Elf

Elf is a platform action game with adventure elements that follows Cornelius, a young elf whose sweetheart Elisa has been kidnapped by the evil Necrilous. Armed only with a magic ring that fires projectiles, Cornelius must traverse eight beautifully detailed fantasy landscapes—including forests, castles, and snowy mountains—to rescue his love. The game emphasizes exploration and puzzle-solving over pure action, requiring players to collect herbs and tame animal companions called "pets" which can be traded in shops for upgrades such as enhanced attacks, extra speed, magic spells, or a flying machine. Key items and non-player characters must be found to solve inventory-based puzzles. The player's behaviour is tracked throughout, with a morality rating affecting the ending based on whether harmless creatures are killed or spared.

Atari ST

Released in 1991 by Ocean Software and developed by Nirvana Systems, the Atari ST version is celebrated for its outstanding graphics—vibrant colours, multi-shaded skies achieved through clever programming, and detailed enemy sprites. The soundtrack was composed by Matthew Cannon, known for Navy Seals. The game reached number 12 in the UK ST charts in December 1991. Critical reception was very positive: ST Format awarded 84-90% and called it "the best platform game to appear since Switchblade 2." However, critics noted a restrictive number of lives and relentless enemies that constantly drain energy. A massive, long-winded quest that rewards patience and exploration, Elf remains a brilliant and highly recommended platform adventure for ST fans.