ATARI XE/XL GAME : SHAMUS

Programmer: William Mataga [Synapse Software], 1982

via Wikipedia:

Shamus is a computer game written by William Mataga and published by Synapse Software. Originally developed for the Atari 8-bit computer system in 1982, it was later ported to a number of platforms including the VIC-20, Commodore 64, TRS-80 Color Computer, TI-99/4A, IBM PC and Nintendo Game Boy Color; several of these ports were made by Atarisoft. It was followed by a sequel Shamus: Case II, available on the Atari and C64.

GAMEPLAY:

Inspired by the arcade game Berzerk, the objective of the game is to navigate the eponymous robotic detective through a 4-skill level, 128-room maze of electrified walls. The ultimate goal at the end of this journey is "The Shadow's Lair".

Opposing the player are a number of robotic adversaries, including spiral drones, robo droids and snap jumpers. Shamus is armed with 'Ion SHIVs'...SHIV being an acronym for Short High Intensity Vaporizer...and is able to hurl up to two at a time at his enemies. Like many other games in this genre, touching an electrified wall results in instantaneous death. Upon the completion of each level, the gameplay speeds up, increasing the chances of running into a wall.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamus_%28computer_game%29

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• atari
• game
• games
• xe
• xl
• 65
• 800
• shamus
• old
• retro
• vintage
• fun

[Donald6899]

I can't get the game to work on my Atari 800XL emulator - keeps crashing.

[gedzior84]

@Donald6899 try downloading the file from here: atarionline pl/v01/index.php?ct=katalog&su­b=S&tg=Shamus#Shamus (add the dots)

[kemalzhang]

There is a version for iPhone and iPad now, released from the same programmer!

[gedzior84]

@kemalzhang wow, would like to see that. Wonder if there's a version for Android

[MechanicalInternet]

I thought this was going to be like Metroid. I guess the name mislead me. :(

[maxnekrasov]

VERY HARD game!!!

[YodaFundesigner]

The iPhone version has the old graphics, fortunately!



[TheWrongwing]

@kemalzhang Do you know what kind of graphics it has? I bought a gameboy color version of this game and... gotta be honest, I prefer the older graphics to the updated ones.

[TheWrongwing]

I was a big fan of this when it was on the Texas Instruments.

[austinmackert]

Wow, this looks great. It's like Beserk, but with even more going on.

[Orbot]

I remember this game on Commodore 64 back in the day!

[kozmon0t]

Not very good at dodging their shots, are you?

I remember this game. I eventually became convinced that there wasn't an end.