Atic Atac

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Atic Atac
Atic Atac loading screen
Developer(s)	Ultimate Play The Game
Publisher(s)	Ultimate Play The Game
Release date(s)	1983
Genre(s)	Arcade adventure; Maze
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	N/A
Platform(s)	ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro
Media	tape
Input	keyboard, joystick

Atic Atac is a ZX Spectrum video game developed and released by Ultimate Play The Game in 1983. It takes place within a flip-screen castle in which the player, either a wizard, a knight or a serf, must seek out the "Golden Key of A.C.G." (Ultimate is the trading name for Ashby Computers and Graphics). It was written originally by Tim Stamper and Chris Stamper, and later ported to the BBC Micro.

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Images 3 Trivia 4 References 5 External links

[edit] 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!!!!!"

[edit] Images

Ghosts and bats - haunted castle staples	Down some stairs to another floor
That crucifix might come in handy ...	... But not against Frankenstein's Monster

[edit] 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.^[1]

• The game was widely praised at the time of its release, later gaining a position in the Your Sinclair top 100 games.^[2]

[edit] References

1. ^ The History of Knightmare. Knightmare Infosite. Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
2. ^ The YS Official Top 100. The Your Sinclair Rock 'N' Roll Years. Retrieved on 2006-09-04.

[edit] External links

• Atic Atac at Ultimate Wurlde
• Atic Atac at World of Spectrum
• Atic Atac at MobyGames
• Atic Atac review at CRASH magazine
• A walkthrough video of Atic Atac on the ZX Spectrum at Google Video
• Atic Atac remake for the PC