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My Favourite C64 Budget Games No.18
I Ball
Firebird 1987
I Ball! I-I-I-Ball! This original blaster is perhaps best remembered for its superb speech – 'Oh no!', 'I Ball!' 'Game Over!' - & amazing Rob Hubbard soundtrack. A tough but fast, furious & highly playable game.
My Favourite C64 Budget Games No.19
Chimera
Firebird 1986
At £3.99 Chimera was a bit pricier than your average budget title but it was worth it. Lovely colourful isometric graphics, a fab Hubbard SID tune & utterly absorbing gameplay make it an excellent arcade adventure.
Like thousands of other 80s kids, I only got a couple of quid pocket money per week, & it took ages to save up for a full-price game. Thankfully, in 1984, Mastertronic & Firebird came to the rescue of skint gamers like me by selling computer games for as little as £1.99. (1/3)
My Favourite C64 Platformers No.1
Impossible Mission
Epyx 1983
My all-time favourite C64 game. When I first played it in 84 it blew my mind; the speech, animation, depth of gameplay was like nothing I'd ever seen. It still plays superbly today, and I still absolutely adore it.
My Favourite C64 Platformers No.3
Bruce Lee
Datasoft 1984
This combination of platforming, collecting, and beat ‘em up-ing is an absolute beauty. Like Lode Runner, graphics and sound are functional, but the design and gameplay are outstanding. A stone-cold classic.
My Favourite C64 Platformers No.6
Nebulus
Hewson 1987
Nebulus was absolutely stunning when first encountered in '87. The revolving tower, ace graphics, cool inter-level parallax scrolling shooter sections, its originality & superb design. Wow. An outstanding 80s platform game.
My Favourite C64 Platformers No.11
The Castles of Dr Creep
Broderbund 1984
A brilliantly atmospheric game, TCoDC is ace – check it out if you don't know it. A mix of platforming & puzzling, it has more depth than most examples of the genre & in 2 player mode it really shines.
My Favourite C64 Platformers No.12
Rick Dangerous
Firebird 1989
Notoriously brutal, Ricky D requires an excellent memory as well as quick reactions & pixel-perfect jumping skills. Inspired by Indiana Jones, it’s great fun, and has nice graphics and sound. Tough but rewarding.
My Favourite C64 Platformers No.15
Auf Wiedersehen Monty
Gremlin 1987
The sequel picks up where Monty on the Run left off & continues the flick-screen format of running, jumping & puzzle solving. Graphics are simple, but the soundtrack is brilliant and it’s instantly playable.
My Favourite C64 Platformers No.16
Hercules
Interdisc 1984
Yes, the graphics are atrocious. And the sound is awful. But, play it for more than ten minutes, and you’ll be hooked. Brilliantly designed and super addictive, Hercules may look and sound 💩 but it plays brilliantly.