10 Quintessential Commodore 64 Games

Welcome to the newest series of Retro Treasures features: the quintessential games. We start off with the Commodore 64 and ten of its most important (and better; and subjectively chosen among the dozens of true classics) games; ten games that actually helped define this micro as a quality games machine. Here goes:

Creatures

It might look like another cutesy platformer, but a) this was a puzzle/platformer, b) it sported amazing graphics, and c) it did feature cartoon torture. Oh, yes. At the end of each level you had to save one of your fellow creatures from a puzzle screen of death or see him brutally and hilariously murdered.

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Maniac Mansion

Ron Gilbert's first point-and-click adventure for Lucasfilm, that also happened to become the most influential adventure game ever. Its (evolved) UI is still being widely used, but Maniac Mansion is much more than an influential genre offering. It remains an excellent adventure by itself, what with its multiple endings, choice of player-characters, excellent b-movie setting, smart puzzles and quality humour.

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Paradroid

A masterpiece with simple graphics that deceivingly looks like a mere shoot-'em-up? Yes, it is, but Paradroid also is one of the best puzzle/action/tactics hybrid ever designed and the game that Retro Gamer's readers voted as the best C64 offering ever. A definite must-play.

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Impossible Mission

Entering the (stylish) shoes of a James Bond-esque character, you infiltrate the lair of evil scientist Elvin Atombender in a frantic race against time. Amazing animation, a digitized taunt and the combination of platforming and puzzle-solving make this an undeniable and fondly remembered classic.

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Mayhem in Monsterland

Possibly the last truly great release for the C64 and a game that dared compare itself to both Sonic and Mario, Mayhem is a technical, multi-scrolling, sprite-infested and brilliantly colourful marvel. It also is a really great and impressively fast offering, that has happily been re-released.

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Elite

Not a C64 exclusive, not by far, but it did get a decent port and I really can't imagine a C64 (or any other 8-bit micro) without a copy of Elite. It is after all an amazing space exploration game with thousands of planets, that lets you fight, trade and even try some special missions in the distant future. The game has yet to be bested.

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The Sentinel

One of the weirdest games I've ever encountered and a true psychedelic masterpiece. Playing as an incorporeal entity, you have to navigate a 3D world, absorb trees, teleport yourself, avoid the Sentinel's energy-draining gaze and finally absorb said Sentinel to oblivion. A masterpiece by Geoff Crammond featuring 10,000 levels.

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Wizball

Think I could forget Sensible Software? Of course not and this weird shmup staring a wizard and his cat encased in magical balls, is a prime example of the team's creativity. Fight and restore colour to the game's worlds in a truly unique and thankfully best-selling way.

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Project Firestart

A relatively obscure Commodore 64 exclusive that managed to push away the one text adventure I had decided to include on this very list? Yes, indeed, for Project Firestart is quite possibly the first survival horror game ever and a truly excellent romp through a nasty spaceship.

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Turrican

Turrican, though bested by its sequel, is a fantastic run and gun game set in a visually stunning world filled with enemies and lovely power-ups. It was also an incredibly popular showcase of what the Commodore 64 could do with visuals. And fluid gameplay.

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