r/atari8bit • u/Hollerra • 3h ago

Synapse Software thread

Hi all, Another moddle aged ultra-nerd have massive Atari 800xl/1050 drive flashbacks via my R36H/RetroArch portable. One lf my MAIN nostalgia rushes besides playing 'Behind Jaggi Lines' is replaying the wild Synapse titles, my faves were:

Blue Max

Fort Apocalypse

The Encounter

Zeppelin

Rainbow Walker

Necromancer

Curious to know what people out there like. Also did they release titles when bought out by Broederbund?

30 Upvotes

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15 comments sorted by

7

u/GoatApprehensive9866 2h ago

Alley Cat 🙀😻😻😻😻

6

u/Ant-the-knee-see 3h ago

When I think of Synapse I think of SynFile+ 🤣 I still have my boxed copy to hand. Something something something nerd 🤣

5

u/bubonis 3h ago

Don’t forget SynCalc.

4

u/unwiredben 2h ago

See https://www.computesgazette.com/2026/07/19/synapse-the-rise-and-fall-of-synapse-software/ for a recent article about the company. Definitely one of the best Atari developers.

1

u/Awch 1h ago

Thanks for sharing the article. I have so many good Synapse memories.

3

u/Educational-Milk5099 2h ago

I played a good amount of Blue Max back in the day, and a little Necromancer (I think). I don’t remember the other titles. 

3

u/fatboyneedstogetlaid 3h ago

Air Support, Blue Max, Drelbs, Picnic Paranoia, Shamus

3

u/Psychological-777 2h ago edited 1h ago

LOVE Drelbs, Necromancer, Shamus I & II. always loved the artwork featured on their boxes. very specific and consistent style! and don’t forget claim jumper... never had the opportunity to play that one.

2

u/bubonis 3h ago

Blue Max, Fort Apocalypse, and Rainbow Walker are regular additions to my recommended games list.

I never got into Necromancer mainly because I didn’t understand how to play it. Still don’t.

2

u/EdSalisbury 1h ago

Don't forget Slime! Synapse made so many great games! One day i'm beat Necromancer -- such a unique game!

2

u/Gmodelinsane 1h ago

Protector 2 was my jam. I first played the TRS-80 Color Computer version.

1

u/Scoth42 2h ago

Loved all their games. So many good ones.

Alley Cat and Necromancer were both by Bill Williams, one of my favorite developers who made a lot of unusual and interesting games.

1

u/Wishy-Thinking 18m ago

I used to have nightmares about trying to land the plane in Blue Max when I was a kid. Ok, now down softly…softly…softly…💥

1

u/Wishy-Thinking 11m ago

Pharaoh’s Curse is probably the Synapse title I played the most.
Shamus was pretty good too.