Bitmap Brothers style games?

Whitesnake · 26 October 2012, 11:27

There is probably nothing to describe this phenomena that seems to be a sub genre of graphical and sound styling that The Bitmap Brothers were so famous for doing, but I thought it would be interesting to start a thread that has a list of games that use a similar graphical / sound styling for their games.

I suspect The Bitmap Brothers might not have been the first to do it although I could be wrong.

Games like:

James Pond, Ruff n Tumble, Car-Vup to name a few.

Maybe such a topic would make a good feature for Amiga Lore, e.g. how this originated etc.

s2325 · 26 October 2012, 11:34

Alien Bash II: http://hol.abime.net/5406
and maybe also Watchtower: http://hol.abime.net/1675/screenshot

JudasEZT · 26 October 2012, 14:45

I dont get very well why James Pond and Car-Vup could be described as BitmapBrother style..

check it up these two:

Robin Hood: Legend Quest

Deep core

dreamkatcha · 26 October 2012, 16:01

How would you define this phenomena that can't be described? I'm lost.

You mean games where the music and graphics seem to complement each other particularly well?

Whitesnake · 26 October 2012, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by JudasEZT

I dont get very well why James Pond and Car-Vup could be described as BitmapBrother style..

check it up these two:

Robin Hood: Legend Quest

Deep core

I didn't specifically just mean on a gameplay level, more graphical elements and sound effects.

Cutesy graphics that have a rounded and reflective shine to them is the best way I can describe it.

Lots of bouncing collectables

Virocop and Fire & Brimstone or Globdule to name some more.

JudasEZT · 27 October 2012, 00:11

Is just that its like a too wide specifications.

Anyway, for the colour scheme.. look at Paradroid90 methalic tones.

For the collect'm up question, well, Taito were the king of that. BubbleBobble and specially RainbowIslands has the bigger collect'm up fever I can remember.

alexh · 27 October 2012, 09:43

Fire and Ice
Elf

skan · 27 October 2012, 13:33

As for graphic style, all I can think of is Darkmere, Banshee and BabeAnoid.
As for attitude... no one like the Bros!!!

kamelito · 27 October 2012, 14:19

gfx signature recognizable were the work of Pete Lyon and Mark Jones.
Kamelito

Mrs Beanbag · 02 November 2012, 13:57

I think it's mostly the choice of colours as well as a lot of stonework that does it. Lots of shades of greyish-blue and orange-brown.

Some of The Killing Game Show has a similar vibe to it, especially the pick ups and bullets which are somewhat reminiscent of Xenon II.

Whitesnake · 03 November 2012, 00:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs Beanbag

I think it's mostly the choice of colours as well as a lot of stonework that does it. Lots of shades of greyish-blue and orange-brown.

Some of The Killing Game Show has a similar vibe to it, especially the pick ups and bullets which are somewhat reminiscent of Xenon II.

Yeah, The Killing Game Show definitely has that look to it.

Oldskool Bitz · 03 November 2012, 09:41

Great thread!

Core Design's Wolfchild springs to mind

s2325 · 03 November 2012, 09:45

I always liked two first worlds of Wolfchild but not sure about later levels. They are so generic and similar looking, feels like different game.

Oldskool Bitz · 03 November 2012, 09:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by s2325

I always liked two first worlds of Wolfchild but not sure about later levels. They are so generic and similar looking, feels like different game.

Level 3 and 5 are indeed very different.

Good point...

humble worm · 03 November 2012, 12:21

Good thread!

Dan Malone and Mark Coleman had pretty different styles imho and I dont know what exactly people mean when they talk about 'BB graphical style'. Somebody on the board even claimed that Mark Coleman did not exist and it was all Malone's work, but in my opinion he must be blind (not to mention that its a crazy conspiracy theory

).

Maybe its about quality. Deep Core may seem to have similar style, but When you take a closer look you see the gfx is weak. Decent pixel pusher =/= good artist. I think the both BB graphic designers were talented and skilled at drawing and thats why they distinguish from the mass of craftsmen. Dan Malone is professional artist (diploma etc), I dont know much about Mark Coleman (he's not become so popular

).

Gods, Xenon II and Magic Pockets - similarities are obvious (even some baddies are recycled). Great use of just few colors, great sprite design.

CE, Speedball 2 - greatest isometric gfx ever + the characters' images

amiga_Forever · 21 February 2013, 19:29

Chaos Engine 1 and 2.

lurch · 25 February 2013, 08:24

[ Show youtube player ]

Blackviper has that kind of feel, mainly around the motorbike animations.

The best game that feels like a bitmap brothers game is Ruff'n'Tumble :-)

Alien bash 2... this is amazing game, overlooked to be honest. I prefer it more than the Chaos engine :-)

lurch · 25 February 2013, 08:27

Gods and magic pockets... graphics recycled anyone? Even the sounds are similar. Gods is the better game though.

Predseda · 25 February 2013, 10:31

Naughty Ones is a lot of bitmapbrotherish to me.

Yakumo9275 · 25 February 2013, 14:50

Elf feels like a bitmap bros game to me.

26 October 2012, 11:27	#1
Whitesnake Martin Shaw Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 457	Bitmap Brothers style games? There is probably nothing to describe this phenomena that seems to be a sub genre of graphical and sound styling that The Bitmap Brothers were so famous for doing, but I thought it would be interesting to start a thread that has a list of games that use a similar graphical / sound styling for their games. I suspect The Bitmap Brothers might not have been the first to do it although I could be wrong. Games like: James Pond, Ruff n Tumble, Car-Vup to name a few. Maybe such a topic would make a good feature for Amiga Lore, e.g. how this originated etc.

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26 October 2012, 11:34	#2
s2325 Zone Friend Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Gargore Age: 43 Posts: 17,789	Alien Bash II: http://hol.abime.net/5406 and maybe also Watchtower: http://hol.abime.net/1675/screenshot

26 October 2012, 14:45	#3
JudasEZT Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: mercury Posts: 577	I dont get very well why James Pond and Car-Vup could be described as BitmapBrother style.. check it up these two: Robin Hood: Legend Quest Deep core

26 October 2012, 16:01	#4
dreamkatcha I've got a new byline Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 1,219	How would you define this phenomena that can't be described? I'm lost. You mean games where the music and graphics seem to complement each other particularly well?

27 October 2012, 00:11	#6
JudasEZT Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: mercury Posts: 577	Is just that its like a too wide specifications. Anyway, for the colour scheme.. look at Paradroid90 methalic tones. For the collect'm up question, well, Taito were the king of that. BubbleBobble and specially RainbowIslands has the bigger collect'm up fever I can remember.

27 October 2012, 09:43	#7
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,354	Fire and Ice Elf

27 October 2012, 13:33	#8
skan Dream Merchant Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dreamlands Posts: 530	As for graphic style, all I can think of is Darkmere, Banshee and BabeAnoid. As for attitude... no one like the Bros!!!

27 October 2012, 14:19	#9
kamelito Zone Friend Join Date: May 2006 Location: France Posts: 1,801	gfx signature recognizable were the work of Pete Lyon and Mark Jones. Kamelito

02 November 2012, 13:57	#10
Mrs Beanbag Glastonbridge Software Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Edinburgh/Scotland Posts: 2,243	I think it's mostly the choice of colours as well as a lot of stonework that does it. Lots of shades of greyish-blue and orange-brown. Some of The Killing Game Show has a similar vibe to it, especially the pick ups and bullets which are somewhat reminiscent of Xenon II.

03 November 2012, 09:41	#12
Oldskool Bitz Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: The Netherlands Age: 42 Posts: 32	Great thread! Core Design's Wolfchild springs to mind

03 November 2012, 09:45	#13
s2325 Zone Friend Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Gargore Age: 43 Posts: 17,789	I always liked two first worlds of Wolfchild but not sure about later levels. They are so generic and similar looking, feels like different game.

03 November 2012, 12:21	#15
humble worm Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: BP/Poland Age: 45 Posts: 745	Good thread! Dan Malone and Mark Coleman had pretty different styles imho and I dont know what exactly people mean when they talk about 'BB graphical style'. Somebody on the board even claimed that Mark Coleman did not exist and it was all Malone's work, but in my opinion he must be blind (not to mention that its a crazy conspiracy theory ). Maybe its about quality. Deep Core may seem to have similar style, but When you take a closer look you see the gfx is weak. Decent pixel pusher =/= good artist. I think the both BB graphic designers were talented and skilled at drawing and thats why they distinguish from the mass of craftsmen. Dan Malone is professional artist (diploma etc), I dont know much about Mark Coleman (he's not become so popular ). Gods, Xenon II and Magic Pockets - similarities are obvious (even some baddies are recycled). Great use of just few colors, great sprite design. CE, Speedball 2 - greatest isometric gfx ever + the characters' images

21 February 2013, 19:29	#16
amiga_Forever Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: kkhkj Posts: 323	Chaos Engine 1 and 2.

25 February 2013, 08:24	#17
lurch Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New Zealand Posts: 104	[ Show youtube player ] Blackviper has that kind of feel, mainly around the motorbike animations. The best game that feels like a bitmap brothers game is Ruff'n'Tumble :-) Alien bash 2... this is amazing game, overlooked to be honest. I prefer it more than the Chaos engine :-)

25 February 2013, 08:27	#18
lurch Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New Zealand Posts: 104	Gods and magic pockets... graphics recycled anyone? Even the sounds are similar. Gods is the better game though.

25 February 2013, 10:31	#19
Predseda Puttymoon inhabitant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tromaville Age: 46 Posts: 7,544	Naughty Ones is a lot of bitmapbrotherish to me.

25 February 2013, 14:50	#20
Yakumo9275 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Lexington VA Posts: 94	Elf feels like a bitmap bros game to me.

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