Eight Bit Magazine


Commodore 64 Short Reviews

Categories: Review: Software
Author: Merman
Publisher: The New Dimension
Machine: Commodore 64/128

 
Published in 8 Bit Annual 2019

Bintris

Coding: Janne Hellsten, GFX: Der Piipo, Music: Zardax Download: http://nurpax.github.io/posts/2018-05-21-bintris-on-c64-part-2.html

Falling black & white blocks must be lined up to create binary sequences that match decimal numbers. Matching numbers increases the width of the playing area and the size of the numbers. A pleasant variation on Tetris.

Blok Copy RX

Coding and GFX: TMR/Cosine, Music: Odie Download: http://cosine.org.uk/products.php?prod=blok_copy_rx&4mat=c64

Re-arrange the shuffled columns into numerical order by shifting rows and columns. A fun puzzler, with shiny new graphics and PETSCII mode (hold the Commodore key when starting).

Fallout Hacker

Coding: Warren Marshall Download: https://csdb.dk/release/?id=164248

Incredibly basic "hacking" game based on the PipBoy from the Fallout games, all done in the ROM font.

Flappy Typing

Coding: Frodewin Download: https://frodewin.itch.io/flappy-typing

An entry for Ludum Dare #41, mixing two different game genres and produced in just 72 hours. Type in the sentences to keep the bird flying, in a combination of Flappy Bird and a typing tutor.

Knight Lore

Coding: Saul Cross. GFX: STE'86 Download: https://csdb.dk/release/?id=169589

Superb conversion of the classic ZX Spectrum game, with explorer Sabre Man turning into a wolf when night falls. The options include rotational or directional controls, support for the C64GS joystick (two buttons) and atmospheric in game music. Special mention to Ste's outstanding loading screen too. Only the random start points and high difficulty mark this down.

Maze Of Death

Coding: Hamrath (Oliver Hermanni) Download: https://csdb.dk/release/?id=172138

Entered into Ludum Dare #43, explore the maze to reach the treasure but beware the poisonous walls. Reach your corpse to retrieve a spare life. Simple and frustrating.

Quad Core 64

Coding: Richard Bayliss, GFX: Shine Download: https://csdb.dk/release/?id=162622

Heavily inspired by Cosine's Reaxion, switch coloured blocks on and off to remove them from the playing field. Nicely presented and includes a level editor to make your own puzzles, but the built in levels vary wildly in difficulty and it feels too close to its inspiration to stand out.

Rogue Ninja

Coding: Richard Bayliss, GFX: Alf Yngve Download: https://csdb.dk/release/?id=165226

Defeat waves of ninjas unleashed by the evil Chow Mein, picking up extra throwing stars from the magic chests that appear. Very simplistic single screen game, with some cute small sprites but a disappointing ending for grinding through the levels.

Merman

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