Atari 8-Bit Game Play, Bad Bat Bart

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Robert's Retro-Gaming

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Published on April 19, 2024 12:00:10 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQRCyKEGx9s

Duration: 16:32

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In which I play "Bad Bat Bart", was released in 2014 by the Polish programmer Marek Cora. On first blush, this game looks like not much of anything, but after playing it for a bit, it became obvious that it is actually pretty engaging. The premise is simple, fly a bat through a tunnel that is pitch-black. Sonar is the answer to seeing what's happening, but using sonar costs energy, as do the involuntary sonar squeaks you emit when you smash into a wall. Stay alive for as long as possible. Sonar energy gradually replenishes.

The score is a two-row binary counter that quickly increments with time played without running out of energy. It's a clever way of representing score without using numeric digits. I wish it kept more than just the previous / best score on display; maybe a running history with the best score highlighted somehow.

I've said it before and I will say it again. Simple concepts with a small number of controllable elements often make for compelling games.