C64 OS v1.05 is now available!

C64 OS v1.05 is now available! v1.05 introduces a major architectural upgrade — Fast App Switching. Tons of other bug fixes and improvements are in this release. It's been under development and testing since July 2023. #C64 https://t.co/11xSRM3F8khttps://t.co/Tt0126fzl0 pic.twitter.com/TG4qiJ7iBO

— Gregorio Naçu (@gregnacu) November 14, 2023

Youtube: C64 OS
Twitter: Gregorio Naçu
Website: c64os.com

Robot Jet Action 2, Amiga

Robot Jet Action 2 is a continuation of the C64 hit game and this time the game is aimed for the Amiga range of computers. Expect more colours, more robots and more action!

The release plans, dates and more details will be announced early 2024.
While waiting for this new Amiga game you can play original Robot Jet Action for the Commodore 64 here: carrion64.itch.io/robot-jet-action. The development of the game can be followed at: retronavigator.com. You can also follow the YouTube channel here: retronavigator.

Ewe Woz ‘Ere DX 1.3 Update, Commodore 64

Baaary: Mutton Commando is a cyborg sheep from the distant future who must preserve the future of mutton-kind by defending the fields from an invasion of Traazkists led by the evil combat lizard, Traazk.

Armed with a basic plasma spitter, Baaary is teleported into the field where he must destroy meanies and collect charges to prime the gateway and clear the level.

Features
-12 levels across 6 different biomes.
-6 different weapons to collect.
-45 varieties of aliens across the 12 levels.
-Destructible terrain.
-Variable gravity.
-All new soundtrack.
-30 sound effects.
-High score table and best game saving.
-An extra hard nightmare mode can be unlocked by completing the game.
-Playable on PAL or NTSC Commodore 64s.

Download: ewewozere_dx_1.3.d64
Source: designchaos.itch.io

Super Bagman Arcade to Amiga Conversion Released!

Early November Vitno website shared News Jotd was working on Super Bagman, an Arcade to Amiga conversion. We have some great News for you today, the game has been released and you can download it here: SuperBagman_ADF.zip.

Super Bagman, a Labyrinth/Maze Arcade game from 1984 by Stern Electronics. Your character is a robber. Run around a mine collecting moneybags and depositing them in a wheelbarrow at the top of the screen. Climb ladders and ride elevators to avoid two angry miners. Grab pickaxes and other objects to temporarily stun your pursuers.

Here’s what Jotd had to say. Game is pretty complete by now with music by no9 (great conversions as always!) and a “very easy” mode which is default and allows the game to be playable. Arcade mode is also available, along with a lot of trainer options.
Source: eab.abime.net

Hunchback, Commodore 64

Well.Come. Back.

The Bells! The Bells!

Frankly, dear friends, I am unsure as to why the only discernible audio in the Commodore 64 version of Ocean’s “Hunchback” is the traditional 100+ year old ditty “The Teddy Bear’s Picnic”. Answers on a pike to: ouch, that’s my arse.

Hunchback then, at first glance, could almost (colour clash n00bs) be mistaken for a Spectrum game, however, the game itself is a joy to play and as simple as a flat cheese sandwich. You play Hunchback or Quasimodo from the literary pen of Victor Hugo, looking to emancipate your love, Esmerelda from the top of Notre Dame. Simple.

Well – not so, as you have to scale the merlons and run a gauntlet of agility, timing and youthfulness, all of which I fail in. Reminiscent of our friend from Pitfall, the game mechanics are straightforward, easy to pick up and a pleasure to enact. However – a walk in the park, it is not.

One of the most fun aspects of the game, as a whole, is that despite the clear and present simplicity of the entire premise, you remain steadfastly rubbish at it. Rather than frustrate you, this elicits continual glee from your stupid little headbox. It is genuinely fun to play, even, on the screens that have barely any adversaries, or obstacles at all. A feat of hook-ability, if I ever saw one.

For me personally, the nostalgia factor with Hunchback is so strong, I may well be verging on the Mega Bias, however, I will stick to my came to conclusion wot I did come to which is that Hunchback (with the benefit of Instaload) is a cracking game to fire up and have a 20 minutes blast at.

If you can get much further than level 8 – you’re doing very, very well.

It is clearly nothing complicated, but its worth its weight in bells.

Commodore User Issue 9: 4/5
YouTube: LogrusUK
Download: Hunchback

1994 Bomberman Clone Penguin Tower finally Released!

Penguin Tower is a 1994 Bomberman clone coded by Jani Hirvo and Scapegoat, graphics also by Jani Hirvo. Music and SFX by Feekzoid, Chris Lightfoot and AudioMaster J. Another game that was thought to be lost forever after the demise of the Commodore 64. But today we have some good News!

Frank Gasking just announced on Twitter that Penguin Tower has finally been released, and for free! Head over to the Games that weren’t website to read the whole story, it’s all very interesting.

Download: Game_Penguintower.zip
CSDb: Penguin Tower
C64 Crack: Penguin Tower+
Source: Frank Gasking
Commodore Format: issue-review-cf-44-may-1994

After almost 30 years, Penguin Tower has finally been finished and released for the #Commodore64. A long journey for a great Bomberman clone that #GTW has been gently nudging the coder about finishing for some time. Thank you Jani!! ❤️https://t.co/FgO1hJgibL pic.twitter.com/20l5aHlIMP

— Games That Weren't (@fgasking) November 21, 2023

Abbey(s) of the Dead, Amiga

13th Century the Cathars were being expelled by the Catholic Church out of the Languedoc. Jean & Joan Raymond run to escape the crusaders, an abandoned church seems welcoming. This demo game comes as an .adf file usable on the Amiga (PAL) home computer. Requires minimum 1MB RAM (512KB/512KB or 1MB). The demo version gives you a limited area to explore on the original map with infinite lives. The full game release is expected by the end of November this year. Download: Abbeys_Demo_Amiga.zip

Emerald Caves, A New Emerald Mine Clone with 64 Brand New Levels for your Amiga!

Emerald Mine is a 1987 puzzle video game developed and published for Amiga and Atari ST by Kingsoft. The series follows mines filled with various gems, such as emeralds. It is a Boulder Dash clone in which the player completes levels by collecting a specific amount of gems before reaching the exit. Emerald Mine was Kingsoft’s best-selling title with reviews generally favourable, and spawned several sequels.

Emerald Caves is an Emerald Mine clone, a nod to the past and features 64 brand new levels to test your skills. Challenging but fun! Emerald Caves is available for OCS and AGA Amiga.
Grab the download here: EmeraldCaves.adf

Classic Top Down Action Game Tower of Evil Released for the Commodore 64!

Tower of Evil, originally a game for the C16/Plus/4, Vic-20 and ZX Spectrum was released by Excess today for the Commodore 64.

You play the role of Andros who was banished years ago by King Salimos and can only return when he returns kidnapped Princess Diana and the King's lost treasure taken by an evil Necromancer. You have journeyed to the Necromancer's home, The Tower of Evil to retrieve the stolen treasure and Princess Diana in this top view flick-screen game. Starting on the ground floor, you must search the rooms looking for treasure and a key to use a magic stairway to move up a floor to finally reach the seventh floor where the Princess is.

Occupying each floor are various creatures that need to be avoided or shot with fireballs from your fingertips and if you touch a creature then you lose one of five lives but a goblet will give you invincibility for a limited time. Once you reach the seventh floor you must find a chest to place the treasure in before finding and rescuing the Princess who will disappear and you have to start the whole quest again. Two players can play and each player takes it in turns to play when the other player is killed.

Download: Tower of Evil+2HDG [EX].d64
Source: CSDb

Robot Jet Action C64 Game Coming to Amiga

It’s been over a year since Robot Jet Action was released on the Commodore 64. Retronavigator just announced they are working on Robot Jet Action for the Amiga. Not much is known just yet, but there is a new teaser video and a small amount of info shared.

-Super early development stage
-Final game title still to be decided
-Release date not decided yet – will take some time for sure
-5 years old code resurrected and adapted in 2023
-Will work on every Amiga in 50 FPS! (512kb+512kb)
-100+ colours on screen with copper effects
-Developed in Blitz Basic 2 + M68k Assembly
-Temporarily used music by Lizard aka Magnar of Censor Design and Nah-Kolor

We will be keeping a close eye on development for this game, in the meantime check out the video. Source: retronavigator.com

Raistlin from Genesis Project Shares Some Early C64 Demo Source Code

Raistlin from the well known C64 demo group Genesis Project, has kindly shared some of his early demo source code.

“After a discussion on this on CSDb, I decided to finally make the sourcecode to some of the earlier demos that I’ve worked on (Delirious 11 and The Dive) public. So, in theory, you should be able to build those demos. I’ve also added X Marks the Spot and Memento Mori sourcecode, too. Flame on, coders, flame on – go look at that awful spidery mess of shit code ;p”
Download: github.com
Twitter: Raistlin/G*P

The Chaos Engine on the Commodore 64?

Some interesting new updates from Marv today over on Twitter. If you don’t know who Marv is, then you’re in for a real treat! This talented chap has decided to create a Commodore 64 version of the classic Amiga game The Chaos Engine, and boy is it looking good so far! Below is the latest tweet update, showing some gameplay and a fantastic SID rendition of the The Chaos Engine theme. It’s early days, but were keeping our fingers crossed that this will eventually turn into a full game release, how cool would that be!

C64 'The Chaos Engine' - Started on the enemy generators (appear from the trees), Map modification in-game (collecting keys) and the gold coins now disappear after a few seconds. #C64 #RetroGame pic.twitter.com/k0c7akSvYO

— Marv (@MoreC64) November 17, 2023

Twitter: @MoreC64

Super Bagman Arcade to Amiga Conversion Coming

Jotd over on English Amiga Board recently announced he’s working on another Arcade to Amiga conversion. This time he has chosen Super Bagman, a Labyrinth/Maze Arcade game from 1984 by Stern Electronics. Your character is a robber. Run around a mine collecting moneybags and depositing them in a wheelbarrow at the top of the screen. Climb ladders and ride elevators to avoid two angry miners. Grab pickaxes and other objects to temporarily stun your pursuers.

Here’s what Jotd had to say. “Converted from the original Z80 disassembly from the Arcade game, this Bagman follow up has 5 screens instead of 3 and difficulty went from “hard” to “brutal” in the process. There are strategies to complete the first level, though, I did that a few years ago. No playable version released yet, just a video.”
Source: eab.abime.net

Toki Commodore 64 Remastered Version, New Video

Toki is a run and gun platform game released for the Arcade in Japan in 1989 by TAD Corporation. It was published in North America by Fabtek. Designed by Akira Sakuma, the game has tongue-in-cheek humor mixed with the action. The player controls an enchanted ape who must battle hordes of jungle monsters with energy balls from his mouth. The ultimate goal is to destroy the evil wizard who cast a spell on the title protagonist; thereby transforming him from an ape back into a human, and rescuing the kidnapped princess. The game was ported to several video game consoles and home computers, including the Commodore 64.

Which brings us to the new enhanced version of Toki for the Commodore 64 by Davide Bottino. Yes you heard correct, Davide is remastering the C64 version of Toki, making some much needed graphics upgrades. Playability wise Toki on the old Commodore is pretty much perfect, however time has not been kind, the graphics look a little tired after all these years and could do with a spruce up.

Twitter: Davide Bottino
Facebook: Toki C64 Remastered

Rocky & Co Christmas Demo from ICON64/Psytronik Software!

Seems like Psytronik are celebrating Christmas early this year!
Here’s some festive fun for your Commodore 64 courtesy of ICON64. It’s a festive-themed playable demo of ROCKY & CO! Take control of Rocky, Jet & Spud and use their unique strengths to solve the puzzle. The full game featuring 12 beautifully designed levels is now available to order as a physical edition for the C64 from the Psytronik Store or as a digital download via itch.io.

Download: rocky64xmas.zip

Rick Dangerous, Commodore 64

Well. Come. Back.

Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes..?

Ladies and gentlemen, I am as certain as Richard Burton’s curtains that all of you have heard of Rick Dangerous and almost all of you probably have fond memories playing the game on an 8-bit, or a 16-bit computer system back in the late 80s. It really was, frankly, a lovely little game, but baste me in a bucket of ham – it is frustrating!

Playing this again, to refresh myself with the game mechanics, I was struck by just how well the game overall has stood the test of time. It looks great, it sounds brilliant and importantly – it plays exceptionally on the C64. Indeed, being a Core Designs game, as you expect, it is packaged up and produced really, really tightly. The cinematic intros are a lovely touch, with a few bars of well put together classic tune-age; there is humour and nods to Indy all over the place; the death animations are hilarious and importantly – it doesn’t generally progress from being happily frustrating to bloody annoying – it remains fun to play, to remember the trap patterns and routes and to try and get past Egypt, for the love of Geoff!

Briley Witch Chronicles 2 Trailer Released!

Briley Witch Chronicles 2, a new RPG coming soon for the Commodore 64, PAL and NTSC.
Follow the continuing adventures of Briley, a modern day girl lost in a strange new world. Take control of Briley as she continues to explore her new life, aided by Smokey, her grumpy cat - and best friend.

Briley Witch Chronicles 2 is based on books 5 and 6 of the Briley Witch novels: The Fallen Witch, and Grey Waters.

Twitter: Sarah Jane Avory
Itch.io: sarahjaneavory.itch.io

Diamond Geezer, Commodore 64

The aim is to collect all the diamonds on each level. When you move, you will continue moving in that direction until blocked by a wall. This means some strategy is required to make sure you can reach all the diamonds, which in later levels may mean doing them in a specific order. This initial version has 15 levels. If you get stuck, hit RESTORE (Page Up in VICE) to restart the level. Download the game here: diamond.prg

Cauldron II: The Pumpkin Strikes Back, Commodore Plus/4

Coders TCFS and Murphy along with Csabo (Music) and Unreal (additional graphics) have released a Commodore Plus/4 version of the classic game Cauldron II. I am a big fan of the first game, and the second one although not as well known, is still a lot of fun to play.

Cauldron II: The Pumpkin Strikes Back was developed and published by Palace Software as a sequel to their 1985 game Cauldron. The platformer was released in 1986 for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and Amstrad CPC home computers. Players control a bouncing pumpkin that is on a quest of vengeance against the “Witch Queen”. The roles of the two were reversed from the first game, in which the witch defeated a monstrous pumpkin.

“This time the player takes on the role of Bouncey – what a fun name for a pumpkin – who does, in fact, bounce, constantly. Your quest is to guide him through Witch’s castle (more than 120 screens!) to enact his revenge. There are six magical items – a Chalice, Axe, Shield, Crown, Scissors, and Book of Spells – scattered throughout, and Bouncey must collect them in order to complete the game. Avoid all the baddies – some of which Bouncey can shoot down, if he collects the “spark”. It won’t be easy!”

Download: cauldron_ii.prg
Source: plus4world.powweb.com

Timeslip, Commodore 64

Timeslip is a horizontally scrolling shooter written by Jon Williams for the Commodore 16/Plus/4 computers and published by English Software in 1985. An Atari 8-bit version followed a year later. The game was described by reviewers as “three versions of Scramble rolled into one”.

In Timeslip the player is presented with the screen divided into three sections or time zones. The top section is the planet surface with the player controlling a fighter, the middle section is set in underground caverns, and in the bottom section the player controls a mini-sub. The object of the game is to destroy 36 orbs placed within the three sections and synchronize the clocks in all three zones to 00.00 hours. If a player is hit, they receive a 30 minute penalty. In addition, if a player is hit five times, a “timeslip” occurs, which is a de-synchronisation of all clocks. Sections are played one at a time and the player can switch zones at will, leaving the other two frozen in time.
A new Commodore 64 version was just released by Blazon. You can download it here: Timeslip [BLZ].d64

BURGERTIME, Commodore 64

BurgerTime, originally released as Hamburger in Japan, is a 1982 Arcade video game developed by Data East, initially for its DECO Cassette System.

The object of the game is to build a number of hamburgers while avoiding enemy foods. The player controls the protagonist, chef Peter Pepper, with a four-position joystick and a “pepper” button.

Each level is a maze of platforms and ladders in which giant burger ingredients (bun, meat patty, tomato, lettuce) are arranged. When Peter walks the full length of an ingredient, it falls to the level below, knocking down any ingredient that happens to be there. A burger is completed when all of its vertically aligned ingredients have been dropped out of the maze and onto a waiting plate. The player must complete all burgers to finish the board.

While there is already a C64 version of Burger Time from 1984, Arlasoft’s new version is much more faithful to the Arcade original. Download it here: burger_FH.d64

Boulder Dash Junior Halloween Edition, Commodore 64

Boulder Dash is a 2D maze-puzzle video game released in 1984 by First Star Software for Atari 8-bit computers. It was created by Canadian developers Peter Liepa and Chris Gray. The player controls Rockford, who collects treasures while evading hazards.

Boulder Dash was ported to many 8-bit and 16-bit systems and turned into a coin-operated Arcade game. It was followed by multiple sequels and re-releases and influenced games such as Repton and direct clones such as Emerald Mine.

Raiders of the Lost Empire recently released a new Halloween Edition of Boulder Dash for the Commodore 64, titled Boulder Dash Junior. You can download the game here: bdj8-5.d64 Source: CSDb

Vampire Vengeance, Commodore 64

Long ago, an army of knights known as the Order of the Silver Cross attacked count Orlack’s castle.

The mission was to annihilate the lord of shadows and all his subjects. The battle was fierce, leaving a large number of victims on both sides. But finally, a few knights managed to access the main crypt and confront Orlack. The count managed to defeat a dozen warriors before being cornered by the invaders. The end had come. However, he managed to transform once again into his vampiric form, escaping between spears and arrows into the dark night of Transylvania. Years passed and the wounds of war were healing. Earl Orlack made the lonely return home and only one word kept him alive. Vengeance. Download the game here: patagonia.itch.io

Darkland 2, Commodore 64

A cosmic cloud has shrouded the land in permanent darkness. Red death rains like blood. Monsters from beyond lurk in the shadows, spawning their evil offspring. Fight them with light and fire, find a sanctuary. Survive this unholy night.

The controls guide the player character, and a flashlight that illuminates the ground ahead. Press fire to use the gun. Gunfire will only strike an illuminated spot, or at close point-black range near the player character. If you let the monsters or their firepower hit the player character you will lose a life. A bonus life is awarded for every 10,000 points. Download the game here: darkland2.tap