Crystal Castles 6-30-88

 

This is the final version of the XE release of Crystal Castles.  Although the game was not completed before the crash, Atari decided to finish it up and release it in 1988.  While the game was being finished, the programmer decided to make a few changes to the original code and add some new features.  This was possible because the new cartridge was given twice the amount of space (32K instead of 16K), but the memory requirement was increased so the game now requires 64K instead of 16K.  It's unknown how many of these changes would have been implemented in the original 1984 prototype since it was never finished

 

Differences Between 400/800 and XE versions

The XE version changes screen and gem colors like the arcade game, the 400/800 version stays red and blue
The XE version has better graphics for the Nasty Trees, Bees, Bentley, the Magic Hat, and Honey Pot
The XE version uses a flashing graphic for when Bentley grabs the magic hat
The XE version has attract mode (demo)
The XE version is around 30-40% slower than the 400/800 version.  It is unknown if this is a result of the extra graphics masking or just an intentional move to make the game easier
The XE version has high score support which is also shown in the score box
The XE has more music
The XE version fixes level one so that Bentley can now go around the back of the building.  The secret warp location was also changed because of this.
The 400/800 has different/incomplete sound effects, such as the death sound that plays when Bentley gets an extra life
The 400/800 version starts with 7 lives while the XE starts with 3
The XE version has a ghost effect when Bentley goes behind things.  The 400/800 version just shows a darker graphic for Bentley.
The XE version shows Bentley saying "Oh No!" when he dies and flying off the screen.  The 400/800 version just has Bentley standing still while the death sound is played.
The XE version adds the text 'Game Over Press Trigger to Restart' after beating the game
The XE version has better looking text boxes with proper borders
The XE version centers the text in the text boxes


 

A title screen!

 

Better graphics too

The 'Oh No!' is present

 

The trees look much better

 

Bentley has a proper 'ghost' sprite now

 

Here's a picture of the trees from the original version

 

 

Return to Crystal Castles