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Evercade – It’s Coming!

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A new console has been announced and it looks very intriguing!

The Evercade is a brand new handheld console with unique multi-game retro cartridges from leading games publishers and console platforms. The first publisher to jump onboard, Atari, will be bringing 20 of their classic game carts from their 2600 and 7800 back catalogue. We are are eagerly awaiting news on future publishers.

Little is known at this stage about the Evercade, but the few bits and pieces of information has definitely piqued our interest, like:

  • An ever expanding library of games
  • Officially licensed content
  • No internet connection required
  • Collectable elements (unleash the trophy hunter inside of you!)
  • Save game progress; and
  • Connect to your TV via HDMI (sounds good to us)

The Evercade is one retro playing console we will keep an eye on and let you know more details as they come to hand.

 

Raised By Rainbows: Adorable Pop Culture Art

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Oh man, wish we had seen Luke Flowers’ brilliant Raised by Rainbows exhibit earlier!

Luke’s exhibit at Gallery 1988 has a number of cool arcade games and other popular toys related art which is very unique and absolutely adorable.

Most art pieces are sold out (Ed: darn it!), but there are a few that you can still get your hands on (Ed: looking at you ‘Mario Mayhem’)!

You got to admit, these are quite cool. Picking a favourite seems impossible!

For more details of available art to be purchased, please check out the entire Raised by Rainbows exhibit at Gallery 1988.

image source: Raised by Rainbows exhibit via Gallery 1988

 

Sega Mega Drive Mini: To be this good takes AGES, To be this good takes SEGA

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Just in case you have been in a cave without any outside contact, get your diary out now and mark September 19, 2019 as the date that the beautiful Sega Mega Drive Mini will be released in the wild to go toe-to-toe with its old foe, the SNES Classic Mini! Oh yeah, this ain’t no Flashback system!

We were amazed to find the following letter, with love, from SEGA:

My Old Friend,

I know it’s been a while. Time moves forward, yet not a day goes by that you’re not on my mind. I, the popular, star-console, you, the shy, unassuming kid, but we found common ground when we played Ecco the Dolphin together. You were so fast, racing through the Green Hill Zone with my pal, Sonic!

You sure knew how to play. The way that CRT hue hit your glazed over face as you spent another hour playing Castlevania: Bloodlines…We both knew things would change and that we’d move on to other great things, but lately, I’ve been thinking about spending time together once more. We didn’t do what we were told, but we made a good team.

I look a bit different now. I’m much smaller. I’m packing 40 games inside my sleek, molded shell, and more blast processing power than ever before.

We lived fast and dangerously, together, playing the games some of the adults weren’t too keen on (but you had the cool parents). We had the games your friends wanted to play, a whole stack of them. Shining Force, Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine, and Earthworm Jim, to name a few.

Sure. there were other distractions (remember pogs?). I was never jealous though because we still had Altered Beast and Gunstar Heroes.

I will try to write more regularly. I hear there is this friendly meeting space called “social media” now where I can share more.

I hope to hear from you soon.

With love,

SEGA Mega Drive Mini @-}–

Wow. We’ve never seen the SEGA Mega Drive Mini express itself like that before. If you’d like to write back, here is some information you may find useful when crafting your reply 😉

When: September 19, 2019

What: Miniature Sega Mega Drive console which will be plug-and-play ready with 40 classic games built-in! Oh yeah, the controllers will have 3 fire-buttons, not 6 (Ed: Oh well, it’s better than nothing)

Price: AU$139.00 / US$79.99 (Pre-orders via JB Hi-Fi or Play-Asia)

Announced titles (and more to come!):

  • Sonic the Hedgehog​
  • Ecco the Dolphin
  • Castlevania: Bloodlines
  • Space Harrier 2
  • Shining Force
  • Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
  • Earthworm Jim
  • Comix Zone
  • Altered Beast
  • Gunstar Heroes

So there you have it. Are you excited? Of course you are! Let us know on Twitter or Facebook which other titles you would like to see make the list of 40 legendary games.

Now, there are no limits with the Sega Mega Drive Mini!

image source: Sega Mega Drive Mini

 

Happy April Fools’ Day

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You got to love April Fools’ Day tricksters. The more elaborate the April Fools joke (or trick), the better.

One games publisher that loved staging elaborate April Fools’ Day jokes on unsuspecting fans was Irem. While in business, Irem always had a joke or two up their sleeve come April 1.

They would create websites that were usually dedicated to promoting something that tended to poke fun at themselves and their own games, like the three “real life” models of the R-Type R-9 unit you could choose to purchase, or their new Irem Zoo, and our absolute favourite, their EXIDNA XAVY console, which was touted as the ultimate games machine that housed a self-propelled folding controller!

Irem had a lot of us gamers going with their elaborate jokes till we realised it was a ruse and in good fun. Here are a few listings of Irem’s sites that had us fooled over the years:

image source: Irem – via wayback machine

 

 

Australia’s Last Blockbuster Video Store is Closing

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At the height of renting VHS tapes and video game cartridges for your Sega and Nintendo consoles, it was your local Blockbuster Video Store that you’d venture to for your fix of the latest and greatest films and video games.

Fast forward to 2019 and your bricks-and-mortal video rental outlets are all but dead. Well, in Australia, the last Blockbuster Video Store in Morley, Western Australia was still ticking along, but the owners, Lyn and John Borszeky have announced that their store will be closing its doors for good at the end of the month.

As of March 8, if you are anywhere near Morley, head down to the last Blockbuster store in Australia to grab some stock and/or store fixtures and fittings. So get in there to grab a slice of history, otherwise this will be another box to file in your nostalgic memory.

If you have fond memories of renting movies or video games from your local outlet, let us know about it on Twitter or Facebook.

image source: Community News

[story source: Community News]

Super Impulse MicroArcade Takes Tiny Retro Gaming To A New Level

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Did you enjoy playing Super Impulse’s Tiny Arcades? Want to play some classic old school games on a device this is just a tad bigger than a credit card?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you will be gobsmacked by Super Impulses’s new MicroArcade devices! The MicroArcade is the size of a credit card, which means no one would even notice it in your pocket. These devices have a full-colour LCD screen, sound effects, physical controls and a microUSB charging port all in a cute ultra tiny form factor. They measure just over three inches long.

The MicroArcade series will feature six different versions: Space Invaders, Galaga, Pac-Man, Frogger,  Rally-X and an Atari Combo that will include Asteroids, Centipede and Pong.

To say we can’t wait to get our retro gaming fix on the Super Impulse MicroArcade would be a gross understatement. We want them all!

image source: Alternative Mindz

image source: Super Impulse

 

CONTRA: Celebrating 32 Years of the Irresistible Force

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Contra, Gryzor or Probotector. No matter what name you know this classic Konami run and gun game by, you will definitely remember it as one tough mother of a game! Konami had an instant hit on their hands when they released the arcade machine on this day [February 20] in 1987. Happy 30th anniversary Contra, you irresistible force!

For those that have been away from Earth since early 1987, here is the lowdown on Contra:

Midnight, September 12 2631. The Marines catch sight of a small-sized meteorite that is fast approaching Earth. The meteorite plummets 20km north-east of New Zealand, at the Gal Mosquito Archipelago. The command keep watch of the meteorite.

Two years later, in December 2633, an intruder known as the Red Falcon is occupying the Gal Mosquito Archipelago and is planning the fall of mankind. Command orders confidential investigations at the enemy’s front base. The marine post orders for two “Contra” soldiers, Private First Class Bill “Mad Dog” Rizer and Private First Class Lance “Scorpion” Bean on a mission. The mission being: penetrate the insides of the enemy, destroy the front base and the entire centre of operation.

 

GORF: The Great Oz Retro-Technology Festival

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Hey Retro Peeps, you can spend four days enjoying the company of other retro-technology enthusiasts at GORF: the Great Oz Retro-Technology Festival, at Urban Camp in Melbourne, from April 24th-28th 2019.

Modelled after the wildly-successful US KansasFest event, GORF is an ‘unconference’ that brings together 8 and 16-bit computer enthusiasts, classic console hackers and arcade collectors to celebrate a pivotal era in the development of modern electronics in a communal ‘stay and play’ environment where attendees sleep over at the venue.

Two keynotes will explore the history of the Australian MicroBee computer (with designer Owen Hill) and the local video-game development scene of the 1980s (with Doctor Melanie Swalwell), followed by presentations given by attendees (hopefully including you!) on a variety of subjects regarding a variety of computing and video-gaming platforms.

There’s also an event-long hackathon (coined the GORF-a-thon) where participants will compete to create the most intriguing retro-related project, a game competition night and a documentary screening. Meals will be provided, except Saturday night when attendees will go out on the town to visit Melbourne’s retro-gaming bars.

GORF: it’s a summer camp for retro-geeks. Go and join in!

Ticket sales close April 1st. For more information or to book visit GORF.

 

 

Emoji Art for Geeks

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We knew there was a good use for emojis!

Our talented co-founder, Ms. Ausretrogamer has put emojis to good use by creating iconic artwork of pop culture geekiness, from Star Wars, Dr. Who, Donkey Kong, to The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, The Shining and Mortal Kombat to name just a few.

If you don’t want to miss Ms. Ausretrogamer’s geeky emoji artwork, follow her on Twitter.

 

Reset64 Magazine 2018 Commodore 64 Game of the Year Award

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By: Kevin Tilley – Reset64 Magazine Editor

Wow, every year I seem to say the same thing but it always rings true – I’m continually stunned at both the quality and quantity of games released on the Commodore 64. Not only do the developers continue to step up their game, but the publishers continue to increase the quality of their physical products. We’re seeing more cartridge releases, more premium boxed games, and harking back to the good old days of Commodore 64 commercial releases, beautifully printed and written instruction booklets (something that seems to be sorely lacking in modern titles). Overall, the packaging is arguably better than what we got back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and the best part is, the games are stunning!

Something else wonderful happened in 2018. The first C64 commercial game (probably in decades) was released that was available worldwide at normal gaming retail outlets. The PC version of Farming Simulator 19 (Giants Software) was made available in a limited collector’s edition, which included a specially commissioned version of Farming Simulator for the C64. This was in the form of an emulator image on its own CD-ROM, with the CD jacket dressed up as a floppy disk. I know, it’s not quite the same as a standalone release, but as Cameron mentioned, the fact that it even exists is amazing. Giants Software even teamed up with Protovision to release a standalone boxed C64 edition on cartridge. The game? It was OK. Nicely done, but more a gimmick than a commercial quality C64 game.

TheC64 Mini was released by Retro Games LTD and despite a rather disappointing joystick, was an otherwise impressive and well-made piece of kit that brought C64 gaming back on the radar, with more than a hint of nostalgia included. A later firmware update made it easy to play games (including modern/contemporary titles) via a USB stick, and an even later firmware release officially added our 2017 GOTY, Galencia, to the list.

Of course, the big three; Protovision, Psytronik and RGCD continued to release a strong line up of new games, as well as Poly.Play, The Future Was 8 Bit, Pond, Megastyle, CollectorVision and an assortment of other developers releasing a slew of quality titles. On behalf of Reset, we’d once again like to congratulate the developers and publishers who continue making and publishing these stunning games! Also, a quick shout out to Freeze64, Komoda & Amiga Plus, Kilobyte Magazine, Eight Bit Magazine, Zzap! 64 Annual and the other zines and publications that have cropped up over the past few years and continue promoting the C64 and giving these games, developers and publishers some more exposure, which they truly deserve.

Congratulations to the developers of the games that made this poll, which was voted upon by a selection of Reset staffers and contributors. We all picked our top three releases for the year, wrote a bit about each choice and it went from there. If you produced a game that didn’t make the list, congratulations must be extended to you also. Producing C64 games is a difficult, time intensive and challenging task and we acknowledge and appreciate your efforts. To the publishers who put the physical editions together, thank-you and we look forward to even more in 2019. Even though there can only be one GOTY, we take our hats off to all of you.

A massive congratulations to Stuart Collier, Trevor Storey, Saul Cross and Psytronik Software for Rocky Memphis: The Legend of Atlantis, which is an amazing game and deservedly awarded as the 2018 Reset64 Game of the Year on the Commodore 64!

We hope you enjoy the article. Afterwards, go out and play these wonderful games! Please remember to support the devs for their hard work, by paying for the games if required, or sending a nice message/email for games that are free downloads.

Kevin Tilley (Editor’s Pick)

– Space Moguls (Carl-Henrik Skårstedt/Protovision)
https://www.protovision.games/shop/product_info.php?products_id=229

Protovision are becoming renowned for their quality releases and Space Moguls, by Carl-Henrik Skarstedt, does everything right. Paying homage to M.U.L.E., the game is impeccably presented with outstanding graphics and sound (with an amazing attract mode). The physical version is amazing with a lovely artwork, quality jam packed manual, glossy box and a few other bits and pieces. The game? It’s damned fun, with up to 4 players competing for wealth and resources from the alien lands. I really, really hope that we get more of this kind of thing on the Commodore 64. Great fun strategy that isn’t over-the-top difficult with super fun multiplayer. Yes!!

– Hibernated 1: This Place is Death (Stefan Vogt/Pond)
https://www.polyplay.xyz/Commodore-64_1

Hibernated hit the C64 gaming scene like a breath of fresh air, with Stefan Vogt regularly posting updates on Social Media during development to whet our appetites for his upcoming sci-fi gem. Releasing a text-only adventure is a brave thing to do in 2018 (and there have been a few less than stellar releases in the past few years) but Stefan didn’t let anyone down with his accessible, clever and witty writing and compelling story. The difficulty was spot on, with the puzzles requiring logical thinking rather than luck. Add to that a lovely loading screen from Vanja Utne as well as an up-coming physical release from Pond Software/Poly.Play which will be an absolute must. Simply brilliant.

– Aviator Arcade 2 (Arcane Productions/RGCD/Psytronik)
http://www.psytronik.net/newsite/index.php/c64/102-aviator
https://rgcd.bigcartel.com/product/aviator-arcade-ii-commodore-64

To be honest, my number three could have been one of several games, but I finally settled on Aviator Arcade 2 because I just couldn’t resist a darn shooter, and this one happens to be particularly good! In development for what seemed like an eternity, Aviator Arcade 2 was a well-cooked beast that was certainly worth the wait. Featuring stunning graphics and sound, it doesn’t necessarily offer anything new to the vertically scrolling shmup genre, but what it does it certainly does well. A highly enjoyable game with gorgeous graphics & sound and fun, hectic gameplay. Aviator Arcade 2 is currently available on cartridge at RGCD and as a digital download at the RGCD itch.io page. A disk edition from Psytronik is also available.

Honourable Mentions:

So many great games were released this year that it was hard to come up with a top 3. At different times of the year, other games such as Yoomp! 64, MAH2.0, Shadow Switcher, Exploding Fish, Portal, Hunter’s Moon, Rocky Memphis, Dustin’, Conga 4096, Counterweight Kate, Pains ‘n’ Aches, Steel Ranger (I could go on!) could easily have made my list! Ultimately though, I think my top 3 choices are the games I enjoyed the most, and for me, enjoyment is why I play games!


source: Rob Caporetto

Rob Caporetto

– Pains ‘n’ Aches: A Knight ‘n’ Grail Adventure (Wide Pixel Games/Psytronik)

If it’s one thing about the C64 scene in 2018, was that we got some killer exploratory games alongside the arcade fare. Pains ‘n’ Aches is the follow-up to Knight ‘n’ Grail, and takes everything great from it making it more atmospheric and melancholic in the process. The platforming action is as tight as ever, the map as expansive and the results make for one great non-linear exploratory experience. It may have slipped under the radar being so early in the year, but it easily serves as a pinnacle to the Metroidvania genre on the humble C64!

– Aviator Arcade II (Arcane Productions/RGCD/Psytronik)
http://www.psytronik.net/newsite/index.php/c64/102-aviator
https://rgcd.bigcartel.com/product/aviator-arcade-ii-commodore-64

In its post-commercial life, we’ve rarely seen any shmups push the bounds of what the C64 can do. Until Aviator Arcade II that is. The team at Arcane Productions have pushed the bounds of what is capable in 2018, with engaging action, a wide variety of power ups, and lots and lots of blasting joy. Aviator Arcade II really shows the C64 can more than hold its own against its 8-bit rivals in the realms of shmup action.

– Yoomp! 64 (Zbigniew Ross/RGCD/Psytronik)
http://www.psytronik.net/newsite/index.php/c64/100-yoomp
https://rgcd.bigcartel.com/product/yoomp-64-commodore-64

There are plenty of games which push the bounds, then there’s Yoomp! 64. With it’s fluid action, and technical wizardry, it’s a game that no-one thought could actually be done on the C64, yet here it is. There may be some minor details lost in translation, Yoomp! 64 is challenging, tough… and unlike it’s distant, distant inspiration *cough*Bounder*cough* kind of fair. It truly makes for a great example of old arcade concepts being brought into the 21st Century!

image source: Psytronik

Anthony Stiller

– Hibernated 1: This Place is Death (Stefan Vogt/Pond)
https://www.polyplay.xyz/Commodore-64_1

I’ve always loved adventure games and Stefan Vogt’s efforts have paid off in full. Hibernated strikes a wonderful balance between brevity, puzzles, and evocative locations, making it a highly enjoyable and rewarding experience. The age of text adventures returns (finally)!

– Exploding Fish (Megastyle)

The surprise hit of 2018 for me! Chris Stanley’s Exploding Fish may seem like a slow paced collect’em up at first but it’s not long before you’re totally engrossed. A game that joyously reminds me of those quality early 80s releases for the C64. 

– Portal (Jamie Fuller/Del Seymour/Roy Widding)

A fantastic example of how to create a demake: The core elements of the original PC game, perfectly condensed. Portal is all charm, with its cute graphics (by our own designer extraordinaire, Del Seymour) and humour. Plus it has mouse controls to boot! A much appreciated release from Jamie Fuller.

Honourable Mention:

Rocky Memphis: The Legend of Atlantis. I had to include this game because I was so blown away by its aesthetics and technical achievements. To be honest all of the games in my list were neck and neck. I’m just so happy we have so many great, new games to choose from! 

image source: Psytronik

Paul Morrison

– Hunter’s Moon Remastered (Thalamus Digital Publishing)

It seems strange, in retrospect, that all my picks are remasters, conversions or ports.  After all, we’ve seen a wealth of quality original releases on the 64 this year. Still, for me, this one stood out above everything else.  If ever anyone was to lay down the perfect blueprint of how to remaster an old classic, Thalamus Digital did with Hunter’s Moon Remastered. They’ve done everything right, from expanding the game to adding loads of “quality of life” improvements to making this the best-presented C64 game ever.  A great game has become an essential game and for me, it was the best release of the year.

– Knight Lore (Rod & Emu)

I have waited over 30 years for this, and now it’s finally arrived it’s exactly as I’d hoped.  I will concede that it’s a bit fiddly to play and other, newer games might have had more going for them, but this is the realisation of a teenage dream here!  Pottering about Ultimate’s 3D castle on the C64 at speeds that match the original made me unreasonably happy, and therefore an absolute gaming highlight of my 2018.

– Portal (Jamie Fuller/Del Seymour/Roy Widding)

When I first heard that Portal was being converted to the C64, of all machines, I was pretty sceptical.  I didn’t see any way that it could be done. Fortunately, and as usual, I was wrong because this is a brilliant effort.  It does take a while to get used to, possibly because it’s wildly different to playing the version you’re used to. Get into it though, and it all makes sense.  Portal was a hugely ambitious project, so for it to have been pulled off this successfully is quite an achievement.

image source: Psytronik

Louie Dimovski

– Rocky Memphis: The Legend of Atlantis (Icon64/Psytronik)

A perfect example of where game design comes together all so well. Clever and fair puzzles accompanied by beautifully drawn hi-res graphics blended with multi-colour and background tune that will have you whistling well after you stop playing the game. Just when you thought you’ve seen all of the game, you discover the moonlight mode which alters the way that the game is played. The inclusion of a good and not-so-good ending is a nice touch.

– Steel Ranger (Lasse Öörni/Psytronik)

Persistence and continual refinement to the underlying game engine pays off for Lasse Öörni and his team as Steel Ranger provides a far more enjoyable experience than its inspiration predecessors (Hessian & Metal Warrior series). A great modern day 2D platform/shooter with some puzzle elements that features high production values, a vast game world, smooth scrolling and steady pacing. The game’s soundtrack is worth a special mention, it changes from one location to another and it does a great job of giving an epic vibe and further immerses you within the game. How does this game fit all on a single side floppy disk?

– Shadow Switcher (Dr. Wuro Industries)

Shadow Switcher delivers the best quality old school arcade gaming experience with a clever character switching twist that will hook you in from the very start. 40 levels of single screen platform fun that is addictive right from the beginning thanks to its clever level designs and fluid and responsive controls. The Lazy Jones inspired electro-pop soundtrack is great and fits the game perfectly.

Cameron Jackson

– Dustin’ (Graham Axten/Pond)

Submitted as part of Reset 64’s ‘Craptastic’ competition it is anything but crap. Dustin’ has a hook that balances frustration with that I can do better next time, one more go feeling. The music is excellent and suits it perfectly. Enjoyed this more than any other game this year.

– Shadow Switcher (Dr. Wuro Industries)

Great concept and graphics that give an early days feeling. The game gets pretty hectic at times and love the strategy element in positioning your shadow. Excellent physical release.

– Rocky Memphis: The Legend of Atlantis (Icon64/Psytronik)

The collector’s edition is truly a joy. Presentation is top notch with excellent graphics, sounds, puzzles and goodies. Recreates that Indy feeling.

Honourable Mention:

Exploding Fish. I enjoyed playing it. Good concept, some humour (the boat called Unsinkable II) and cover artwork I just love.

image source: Dr. Wuro Industries

Graham Axten

– Shadow Switcher (Dr. Wuro Industries)

Shadow Switcher.  As soon as I saw the early 80’s inspired graphics for this game, I knew that I would like it.  And I did!  It’s one of those games that takes me back to simpler times, but the mechanics feel very modern and keep me coming back to it.  It’s perfect for short blasts, or extended sessions.  And it has a level editor!

– Exploding Fish (Megastyle)

This game reminds me of Scuba Dive on the ZX Spectrum – which is a very good thing!  I have really enjoyed making my way through the levels and figuring out the most efficient routes to complete each screen.  The password system is very welcome, and together with the excellent music and graphics keep me playing again and again.

– Hibernated 1: This Place is Death (Stefan Vogt/Pond)
https://www.polyplay.xyz/Commodore-64_1

Hibernated.  It has been a long time since I really got into an adventure game (or even attempted one, to be honest) but the combination of sci-fi and horror tempted me in and kept me gripped throughout.  The writing is superb and really conjures up images in your mind meaning there is no need for fancy graphics or sound.  I thoroughly enjoyed the story and can’t wait to hear more about the universe of Hibernated.

Jari Karjalainen

– Rocky Memphis: The Legend of Atlantis (Icon64/Psytronik)

Probably my most often played new C64 game of the year. The Legend of Atlantis does what Joe Gunn did back 11 (!!) years ago, but with everything brought up to a completely new level. The graphics, sounds and gameplay are everything – and more – what everyone expected of an Indiana Jones game on a C64 back in 1989, which we never got back then, but better late than never, eh? Still waiting for the C64 conversion/demake of Temple of Ophuxoff, but as I have yet to complete this beast, no hurry…

– MAH v2.0 (Retream/RGCD/Protovision)

Well, MAH isn’t really a new game as such, but the v2.0 was released this year, and with that, the game finally got its physical release. The only reason I can’t call MAH the game of the year is, because it was already a masterpiece two years prior, when the first versions got out. Saimo’s unique vision and knack of getting the most of the C64 out with his wonderfully weird concepts is mesmerizing, and MAH is one of the rare modern games I will be sure to come back to every now and then.

– Shadow Switcher (Dr. Wuro Industries)

Perhaps the most unexpected gem of the year. This one got me excited like an 8-year old kid when it first came out, and a brief test of the free download made me order a physical copy of it. Shadow Switcher looks and plays like a game from 1984 – in the best possible way, but the ability to switch your controlled character is much closer to this millennium. Since it also features a level editor, there’s a good chance of Shadow Switcher becoming a cult classic, and had it been released 34 years ago, I’m absolutely certain it would be a proper classic.

image source: Poly.Play

Mat Allen

– Hunter’s Moon Remastered (Thalamus Digital Publishing)

Yes, it may be a reissued version of a thirty-year-old title, but Hunter’s Moon never got the attention it deserved back in the day, and this is no ordinary remaster. Like a hobbit, it’s tricksy and devious and will keep hold of the precious, each system introducing new features and terrible surprises lurking within that must be solved if you’ve going to make it home. A much longer journey now as over fifty levels have been added to proceedings, some of which will test your skills and patience to the maximum. Add to this the level designer, built-in trainer, foreign languages, improved off-duty mode, new music, massive intro sequence… there’s an awful lot more for your money. In conclusion, if you didn’t take to the original then you may be persuaded to try again, but if you loved it like me, then this is everything you could wish for and more.

– Steel Ranger (Lasse Öörni/Psytronik)

Comparisons to Metal Warrior and Hessian were inevitable, but Lasse Öörni once again delivered an epic exploratory tale of carnage and destruction, with a more action orientated bent to proceedings (hello Turrican!). The focus here was more on shooting than adventure, the player left to obtain key cards, upgrade weapons, and perform a lot of killing to work their way through the underground base and remove the rogue AI presence within. There are lot more secrets and less micromanagement of inventory than Hessian, which was good, but on the other hand, less puzzles and a bit less plot. It’s staggering how much can be compressed into one disk side, and Steel Ranger certainly hit the sweet spot in all areas, stairs be damned!

– Rocky Memphis: The Legend of Atlantis (Icon64/Psytronik)

There have been a few Indiana Jones-inspired games over the years, but what I loved about Legend of Atlantis was the balanced gradient of welcoming the player into the game, and slowly introducing new puzzle types and features the further you delve. None of the puzzles are too infuriating, but you certainly benefit from making a map and notes as you progress, and the internal satisfaction from nailing a particular sticking point is immense. There are a couple of niggles, no save points and the large inventory to cycle through but overall, it’s a hugely satisfying game and I wish it could have gone on longer than it did.

image source: Thalamus Digital Publishing

Stefan Vogt

– Space Moguls (Carl-Henrik Skårstedt/Protovision)
https://www.protovision.games/shop/product_info.php?products_id=229

Why is Space Moguls winning? Easy to answer. Space Moguls is a complex strategy game and fortunately NOT another platformer. I hate the genre monotony of recent releases so I’m glad I can now finally conquer the final frontier and the economy of strange alien planets turn by turn. Also the feelies in the box of the physical release are brilliant. The box generally is brilliant. 

– Exploding Fish (Megastyle)

I do like the unique concept of the game. It’s rare you see some original ideas these days. It’s quite a hard one, but it’s fun to play, and I liked the physical release a lot. The tape looks amazing.

– Portal (Jamie Fuller/Del Seymour/Roy Widding)

I was just one step away from giving Jamie Fuller’s Portal demake 2 points, because that is where it would belong in theory. The only thing that bothered me though is that I “playtested” shortly after the release and I “accidentally” played it through in roughly 30 minutes. It just has 20 linear levels and that’s it, leaving me more with a proof-of-concept impression in the end, rather than the feeling I played a full-featured game. 

Honourable Mentions:

  • I’d also need to give a shout-out to Dustin’ by Graham. It’s a brilliant game, so it was really tough for me not having that in the top 3 list. 
  • I see so many thumbs up for “Legend of Atlantis”, Vinny from Freeze64 even made it the game of the year. I appreciate the work the author put in there, it looks nice, but the concept of the game is not very original IMHO, which makes me like it but it’s not sufficient enough for me to include it in my list of top games at all. 

image source: Protovision

Roy Widding

– Aviator Arcade 2 (Arcane Productions/RGCD/Psytronik)
http://www.psytronik.net/newsite/index.php/c64/102-aviator
https://rgcd.bigcartel.com/product/aviator-arcade-ii-commodore-64

First of all, people who knows me must think I’m crazy even mentioning this game in a game of the year ranking, as it is a Shoot’Em Up, and I don’t like Shoot’Em Ups! But I gave it a try and I was blown of my chair. I told my friends that they had to try this game, and I showed them some screenshots of this game. One of my friends replied: “Another SEUCK game??”

No this is so far from SEUCK you can get, as the game has a lot of “non-SEUCK features” like homing bullets, health bar, scrolling stops before boss fight and no sprite glitches. Music is just excellent. If there was a Game Soundtrack of the year, I would put this as my number one!! Graphics is excellent, game design is excellent and atmospheric. I just love this game, I love the arcade feeling it has. It is my most booted game so far in 2018, and that says a lot since the game was released only a few weeks before I wrote this…. three points to Mark Hindsbo, Saul Cross and Thomas Petersen.

– Rocky Memphis: The Legend of Atlantis (Icon64/Psytronik)
http://www.psytronik.net/newsite/index.php/c64/97-atlantis

Trevor Storey is one of the best C64 game designers around, and probably the most productive one too. And with Stuart Collier and Saul Cross, they have once again shot bullseye with Rocky Memphis and the Legend Of Atlantis. Great atmosphere with good graphics and music. I love all the puzzle elements in this game, and the whole package is just tempting me back to play again and again. Two points to Trevor and his crew.

– Scuttle Butt 64 (Eweguo)

This is my humour! Karl Hornell’s game has all the toilet humour, one liner jokes and the perfect nostalgic feel you can wish for. Graphics are cartoonish and nice, music is simple but it doesn’t make the game worse, it just fits everything. And gameplay is funny, my kids laughed and I laughed and Wifey thinks we have no sense of good humour….one point to Karl Hornell.

Honourable Mentions:

2018 had so many great titles, and games like Pains’n’Aches , Steel Ranger and Sydney Hunter are all beautiful games that deserve to be mentioned here. But I have also rated the games after how much I have played them, and then the top 3 choice was easy to do…   

PS: I would also like to give a little attention to the game Tower Of Rubble 64 too. Graphics are simple, but animation is great, music is catchy and the gameplay… Gameplay is just wow!! I love small games like this! 

Merman

– Portal (Jamie Fuller/Del Seymour/Roy Widding)

Have your cake and eat it – a 2D version of the classic PC game, this retains the original’s sense of humour and is very well presented. The end sequence is spot on, with Jonathan Coulton’s Still Alive turned into a SID. The combination of mouse and keyboard controls may be unusual on the C64 but it works. It’s just a shame there are only 20 levels to beat – making the level designer accessible or a new set of levels would extend the longevity no end. 

– Space Moguls (Carl-Henrik Skårstedt/Protovision)
https://www.protovision.games/shop/product_info.php?products_id=229

Reaching back into the past has been a theme this year, and the classic strategy game MULE received an amazing tribute in the form of this new game. Presentation is outstanding, the computer AI makes a strong opponent and the multiple planets adds to the depth. The boxed edition from Protovision is very nicely put together too.

– Hunter’s Moon Remastered (Thalamus Digital Publishing)

Thalamus Digital sets off on a new mission in spectacular style. The fact that Martin Walker and Matt Gray have both been involved gives the project so much credibility, and the new Oli Frey artwork is beautiful. From the outstanding new intro (with the animation sequences looking so crisp) to the level editor, the whole package is worth every penny. And if the new stuff doesn’t appeal, the complete original 1987 version (a game I adored anyway) is in there too. Simply stunning.

 

Top 5 Placings:

– Rocky Memphis: The Legend of Atlantis (Icon64/Psytronik)

– Hunter’s Moon Remastered (Thalamus Digital Publishing)

– Space Moguls (Carl-Henrik Skårstedt/Protovision)

– Shadow Switcher (Dr. Wuro Industries)

– Hibernated 1: This Place is Death (Stefan Vogt/Pond), Exploding Fish (Megastyle), Aviator Arcade 2 (Arcane Productions/RGCD/Psytronik)