37 replies to this topic

[Random Terrain]

What are the must-have hacks? I didn't put best hacks, because invincibility hacks may not be the best, but they are must-haves for some people. For example, the Pitfall II invincibility hack is a must-have.

So I'm looking for hacks that improve a game so much that it makes you cry and hacks that are simply useful (invincibility, extra lives, and so on).

So what are the must-have hacks? (Please link to the post that contains the latest version of the hack.)



Thanks.

[dwane413]

Here are three in my opinion:

Pac-Man Arcade Enhanced

Hack'em!

For some reason I like Packrat. Here's the AtariAge page and the cartridge page too. It's just a graphics hack, but I like the way it looks. It's probably not a must-have hack for everyone, but for me it is.

[accousticguitar]

MissAdventure Revised
Space Invaders Deluxe
River Raid Random
Omega Race-Joystick controller

[dwane413]

accousticguitar, on Thu May 12, 2011 9:33 AM, said:

MissAdventure Revised
Space Invaders Deluxe
River Raid Random
Omega Race-Joystick controller

Here are some links. Hope I got them right:

Missadventure Revised

Space Invaders Deluxe
Space Invaders Deluxe 8k

River Raid 4 Rivers Random

Omega Race-Joystick controller - I couldn't find the thread, but it is in Atari 2600 Hacks and Homebrews ROM Collection V1.2
Omega Race DC

[Random Terrain]

Thanks for the links posted so far. I'll check them out later tonight.

[littleman jack]

Pac-Man 8k
Wolfenstein VCS: The Next Misssion (hack of Venture, but so hacked it feels like a new game)

[dwane413]

littleman jack, on Thu May 12, 2011 11:37 AM, said:

Pac-Man 8k
Wolfenstein VCS: The Next Misssion (hack of Venture, but so hacked it feels like a new game)

More links for Random Terrain:

Pac-Man 8k

Wolfenstein - The Next Mission

[Zach]

I personally like Muncher because it has fun characters and it redeems a good maze game that had no business being called "Pac-Man".

And of course any hack in the store is worth looking into.

[Random Terrain]

I totally forgot about Randomized River Raid. I need to move it from the hacks folder to my main game folder so I'll remember to play it.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Personally, from all of my own hacks, I prefer Missile Command TB and then Sadistroids.

[NE146]

I second Sadistroids(or, the "Arcade Asteroids"). In my opinion they don't really make the game hard, but rather a lot closer to the arcade game in gameplay and Asteroid behavior.

And of course my opinion of most all of Nukeys Hacks are way up there.. especially his Pac & Space Invaders Deluxe ones.

[Emehr]

I second Thomas' Missile Command TB. It's the only way to play the game.

Berzerk VE adds the voices to Berzerk.

While I'm not into graphics hacks, I make an exception when it actually improves the game. In this case, Return of Mario Bros looks more like the arcade, which makes it great.

[Chuck D. Head]

Random Terrain, on Thu May 12, 2011 5:27 AM, said:

What are the must-have hacks? I didn't put best hacks, because invincibility hacks may not be the best, but they are must-haves for some people. For example, the Pitfall II invincibility hack is a must-have.

Thanks.

I'm sure this prolly don't exist, but I think an amazing hack would be to randomize the gold in Pitfall II.

[Random Terrain]

Emehr, on Fri May 13, 2011 6:48 AM, said:

I second Thomas' Missile Command TB. It's the only way to play the game.

I tried it and my mouse pointer has a hard time lining up with the cursor, so it leaves the game window and I end up clicking outside of the game. I guess you have to play it full screen. Is there a way to temporarily lock the mouse within the Stella window without going full screen?

[Random Terrain]

Chuck D. Head, on Fri May 13, 2011 7:02 AM, said:

I'm sure this prolly don't exist, but I think an amazing hack would be to randomize the gold in Pitfall II.

I thought it was originally going to be like that since they were making a big deal about how it was going to be the best 'adventure game' ever made. Using controlled randomness to place the gold would bring it a little closer to being a real adventure game.

[dwane413]

Random Terrain, on Fri May 13, 2011 7:03 AM, said:

Emehr, on Fri May 13, 2011 6:48 AM, said:

I second Thomas' Missile Command TB. It's the only way to play the game.

I tried it and my mouse pointer has a hard time lining up with the cursor, so it leaves the game window and I end up clicking outside of the game. I guess you have to play it full screen. Is there a way to temporarily lock the mouse within the Stella window without going full screen?

CTRL-G

[stephena]

Random Terrain, on Fri May 13, 2011 7:03 AM, said:

Emehr, on Fri May 13, 2011 6:48 AM, said:

I second Thomas' Missile Command TB. It's the only way to play the game.

I tried it and my mouse pointer has a hard time lining up with the cursor, so it leaves the game window and I end up clicking outside of the game. I guess you have to play it full screen. Is there a way to temporarily lock the mouse within the Stella window without going full screen?

As was previously mentioned, it is Control-g. But the next release will always have it enabled while playing a game, and Control-g will be removed. Then the only way to leave the window while playing the game is to pause it, bring up a menu or the debugger, etc.

This new way is how most other emulators work, and should eliminate this frequently asked question

[Random Terrain]

stephena, on Fri May 13, 2011 7:37 AM, said:

As was previously mentioned, it is Control-g. But the next release will always have it enabled while playing a game, and Control-g will be removed. Then the only way to leave the window while playing the game is to pause it, bring up a menu or the debugger, etc.

This new way is how most other emulators work, and should eliminate this frequently asked question

Thanks. That sounds good, but then you'll have people asking how they can keep Stella from kidnapping their mouse pointers. "I can't use my computer! Help!"

[Impaler_26]

A few more good hacks :

Venture 3
Atrix
Indy 500 XE
Ace
Solaris Trainer
Knightmate
Planet Raid
Man goes Down (Hack)
Combat Redux
PDP Space War
River Raid Plus
Sprintmaster DC

[roadrunner]

Q*Bert Arcade


http://www.atariage....ert-arcade-hack

[ComputerSpaceFan]

My votes:

Grundle vs Rhindle
Avalanche
Death Derby (if they ever finish it)

[thegoldenband]

The two-button hacks that take advantage of the Genesis controller are very nice indeed. Double Dragon, in particular, is hugely improved.

[Random Terrain]

Thanks for the posts so far. Feel free to keep on posting your favorite hacks.

Someone should hack Circus Atari so the clowns won't die if you miss. They could either roll over to the side or bounce up a little (only high enough to land on the teeter-totter). Then little kids could play without getting frustrated. And while you're at it, how about making the balloons multicolored?

Edited by Random Terrain, Fri May 13, 2011 7:27 PM.

[dwane413]

If you want hacks for kids, check out Changing controller mapping Kid'c Controller (Use joystick).

[Impaler_26]

ComputerSpaceFan, on Fri May 13, 2011 6:15 PM, said:

My votes:

Avalanche
Death Derby (if they ever finish it)

Avalanche and Death Derby are no hacks, they're both homebrews written from scratch.