Shamus
Main game
3.00 average rating based on 5 ratings
- Developers
- Synapse Software Corporation
- Publishers
- Americana Software Limited, Atarisoft, Human Engineered Software, IBM, NEC Home Electronics, Synapse Software Corporation, Tandy, Telegames
- Series
- Shamus
- Platforms
- Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX, Commodore VIC-20, Game Boy Color, Legacy Computer, NEC PC-6000 Series, TRS-80 Color Computer, Texas Instruments TI-99
- Genres
- Arcade
- Themes
- Action, Science fiction
Release Dates
User Stats
How Long Is Shamus?
Surprisingly Good For An Atari 8-Bit Action-Adventure!
Look: 7/10
I honestly barely noticed the look except the walls and ending. Certainly functional, and I loved the feel that a lot of it gave me (particularly Chip's Challenge feel). But I dunno, didn't strike me. The UI was great tho! 
Again, I didn't wanna focus much on screenshots--plus there are plenty of videos and remakes/ports of this game. 
Sound: 6/10 Mostly just annoying or forgettable, tho there was some use of "actual music" like I typically mention in this era.
Play: 7/10 How's the manual not gonna have any instructions on the controls? lol... am i missing it in there? I love that you can shoot enemy bullets, and I like that there are difficulty settings. Fortunately the collision masks of enemies is quite forgiving. Argh, I thought I wouldn't like this game from my first 10 minutes of playing but I wound up getting sucked in! I need to go to bed! Ha. Anyway, the controls were tight, and the action segments surprisingly the best part (I'm usually more an adventure guy). It was just nice how fast-paced and fun the shooting was, tho it still had its clunkiness that comes with the era. The game is …
Look: 7/10
I honestly barely noticed the look except the walls and ending. Certainly functional, and I loved the feel that a lot of it gave me (particularly Chip's Challenge feel). But I dunno, didn't strike me. The UI was great tho!
Again, I didn't wanna focus much on screenshots--plus there are plenty of videos and remakes/ports of this game.
Sound: 6/10 Mostly just annoying or forgettable, tho there was some use of "actual music" like I typically mention in this era.
Play: 7/10 How's the manual not gonna have any instructions on the controls? lol... am i missing it in there? I love that you can shoot enemy bullets, and I like that there are difficulty settings. Fortunately the collision masks of enemies is quite forgiving. Argh, I thought I wouldn't like this game from my first 10 minutes of playing but I wound up getting sucked in! I need to go to bed! Ha. Anyway, the controls were tight, and the action segments surprisingly the best part (I'm usually more an adventure guy). It was just nice how fast-paced and fun the shooting was, tho it still had its clunkiness that comes with the era. The game is a bit long, but honestly perfect for when you know you have one solid play session ahead. And not a big fan of some of the wall parts, dodge/fast movement parts like in SwordQuest--I prefer the shooting action parts :-p
Feel: 8/10 Gotta love these early mixes of adventure and action, this one does it real well. Plus, about as smooth as Berzerk (and for an Atari 8-bit game! I usually don't like action games on that system!)--with an insanely expansive adventure for an Atari 8-bit game. Kinda gave me Chip's Challenge vibes, especially with the keys. And Zelda vibes... And Abe's Odyssey/Exodus vibes with the numbered rooms. Interesting... And quite fun!
Attachment: 7/10 Welp, I pushed through and mostly had fun doing so. It was frustrating at parts, and I used these maps but overall it was just fun, straightforward, and more a test of my reflexes. This might actually warrant an 8; if I ever return to the game I will be comfortable changing it! Till then, another good game that I don't wanna forget--but doubt I will be taking time to replay!
Completion: Main Story Playtime: 2 hours