Atari 800 - Necromancer gameplay Bill Williams 8-bit games

[Ombar]

At first, I had no clue what was going on. Then, I understood this game was brilliant.

[PeromyscusLeucopus]

I have this game for the Atari XE system! :-)

[CthulhuMessiah]

Hey, man, can you post the opening theme song in its entirety? I would appreciate it a lot.



[Scoth3]

@CthulhuMessiah Sorry for the delay, I've upgraded my computer a couple times since I made this and had lots of trouble capturing video. Done now!

[nyyterp]

This was one of Synapse's classics. The dreamy quality of the game, along with terrific graphics and sound, was top notch. They were one of the few companies that really knew how to utilize the Atari 8-bit during this time period, partly because they put out original material. Others, like Activision's earliest efforts, were largely flat conversions of their 2600 games (with little improvement).  Some of Electronic Arts' games also suffered from flat conversions/porting from other systems.

[gamein60seconds]

@nyyterp Know what you mean. And this is probably why the C64 version feels so poor in comparison.

[gaydanzig]

i never understood this game, even though i played it pretty well. the graphics were good for that time, and it was very imaginative. the trees were cute, and it was sad to hear them crying.

[seymourshabow]

AWESOME game! I never knew you could get your trees back in the 2nd stages! The only way I ever saw the ending on this was to hack it so the energy never went down. Super tough game, great memories.

[CthulhuMessiah]

Useful strategy:

Stick the first four trees in each corner first and let them grow fully while you are on level 1 - 2. If I recall right, the level is based upon the number of fully grown trees, and so you can lag on planting more until you get a lot of seeds. Then you can unload on the top and bottom row.

I loved this game. I could beat it more times than not.

[Babania1]

wow I used to love this game on my 800, very starnge came for its time but greay nevertheless.....

[enantiomer2000]

i loved this game as a kid. very fun to play, though I only beat it once.

[thebravedave420]

Loved this video game growing up.

My father got it when I was 4, and have been playing it since.

Love the ending. Curse the necromancer!

[lashutterbug]

This was DEFINITELY one of the most unique and difficult games to come out of the 80s. A really original concept, spectacularly executed. Would love to see an update of this game for a hi-end game system.

[OneTrueBelmont]

YES! I remember this game and I played it for the Atari 800. The furthest I got was the third stage of Phase three

[jizzbot2000]

I remember joining synapse software club lol.. Remember apocalypse now? Shamus

[mirrorsignalcrash]

Giradius: That's wierd cos i've never heard of Atarimax, I was just recalling (with a little difficulty) from memory my experience of this game from last playing it around 26 years ago! Remember, I said the end was impressive for its time, and it was to be honest. I've played a lot of Atari 8-bit games - some of the best in fact - and this was one of them. Wished I never got rid of my old Atari 400 and 800XL :-(

[mirrorsignalcrash]

This was one of the most impressive Atari 8-bit games ever made, and also one of the most difficult to complete which I managed to do only once. I can remember the 3rd level was absolutely manic and you needed a decent joystick to help you get through it. I forget the exact "reward" you got for completing the game but it was a graphical feast for your eyes which was pretty impressive (for its time).

[Giradius]

Mirrorsignalcrash: Your post reads like a condensed version of the review on Atarimax, even down to word use.

I never completed this game when i had it as a kid, I did however a few months back using an emulator.

Nothing happens at the end, the screen flashes when you destory the last tombstone and the games starts again..only harder.

I always liked this game.

[ventipossum]

I liked your strategy on the 1st stage, where you lined up all the trees on the top and bottom. I always thought that the closer they are to the Druid, the better, but your method looks easier.

As for me, I've finished Necromancer only once and IIRC, the game simply goes back to the title screen right after showing you a single 'congrats' type of screen.

You did know that you can 'destroy' the Necromancer during the 3rd stage, right?

[Scoth3]

I think they tend to grow faster closer to the druid, but once you get the corner ones grown you can pretty much fire and forget the rest. Sometimes they take so incredibly long to grow that you don't get them though.

I haven't actually made it to the third stage all that often, especially back in the day, so I probably haven't used a good strategy there :)

[ventipossum]

Yes, I understand that getting to stage 3 is a difficult task. However, when you do get there, you have a couple of things to do:

1- To get to the next stage, pick up the tombstones as the Necromancer makes them.

2- Destroy the Necromancer with the wisp to gain energy and HOPE that he does'nt touch the spiders already in the cemetery or they will become invincible.

That's how I was able to defeat the game a few years back.

I haven't been able to do it since.

[thejackal007]

I'm very glad you posted this video. I had this for the 800 as well and started missing it as I'm not sure how to hook it up to newer TV's anymore. Thanks for putting this up!

[HitlerOnTheRoof]

I had this game for the atari 800, but never understood what was going on. I still don't. :-(

[Scoth3]

The description pretty much tells the phases. It's not a terribly deep or hidden-meaning game, though it is a very unusual game.

[HitlerOnTheRoof]

Ah...I understand now. Didn't see the whole description. Thanks!

[oskar9arm]

un exelente juego me trae muy buenos recuerdos !a que tiempos aquellos que tiempos¡