Bristles (video game)

Last updated
Bristles
Bristles.jpg
Developer(s) First Star Software
Publisher(s) First Star Software
Statesoft (Spectrum) [1]
Designer(s) Fernando Herrera
Programmer(s) Atari 8-bit
Fernando Herrera
Robert Diaz [2]
Commodore 64
Adam Bellin [3]
ZX Spectrum
Richard Huddy [1]
Composer(s) Jerry White [2]
Platform(s) Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, Arcade, ZX Spectrum
Release1983: Atari, C64
1984: Arcade, Spectrum
Genre(s) Platform
Mode(s) Single-player
2-4 player multiplayer

Bristles is a video game by Fernando Herrera for Atari 8-bit computers and published by the company he co-founded, First Star Software, in 1983. [3] It was ported to the Commodore 64, [4] ZX Spectrum, [1] and Exidy's Max-A-Flex arcade system. [5] As Peter the Painter, the player uses ladders and elevators move through a cutaway view of a house to paint all the walls.

Contents

Gameplay

A level in progress, with Peter on the lowest floor of the house (Atari 8-bit) Bristles Atari 8-bit PAL screenshot.png
A level in progress, with Peter on the lowest floor of the house (Atari 8-bit)

The player controls Peter the Painter with the goal of painting the walls of eight different houses within a time limit. To move between the different floors Peter can ride an elevator or climb a ladder. If he gets caught in an open elevator shaft, Peter is sent to the bottom of the building.

Dangerous objects that hinder Peter's task include "flying half pints" that knock him down and "dumb buckets" that steal Peter's brush. [2] Later levels add "Brenda the Brat", who leaves handprints all over the freshly painted walls, and the "Bucket Chucker" who never stops chasing Peter. Brenda can be pacified with a candy cane and Bucket Chucker can be temporarily trapped in a paint mixer.

The player starts with 10 brushes serving as lives and additional two brushes are added after finishing the paint job on every level.

Music

Gnome-mime-audio-openclipart.svg
Tchaikovsky's Russian Dance (Atari 8-bit)
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Bristles soundtrack uses arrangements of different pieces from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a. The main theme is II. Danses caractéristiques - a. Marche. When the player is knocked down, the game reacts with a IIc piece: Russian Dance. When Brenda is ruining freshly painted walls, piece IIe Chinese Dance is played.

Reception

In a review for Antic in 1984, George Adamson wrote: "The game's action is fast and furious. It doesn't get faster in higher levels, though. Instead, Bristles offers more novel challenges". [6] Video Games magazine wrote: "As excellent and colorful as the visuals are, the melodies throughout this contest are the real show stoppers." [7] In a brief review, GAMES magazine concluded: "There's so much going on, and the action is so fast, that it's easy to get confused; but everything occurs strictly according to patterns that can be memorized. It may take a while to get the hang of this game, but it's a real charmer". [8]

In a 1985 ANALOG Computing review of reduced price games, Andy Eddy cautioned, "Many users will find Bristles too difficult and demanding, as it's a very hard game to master." [9]

Legacy

In 2004, an authorized modification of the Atari 8-bit computer version was released as an Atari 5200 cartridge. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atari 5200</span> Home video game console

The Atari 5200 SuperSystem or simply Atari 5200 is a home video game console introduced in 1982 by Atari, Inc. as a higher-end complement for the popular Atari Video Computer System. The VCS was renamed to the Atari 2600 at the time of the 5200's launch. Created to compete with Mattel's Intellivision, the 5200 wound up a direct competitor of ColecoVision shortly after its release. While the Coleco system shipped with the first home version of Nintendo's Donkey Kong, the 5200 included the 1978 arcade game Super Breakout which had already appeared on the Atari 8-bit computers and Atari VCS in 1979 and 1981 respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atari 8-bit computers</span> Home computer series introduced in 1979

The Atari 8-bit computers, formally launched as the Atari Home Computer System, are a series of 8-bit home computers introduced by Atari, Inc. in 1979 with the Atari 400 and Atari 800. It is the first home computer architecture with coprocessors, enabling more advanced graphics and sound than most of its contemporaries. Video games are key to its software library, and the 1980 first-person space combat simulator Star Raiders is considered the platform's killer app.

<i>Kaboom!</i> (video game) 1981 action game

Kaboom! is an action video game published in 1981 by Activision for the Atari 2600. The gameplay was based on the Atari arcade game Avalanche (1978), with the game now involving a Mad Bomber who drops bombs instead of falling rocks. Kaboom! was programmed by Larry Kaplan with David Crane coding the graphics for the buckets and Mad Bomber. It was the last game designed by Kaplan for Activision, who left the company shortly after the release of the game. The game was later ported by Paul Wilson for the Atari 5200 system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atari XEGS</span> 1987 video game console

The Atari XE Video Game System is an industrial redesign of the Atari 65XE home computer and the final model in the Atari 8-bit computer series. It was released by Atari Corporation in 1987 and marketed as a home video game console alongside the Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega's Master System, and Atari's own Atari 7800. The XEGS is compatible with existing Atari 8-bit computer hardware and software. Without keyboard, the system operates as a stand-alone game console. With the keyboard, it boots identically to the Atari XE computers. Atari packaged the XEGS as a basic set consisting of only the console and joystick, and as a deluxe set consisting of the console, keyboard, CX40 joystick, and XG-1 light gun.

<i>Rescue on Fractalus!</i> 1985 computer game

Rescue On Fractalus! is a 1985 first-person shooter computer game created by Lucasfilm Games. It was originally released for the Atari 8-bit family and the Atari 5200 games console. It was also ported to other popular platforms of the day, such as the Apple II, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Tandy Color Computer 3 and Commodore 64. The game was one of the first two products from the fledgling Lucasfilm Computer Division Games Group led by Peter Langston. David Fox was the project leader and designer. Music was mainly composed by Charlie Kellner.

<i>Boulder Dash</i> (video game) 1984 video game

Boulder Dash is a 2D maze-puzzle video game released in 1984 by First Star Software for Atari 8-bit computers. It was created by Canadian developers Peter Liepa and Chris Gray. The player controls Rockford, who collects treasures while evading hazards.

Exidy, Inc. was a developer and manufacturer of coin-operated electro-mechanical and video games which operated from 1973 to 1999. They manufactured many notable titles including Death Race (1976), Circus (1978), Star Fire (1978), Venture (1981), Mouse Trap (1981), Crossbow (1983), and Chiller (1986). They were also the creators of the Exidy Sorcerer (1978) home computer platform.

<i>Ballblazer</i> 1985 video game

Ballblazer is a futuristic sports game created by Lucasfilm Games and published in 1985 by Epyx. Along with Rescue on Fractalus!, it was one of the initial pair of releases from Lucasfilm Games, Ballblazer was developed and first published for the Atari 8-bit family. The principal creator and programmer was David Levine. The game was called Ballblaster during development; some pirated versions bear this name.

<i>Brataccas</i> 1985 video game

Brataccas is a science fiction action-adventure game released in 1985 for the Amiga, Atari ST, and Macintosh. It was the first game published by Psygnosis. Brataccas is built on the remains of the much-hyped vaporware project Bandersnatch, which was partially developed by Imagine Software. The storied tale of the game's development led to close press attention in the UK computer market. When Brataccas finally shipped, this attention resulted in considerable coverage in the computer press. It was generally reviewed poorly due to significant control problems, although the graphics were widely praised.

<i>Spys Demise</i> 1982 video game

Spy's Demise is an action game written by Alan Zeldin for the Apple II and published by Penguin Software in 1982. It was ported to the Atari 8-bit family, Commodore 64, TI-99/4A, and Vector-06c. The game contains a puzzle which at the time of release could be solved for a Spy's Demise T-shirt. According to Antic magazine in June 1984, only four people had solved it. The game was followed by a 1983 sequel, The Spy Strikes Back.

<i>Astro Chase</i> 1982 video game

Astro Chase is a multidirectional shooter written by Fernando Herrera for Atari 8-bit computers. It was published by First Star Software in 1982 as the company's first game. Parker Brothers licensed it, releasing cartridge versions for the Atari 8-bit family and Atari 5200 console in 1983 and a Commodore 64 version in 1984. Exidy licensed it for arcade use with its Max-A-Flex cabinet.

<i>Boulder Dash Construction Kit</i> 1986 video game

Boulder Dash Construction Kit is the fourth game in the Boulder Dash series. It was published for the Commodore 64 and Atari 8-bit computers in 1986 by Epyx. Ports were released for the Apple II, Atari ST, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, and MS-DOS. The Spectrum version was rereleased as Boulder Dash IV: The Game. Boulder Dash Construction Kit includes new levels and a level editor.

<i>Transylvania</i> (video game) 1982 video game

Transylvania is an adventure video game published by Penguin Software. It was released for the Apple II in 1982 followed by ports to the Atari 8-bit family and Commodore 64. A Macintosh conversion was published in 1984, then versions for the Amiga, Atari ST, and MS-DOS in 1985.

<i>Drelbs</i> 1983 video game

Drelbs is a maze video game written by Kelly Jones for Atari 8-bit computers and published by Synapse Software in 1983. An Apple II port by Jonathan Tifft was released the same year. A Commodore 64 version followed in 1984 implemented by Miriam Nathan and William Mandel. The objective is to move the walls of the maze to make boxes. Some reviewers found the overall collection of elements to be eccentric and unique.

<i>Floyd of the Jungle</i> 1982 video game

Floyd of the Jungle is a 1982 platform game for Atari 8-bit computers and part of the initial batch of games from MicroProse. Designed and programmed by company co-founder Sid Meier, it is one of the few 2D action games he created and the only platform game. It allows up to four players at once.

<i>Chopper Hunt</i> 1984 video game

Chopper Hunt is a side-view shoot 'em up written by Tom Hudson and published by Imagic in 1984 for Atari 8-bit computers and Commodore 64. It was one of the last games from Imagic before the company went out of business. Chopper Hunt is an enhanced version of the Atari 8-bit game Buried Bucks released by ANALOG Software in 1982. In both games, the player files a helicopter that uses bombs to unearth buried items. Contemporaneous reviews were mixed.

Movie Maker is a computer program published by Reston Publishing Company in 1984 which allows users to author animated visual sequences with audio. Self-playing movies can be viewed without the Movie Maker software. It was developed by Interactive Picture Systems for the Atari 8-bit family. In 1985 it was re-published by Electronic Arts, including a port to the Commodore 64.

<i>Super Huey UH-IX</i> 1985 video game

Super Huey UH-IX is a helicopter combat flight simulation game published by Cosmi Corporation. Originally released for the Commodore 64 in 1985, it was ported to the Amiga, Apple II, Atari ST, Atari 8-bit family, and MS-DOS. Atari Corporation published an Atari 7800 version in 1989.

<i>Kid Grid</i> 1982 video game

Kid Grid is a grid capture game which borrows heavily from the 1981 arcade video game Amidar. Written by Arti Haroutunian for Atari 8-bit computers, it was published by Tronix in 1982. A Commodore 64 port from the same programmer was released in 1983. In Kid Grid, the player moves along the horizontal and vertical lines of the playfield, turning the lines from dotted gray to solid blue. If all the lines around a square are completed, it is filled-in. Deadly creatures chase the player.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bristles". Spectrum Computing.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. 1 2 3 "Atari Bristles Manual". archive.org. 1983.
  3. 1 2 Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
  4. ↑ Bristles at Lemon 64
  5. ↑ Stulir, Mike. "Exidy Max-A-Flex System". American Classic Arcade Museum.
  6. ↑ Adamson, George (April 1984). "Product Reviews: Bristles". Antic. 3 (1): 93.
  7. ↑ Salamone, Ted (May 1984). "Computer Corner: Bristles". Video Games. 2 (8). Pumpkin Press: 80.
  8. ↑ Hochburg, Burt (December 1984). "Computer Capers: Bristles". GAMES. No. 58. Playboy Enterprises. p. 56.
  9. ↑ Eddy, Andy (November 1985). "Bargain Bin". ANALOG Computing (36): 19.
  10. ↑ "Atari 5200 Bristles (First Star Software)". AtariAge.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.