 

Probably missing some

is Bacon Blast the same as BLT Blast?  https://theloon.itch.io/blt-blast

[Arenafoot]

For PC:

Super Pitifall (digital only) http://www.retrotaku.com/remake/super-pitifall-le-demake-de-la-version-nes/

 

Probably missing some

FYI - download link is broken for this one

 

missing ones I have info on:

Destiny: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/172686-destiny-wip/

Macky Man: 

Pet Rock (w/ Ed Riley & Scott Dayton): <can't find any links>

Tunnels & Trolls: http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/slobu/media/bWVkaWFJZDoxMzg3MDU3NjE=/?ref=

The Walking Dead: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1549499925279107&set=pcb.1549500165279083&type=1&theater

[slobu]

Didn't know the Super Pitifall link was down.  Will look into an alternate.

Bacon Blast was the physical release of BLT Blast.  A vendor needed some extra cash so I authorized him to make physical copies.  I tried the digital thing with BLT Blast.

Destiny was sort of an experiment / proto C@tacombs of Chaos.  I found a technique to split rooms into 3 parts which allowed me to mix and match saving space.

Tunnels & Trolls is an authorized RPG I have license for.  It was / is meant to be a 256k ROM title.  I'm never quite %100 percent confident that people can physically make the cart so it's kind of been in limbo.  I may go sega genesis on this instead.

The Walking Dead was a one shot cartridge I wanted signed at a convention.  Me and Neo Games came up with a better game idea and Zombie Road Kill was born.

 

As for the future I've got 3 new titles I should be working on.  Been slow going due to some personal rough patches.

Edited April 29, 2018 by slobu