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The third of the C64's "Atari 2600 conversions" is Frostbite, a game set in the frozen wastelands of the Arctic. Again, Antonio Savona provides the code, Saul Cross the music and Ste Day the graphics. The source code is also available for free from github.com/tonysavon/Frostbite-C64

Frostbite Bailey has to build an igloo before the Arctic temperature drops from 45 degrees Fahrenheit to zero. He does this by jumping on the moving ice floes. Each floe he jumps on gives him one ice block of the fifteen needed towards the igloo, which builds itself at the top of the screen. The floe turns blue when he jumps on it, until all four rows of floes are blue – then they turn back to white again after a short pause. Green fish swimming by can be collected for bonus points. Other wildlife is not so friendly. Geese, clams and crabs will try to knock Bailey off the ice floe into the water, costing him a life. At higher levels a polar bear patrols the shore, and getting caught by it costs a life too.

Bailey can reverse the direction of a row of ice by pressing fire, at the cost of one block from his igloo. Once the igloo is complete, Bailey must enter it through the door to complete the level; the bonus score is based on the level number and the temperature remaining. There are twenty increasingly difficult levels to conquer before the game restarts at level one.

The game starts off well with a lovely Ste Day bitmap and the nostalgic title screen, with the option to choose starting level. More levels are unlocked once you have reached them once in a session. The graphics in the game are gorgeous, representing an upgrade from the 2600 but staying respectful to the original.

Of particular note is the skyline effect, almost recreating the Northern Lights with clever use of raster splits. There are also day and night levels, with the sky turning black. Saul's music is really upbeat and cutely done, adding to the game's appeal. Control is pretty good, although it can take a while to get used to the fire button reversing the direction of the ice floes. It's great to finally see this Activision classic on the C64, where it feels right at home.

There are only 20 levels to beat, but the difficulty level soon cranks up after a few. The splitting ice floes are also difficult to cope with. Although new features are gradually added there is not a great deal of variety in the later levels.

I love the Atari original, and this is a very cool conversion. Stay frosty!