Looking at the screenshots of Monster Bash have jogged my memory about an Amiga game I played years ago. It may be Monster Bash, but after a cursory search around online I don't think it is.

Anyway, the style was somewhat similar to Monster Bash and the main character looked a bit like the one in Monster Bash. It opened with a sequence of this kid putting his baseball cap on, tying his shoes, putting his slingshot in his pocket and possibly chewing gum.

I seem to remember that the slingshot and chewing gum (bubbles) were two of the main weapons. I seem to think a skateboard was involved too.

Any ideas?

Perhaps Magic Pockets?

Got in one! Yep, that's it. Although looking at the video I mis-remembered a lot of it.

It says on wiki that there was a PC version.. any idea if it's available?

Legally, AFAIK only as used retail copies, e.g. on or for a horrendous price on [url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-Magic-Pockets/dp/B00004UBLF/ref=sr_1_2?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1405613530&sr=1-2&keywords=magic+pockets]Amazon. Digitally apparantly only as (technically illegal) abandonware, e.g. from Abandonia.

Vote for it here, if you want to encourage GOG to acquire distribution rights.

Just to add to this - BEWARE of used copies that consist of just the disc. Magic Pockets has a manual-based system of copy protection that hasn't been patched out in any version, so you'll need the codes. You can probably find them somewhere online, but it's worth bearing in mind.

My fond memories don't quite extend that far... And I tend not to touch abandonware (not only because of the legalities but also virus risks and games just not working anyway).

Anyway, thanks for the info. Maybe it'll be on here at some point. Just seeing the screenshots of Monster Bash reminded me of it and at least now I know what it was.


Edit: Voted for!

I can respect both the legalist thinking (although if it isn't available for sale, new, anywhere, I don't quite see the dilemma as nobody is deprived of anything - except you for not playing the game) as well as not wanting to tinker with old files if you don't know how to set up DosBox by yourself, but the "virus risk" is pure horseshit, at least if you stick to reputable abandonware sites like Abandonia, LTF or OldGames.sk
Abandonia (and I think OldGames too ?) even put affiliate GOG links for the games previously hosted by them and that got released here, if that can appease your scruples.

This said, I have fond memories of Magic Pockets. Might dig out my AtariST again soon.

I need to do that for Oids!

Indeed. If it's a DOS game which you'll be running in DOSBox, and as long as the archive isn't an EXE file (which is usually automatically cause for concern), the chances of catching a virus are practically zero.

Windows games are of course a little more risky, but as you say, unlikely from more reputable abandonware sites.

That being said, seeing as Bitmap Bros seems to be licensing every property under the sun for remakes at the moment...maybe a Magic Pockets HD is in the works?

Well, it's been a while since I've looked into it (after I found GoG and got Dungeon Keeper here I didn't really bother), but the websites I'd found with Abandonware were all quite dodgy. That's just my experience, and it has been a while since I've looked.