Mazinger Rescue is an action-packed arcade game for the Commodore 64 that serves as a sequel to a previous title. It puts you in the cockpit of the Hover Pilder, on a mission to save the giant robot Mazinger Z from being destroyed by the forces of Dr. Hell.
Following the events of the first game, Dr. Hell’s remaining forces have captured Mazinger Z and threaten to blow it up in 10 minutes. Your task is to pilot the Hover Pilder, carry dynamite charges, and destroy the metal scaffolding that traps the super robot. You need to complete 8 TNT loads to free Mazinger Z and finish your adventure.
You control the Hover Pilder with the joystick in port 2, moving in 8 directions. The controls are versatile and key to your success:
Fire button while facing sideways: fires rockets at enemies.
Hold fire button while facing forward for a couple of seconds: activates the magnetic hook to load TNT, which you then throw at the scaffolding.
A major strategic element is that you are vulnerable while loading TNT, so you must release it quickly to defend yourself. Each screen is filled with various enemies, including large and small ships, Magma Riser, Galem cannons, and Tetsukamens. Their behaviour changes level by level, increasing the difficulty. Any contact with an enemy costs you a life instantly. To progress, you must destroy all ships on a screen to open the exit, which is marked with a sign. This creates a constant balance between offence, defence, and objective-driven action.
The game features high-resolution graphics that capture the anime-inspired theme well. A standout feature is the spectacular soundtrack composed by Narcisound, which is so highly regarded that the developer includes a separate “Jukebox” version of the game just to appreciate the three themes. The music is available in both 6581 and 8580 SID formats, and the game includes a loading screen with bitmap graphics. The visuals and audio work together to create a vibrant, old-school arcade atmosphere.
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Doctor Hell Invasion
Doctor Hell Invasion is a classic arcade-style game for the Commodore 64 that serves as a prequel to “Mazinger Rescue.” It puts you in control of Koji Kabuto, defending the Photonic Laboratory from an invasion by Dr. Hell and his henchmen. The game is a personal project for the developer, who notes that he couldn’t finish a similar game as a teenager in 1985 but has now succeeded 40 years later.
The Photonic Laboratory is under attack by Dr. Hell, Baron Ashura, the Headless Count, and their troops of Tetsukamen and Iron Masks. Your mission is to control Koji Kabuto and collect 16 giant batteries that Sayaka Yumi launches into the hangar. These batteries are needed to complete repairs on the super robot Mazinger Z. You must collect them before they hit the floor and turn into bombs, which drain your energy. Direct contact with enemies also drains energy, and if it reaches zero, you lose a life and must restart the level.
You move Koji around the hangar, going up and down between levels using elevators in the corners. Your goal is to gather all the batteries while avoiding enemies and the bombs they create. A freeze ray gun appears randomly in each level, which can freeze enemies (Tetsukamen, Iron Masks, or Baron Ashura) for 5 seconds, giving you valuable time to collect batteries. You can fire the gun once by pressing the fire button after picking it up, and it can be reloaded by grabbing it again from its constantly changing position in the hangar.
The game features in-game artwork and sprites provided by collaborator Adrián Bonnette, including a detailed intro screen for Mazinger. A standout element is the music: Narciso Quintana created four SID tracks that are a wonderful recreation of themes from the Mazinger series. The game aims for an old-school feel, with smooth gameplay and atmospheric audio.
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Broken Altars
Broken Altars is a unique and original archaeological puzzle game for the Commodore 64 that stands out for its innovative mouse support and addictive excavation gameplay. You play as Fumbling Fred, a renowned archaeologist on a quest to rebuild sixteen ancient altars.
You are an archaeologist tasked with rebuilding ancient altars that have been broken for thousands of years. You start with a basic pickaxe and must collect gold and altar pieces during excavation campaigns. The goal is to gather enough fragments and purchase ancient papyri that show the altar’s layout, allowing you to piece the collected fragments back together and advance to the next level.
The core gameplay involves excavation, gold collection, and tool upgrades. You start each campaign with a basic pickaxe and can acquire additional tools from a shop between excavations. You collect gold and altar fragments as you dig. Once you have enough gold, you can buy ancient papyri that reveal the altar’s layout. You then attempt to piece the collected fragments together correctly to progress. A key feature is its excellent mouse and keyboard control, which provides a smooth interface. While it can be played with a joystick, the mouse is highly recommended for the best experience. This 3D isometric game is designed to work on both PAL and NTSC systems.
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Evil Spirit
Evil Spirit is an ambitious first-person adventure game for the Commodore 64 that delivers a gripping horror-themed survival experience. It offers a deep, puzzle-filled journey across four chapters with over 150 locations.
Your road trip takes a dark turn when evil is freed from its mountain prison. Stranded in a hostile place, you must fight for survival. The game is structured in four chapters and features over 70 items to collect and use for solving puzzles and staying alive. It includes both German and English language versions and supports PAL and NTSC systems.
You explore the world from a first-person perspective, solving puzzles and facing hostile creatures. A key feature is the real-time combat system with tactical elements. The entire game is controlled with a joystick. The control scheme is unique: it’s designed to minimise unnecessary joystick movements for efficiency, but it has a learning curve. Some players find it confusing at first, while others praise it as genius once accustomed. The game also includes a save option and has short loading times.
The game features well-crafted graphics and sound that create an atmospheric and exciting horror mood as RPG of old and new times.
