Random Commodore 64 Screenshots

Giana Sisters on the Commodore 64.

Happy Mario day!

Battle of the Planets on the Commodore 64.

Battle of the Planets (1986)

This is a first-person space "sim" based on the TV-show Battle of the Planets (which was in turn based on the anime series Science Ninja Team Gatchaman). You fly your spaceship around in an open universe, fighting off the forces of the evil Zoltar where needed. 1/2

The goal is then to remove the opponent completely from the board. I had actually some fun playing this in two player mode, but it gets very unpredictable towards the end. And it should have used different colours for the players.

A web version is available. 3/3
www.kongregate.com/games/ojorus...

Hexplode Published by Personal Computer World (PCW) (VNU Business Publications) in 1983

The concept is pretty clever: Two players put atoms in hexes, one by one. Once a hex has enough atoms, it will explode and fill all neighbours with one extra atom. This can make them explode, creating chain reactions. Any hex that gets a new atom in this way flips to the current player. 2/3

Explode on the Commodore 64.

Explode/Hexplode (198?)

A neat version of Janet Ansell's BBC Micro game Hexplode, which was originally published as a type-in listing in Personal Computer World in 1983. I don't know who did the C64 port as the only version I can find was republished by Alpha Software with no credits. 1/3

Maniac Mansion on the Commodore 64.

Maniac Mansion (1987)

Contrary to popular belief, Maniac Mansion was not Lucasfilm Games' first graphics adventure. That was instead the Commodore 64-exclusive Labyrinth, which has been covered before. But Maniac Mansion introduced the SCUMM-engine and was their first proper point & click game. 1/4

Alien Infiltration.

International 3D Tennis.

Lords of Midnight.

Pains 'n Aches.

Some random Commodore 64 screenshots for you!

Buying a trampoline in Donald Duck's Playground on the Commodore 64.

Donald Duck's Playground (1984)

This children's game from Sierra was created by Al Lowe, who'd later gain fame/notoriety for the Leisure Suit Larry series of adventure games. Here you play Donald Duck, who wants to do something nice for the neighbourhood's kids. 1/3

The frame rate might scare modern gamers away, and the steering takes some getting used to, but it's still a very enjoyable game with great graphics. It was developed by Distinctive Software for Accolade, with future Xbox boss Don Mattrick heading development. 3/3

Cover image from Mobygames.

Test Drive 2 is a racing game featuring illegal road races where you must dodge traffic and avoid or outrun the police while staying ahead of your opponent. It uses a first-person point of view, and its detailed, realistic dashboards are among its defining features. 2/3

A dream car in Test Drive 2: The Duel.

The Supercars for The Duel: Test Drive 2 (1989)

A presentation of the Ferrari Testarossa, one of the new cars included in the Supercars expansion for The Duel: Test Drive 2. Yes, they did expansions on the Commodore 64 as well, though they were pretty rare. This game got several. 1/3

Looks neat! The concept is great IMO, there are just a few frustrating things with the C64 version that I wish had been ironed out.

Splat! on the Commodore 64.

Splat! (1984)
A simple but surprisingly addictive game from Incentive Software that is just a few adjustments away from being a hidden gem. Guide an insect through a maze, eating grass and avoiding getting splatted. The graphics are simple, the sound is almost non-existent, but the game is fun. 1/2

Later on, you need to deposit the survivors at a base where they are finally safe. The game feels quite dynamic to play, and there's some strategy to it. It was created by Ken Rose and published by Synapse Software, one of the bigger names in the early computer games industry. 3/3

Cover image from Mobygames.

Not only are there plenty of smaller aliens and gun turrets to contend with, but there's a bastard of a flying saucer that picks up survivors and drop them in the local (constantly erupting) volcano! You can shoot it to freeze it for a while, but you can not kill it. 2/3

Protector II on the Commodore 64.

Protector II (1983)

A fun and addictive (if also a bit finicky and frustrating) take on the general concept from Defender. A city is under attack by aliens, and your job is to pilot your plane to pick up survivors and drop them off at the next city while avoiding or killing enemies. 1/3

The building's collapsing! The rooftop is miles away. Your legs have never moved faster. C64ANABALT is one button, one direction and no mercy.

Can you survive the destruction of your city in this endless runner? #C64U #Commodore

Wings of Fury on the Commodore 64.

Wings of Fury (1990)
The second screenshot from Wings of Fury, a great flight action game with light sim elements from Brøderbund. It's not quite as exciting as the first screenshot, as this one features the weapon selection screen back at the carrier where you begin the game. 1/3

The final level, shown here, has you defeating the alien flag ship by literally blasting it to pieces until you hit the reactor. The game is fast, fun and addictive, perfect as a quick "snack" between larger games. It even supports the Magic Voice system for the arcade's robotic speech. 3/3

Cover image from Mobygames. Presumably the name is printed twice because it's a dual language release and the name is the same in both languages.

The arcade game had levels inspired by Space Invaders and Galaxian, which Midway were distributing at the time. There were also some more original ones, like a sort of warp tunnel level. The home version lacked the Galaxian level, so there are only four here. 2/3

Gorf on the Commodore 64. Final level (the game repeats, so this is the second time I'm playing it - hence the two aliens who are not there the first time around)

Gorf (1983)

A pretty good conversion of Midway's arcade game Gorf - a space shooter where you have to fight off the Gorfian empire. The original was known for having five distinct levels, each with their own gameplay style, which was pretty novel back when it was released. 1/3

Yes, the PETSCII work here is pure art.

FairLight & Genesis Project - The Hat (C64 Demo) YouTube video by FairLight - Home of the Real Crackers

This is really impressive. You'll probably need to know a bit about the C64 to understand why, but as an example, I'm sure you've noticed how more than 95% of the screenshots featured here have absolutely nothing in the border area.

Starflight™ 1+2 In Starflight 1 you embark on a mission to save the galaxy’s future by discovering the

Starflight was a major source of inspiration for later games like Star Control II and Mass Effect, and is well worth playing even today. The Commodore 64 version is very good, but I'd go for the superior Amiga version. Of course, the DOS version is the only one actually available to buy. 4/4

During your travels you will encounter aliens, both hostile and friendly, and you will be able to explore hundreds of individual planets in search of resources and ruins. How you proceed is entirely up to you, but you do have a (reasonable) time limit to contend with. 3/4

Cover image from Mobygames.

You're appointed captain of a spaceship, and start by selecting your crew. Then you head out into space, in search of the resources needed to upgrade your ship as well as clues that can explain the nature of the threat facing the universe, and how to stop it. 2/4

Having just landed on an ice planet, we now consider our options. In Starflight on the Commodore 64.

Starflight (1989)

A truly epic open world (or should that be open universe?) space opera, where the four races co-inhabiting the planet Arth find ancient technology as well as texts warning of a coming apocalypse. Now they have to work together to save Arth and the rest of the universe. 1/4

LuftrauserZ on the Commodore 64.

LuftrauserZ (2017)

An enjoyable demake of the hit indie game Luftrausers. Like in the original, you & your plane must to survive relentless attacks from ever more dangerous enemies. Achieve various in-game goals to unlock new parts for your plane, some of which drastically change its behaviour. 1/3

Castle Capers (C64) - 1984 Ocean - GTW64 An interesting title only really known about due to its very brief inclusion on Commercial Breaks (A BBC documentary from 1984 which documented on Imagine

Ocean must have ended up rejecting the game. Instead it was released in Germany as Das Spukschloß in 1985, and then as The Secret of Kandar in the UK (and elsewhere?) by CRL's Alpha-Omega budget label in 1986. It was created by Andrew Taylor. 4/4 www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/castle...

Imagine Software (Ocean) - Commercial Breaks YouTube video by Azza White

If it looks primitive for a 1986 game, that is partly because it was originally completed in 1984 and actually featured in the famous Commercial Breaks episode where we get to witness the implosion of Imagine Software. It's called Castle Capers there, and is being tested by Ocean's David Ward. 3/4