Captain's Blog: game

Showing posts with label game. Show all posts

Friday, August 26, 2022

Hammer Down - Map for the Commodore 64

I recently purchased a copy of a fantastic little game on the Commodore 64 called Hammer Down as part of a Kickstarter called "The Commodore 64 Collectors Guide to Mastertronic" which I backed. It is in fact the first proper 'brand new' Commodore 64 game that I have purchased in 30 years.

The book of course is a brilliant read, and a must for anyone who grew up with Mastertronic games in the 1980s, but over the past week or so I've been addicted to the game Hammer Down. The best way to describe it is a top-down version of the classic Mastertronic game Action Biker. In fact, I believe the author of the game (the late Jason Kelk) was trying to mix the gameplay of Action Biker, with the top-down-view graphic style of The Last V8.

Anyway, the game is wonderful and I can't praise it enough, with great graphics and an awesome SID rendition of "The Return of the Las Palmas 7" by Madness playing in the background.

Anyway, through a lot of playing I managed to beat the game and locate all the items and bonuses and I have included the map here. Hopefully, other people will find it useful, especially if they're having trouble locating an item.

Items are identified as stars, and the bonuses are indicated by numbers in blue circles. The map loops around, and you should be able to see where one end of the maps leads to the other end.

The game can be obtained from Psytronik's website here

The book (and many others) can be purchased from Fusion Retro Book's website here.

Friday, January 07, 2022

Game Covers - Out Run (Commodore 64)

You're cool, the engine's hot, the girl's gorgeous, a tank full of gas and an open road... the rest is up to you..!!

The ultimate experience in motorsports simulation, the absolute challenge to nerves and reflexes. Feel the wind in your hair and the pull of the G-force as you power your way along the highways and byways, a girl by your side and open country before you. Experience the exhilaration and excitement of driving a high-performance sports car in this teasing time trial where your coordination and nerve will be tested to unbelievable limits. Out Run the coin op starred as an arcade sensation. Out Run the computer simulation mirrors this exciting all action spectacle.

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Monday, December 23, 2019

Gaming Memories - December 1989

Looking back at what I was reading and playing exactly 30 years ago this month, December 1989 was a good year for racing games on the Commodore 64. My Amiga owning friends might have had the eagerly awaited home version of Hard Drivin', but I had the Commodore 64 versions of Turbo Outrun and Stunt Car Racer, both of which scored higher than their Amiga counterparts between both Zzap and Commodore User reviews.

It was however around this time when I decided to ditch Commodore User in favour of the more C64 friendly Zzap 64/Amiga as my primary source of C64 news and goodness since Commodore User was aiming more for the Amiga market. Shame on them, as the C64 still had plenty of life left in it to last a few more years.

Saturday, August 10, 2019

Game Covers - Crazy Comets (Commodore 64)

The Universe is out of control, contracting into chaos. Matter becomes energy in a cataclysmic chain reaction of the disorder. Comets of fire cascade through the heavens - messengers of imminent doom.

Your mission: to restore order to the Universe by destroying chaos wherever it appears.

Your chances of survival: NIL.

... and you thought the Apocalypse was gonna be bad!!!!

Crazy Comets - The Cover

Crazy Comets - The Inlay

Crazy Comets - The Tape

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Friday, August 09, 2019

Game Covers - Knightmare (Commodore 64)

Welcome to the game....

This is the Time to end Time
This is the Time out of Mind
This is the Game out of Time
And the game to blow your Mind!

Knightmare - The Cover

Knightmare - The Inlay

Knightmare - The Tape

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Game Covers - Dan Dare Pilot of the Future (Commodore 64)

One of the most famous comic strip heroes ever comes vividly to life in this superb arcade adventure.

With your faithful companions, you must defeat the Mekon and save the Earth.

"Dan Dare is a super cool game which deserves all the credit it gets!" COMPUTER & VIDEO GAMES

"Dan Dare deserves an immediate Number One Spot". PCW

Dan Dare - The Cover

Dan Dare - The Inlay

Dan Dare - The Tape

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Thursday, August 08, 2019

Game Covers - Werewolves of London (Commodore 64)

Run rampage across the rooftops! Get savage in the sewers! Have a hairy fit in Hyde Park! Spread terror in the tube stations!

Werewolves of London - The Cover

Werewolves of London - The Inlay

Werewolves of London - The Tape

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Game Covers - Night Racer (Commodore 64)

A fast and furious rally through the forests of central Europe. Foot to the floor, skidding round the bends, you must reach the checkpoint in time. Through the gears power past the stragglers, the timer is flashing, just seconds left. The checkpoint is only a bend away, will you make it or will it be curtains!

Joystick only
One player only

PROGRAM BY KEVIN GREEN

Night Racer - The Cover

Night Racer - The Inlay

Night Racer - The Tape

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Sunday, June 23, 2019

Game Covers - Zzzz (Commodore 64)

Not one of my favourite Mastertronic cheapos. Zzzz was released way back in 1985 and was a text based adventure game but had a unique icon system included.

You are trapped in your dream and to escape from this graphic, text and icon driven adventure you must find and cross the border or wander lost in the land of 'Zzzz' forever.

Yes... being lost in the land of 'Zzzz The Computer Game' is indeed a fate worse than death!

Zzzz - The cover!

Zzzz - The Inlay

Zzzz - The Tape

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Sunday, March 05, 2017

Mastertronic - What if? : Resident Evil VII

Mastertronic brings you "Resident Evil VII" on cassette for £1.99, only for Commodore, Amstrad, Spectrum and Atari - Available from all good newsagents, chemists and game shops!

If only..... :o)

Because I have WAY too much time on my hands, I thought I'd mess around with putting together some fake Mastertronic covers for modern computer games in an attempt to give them the retro 1980's 8-bit cassette look.

Remember... These are just for fun, and are obviously NOT real and NOT available, (although I'd love to see an 8-bit version with blocky graphics and cool chip-music).

In case you are not aware (or can not remember), Mastertronic were big in the mid to late 1980s and were a major budget software label in the United Kingdom and produced a large number of cheapo games and re-releases for the Commodore/Spectrum/Amstrad/Atari 8-bit computers (and some 16-bit too) - most at a pocket-money-friendly £1.99! They're still going now, but dare I say it I doubt anyone from the original days is still running things.

Anyway, remember this is just a bit of fun, but what would modern games look like if Mastertronic still released games like the good ol' days? Well, here you can find out!

As always, click the images to enlarge.

Thursday, June 02, 2016

Retro Game Boys Episode 10 - Lotus III The Ultimate Challenge (Commodore Amiga)

Stuart introduces Kieran to the classic racer on the Commodore Amiga, and also risks a tenner! Enjoy our feature length 10th episode! (it's only feature length because we got carried away playing the game!)

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Games that remind me of my childhood Number 29 : Icicle Works (Commodore Plus 4)

Since it is still the festive period, I thought it would be a great opportunity for a Christmassy GTRMOMC. Not only that, but after my previous post about Ghost Town, I'm still in Commodore Plus 4 mode. So, Ladies and Gentlemen, I bring you.... Icicle Works.

Icicle Works came as part of a game bundle supplied with the computer when our family purchased the Commodore Plus 4 back in 1985.

Written by Doug Turner for Commodore, the game is essentially a Boulderdash clone, so any one who is familiar with that game, and the hundreds of other clones (ie Repton, Emerald Mines etc.) will feel right at home with this one - and you'll love it too. You play Father Christmas, and other than the festive graphics, the game is exactly the same.

There are 16 rooms to explore, and the aim of the game is to complete each room by constructing each of the 16 toys by collecting the presents scattered about in each room.

Simple.

As with Boulderdash, you have various obstacles to avoid - Massive snowballs dropping on your head instead of boulders, snow storms instead of amoebas, and polar bears and penguins that will kill you if you let them touch you. Of course you can use these maniacal animals to help you in your quest for presents by dropping snowballs on top of them. In fact, some of the later levels require you do to this in order to collect enough presents to construct the toy.

Quite an addictive little game 30 years ago (yes, 30 years - gosh I feel old),and it's still great fun to play now, even if it can be a little infuriating.

Here are some maps to help you play, including the door locations and where each door will take you.