HawkMoon: A Polish Platformer Gem for Atari XL/XE

HawkMoon is a Polish platform game released in 1993 for Atari XL/XE computers by L.K. Avalon. The game was created by Dariusz Majer (programming) and Tomasz Liebich (music). Players take on the role of Johnnie, a smuggler on a mission to find an ancient amulet. The fragments of this artifact are hidden in an underground city on the Moon.

The gameplay focuses on exploring expansive locations, precise jumping, and avoiding obstacles such as flames and moving platforms. A distinctive feature is the long-jump mechanic, requiring good coordination and timing mid-air.

The game offers detailed graphics tailored to the capabilities of the Atari and an atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the mysterious vibe. While HawkMoon did not achieve significant international success, it remains one of the more acclaimed titles within the Polish retro gaming community. Its polished mechanics and unique storyline continue to attract fans of classic games.

Smuggler Johnnie hadn't been able to boast of any successful operations for quite some time - the Space Force patrols had become amazingly vigilant and effective. The astronauts at the lunar base had already forgotten the taste of real whisky, while Johnnie was slowly beginning to think about selling his well-worn shuttle and retiring. He was dissuaded from this decision by a conversation in an orbital bar with a strange guy who claimed to have seen, with his own eyes, a gigantic city built by an alien civilization beneath the Moon's surface. It was supposed to have been built in times when the human race was just beginning to descend from trees into caves. Currently, it was abandoned and partially destroyed, but a team of scientists investigating it came across mysterious objects that were parts of a larger whole - the Amulet. It was supposed to be an incredibly powerful device, giving its owner absolutely incredible abilities.

Unfortunately - during one of the experiments, there was a tragic accident, from which only one person survived - he was the one telling Johnnie this whole story. Now, for two bottles of real whisky, he agreed to show the smuggler the way to the underground city.