retrogamingloft

[retrogamingloft]

Superman for the Atari 2600 is a 1978 action-adventure title developed and published by Atari, notable for being one of the first video games based on a major comic book superhero. Players control Superman as he attempts to capture Lex Luthor and his criminal associates while navigating through a side-scrolling cityscape of Metropolis.

The objective involves finding and capturing three of Lex Luthor's accomplices who have escaped from prison, then locating Luthor himself, but Superman must first repair the damaged Metropolis Bridge by finding bridge pieces scattered throughout the city. The experience features Superman flying through various screens of the city using his flight powers, with players able to move in multiple directions while searching for the required items and criminals.

Superman possesses several of his classic abilities including flight, super strength for moving objects, and X-ray vision that allows him to see through walls to locate hidden items and enemies. The challenge includes various obstacles such as kryptonite that weakens Superman and reduces his powers, forcing players to avoid these deadly green fragments while completing their mission.

I find the game historically fascinating as one of the earliest licensed superhero video games that helped establish the template for future comic book adaptations in gaming, though I have to admit the gameplay itself is quite repetitive and the city layout can be confusing and frustrating to navigate.

The graphics were basic even for 1978 standards, featuring simple sprite representations of Superman and the city environment, but I appreciate what an ambitious attempt this was to create an open-world exploration game on the limited Atari 2600 hardware, even if the execution doesn't hold up well today.

[retrogamingloft]

Superman for the Atari 2600 is a 1978 action-adventure title developed and published by Atari, notable for being one of the first video games based on a major comic book superhero. Players control Superman as he attempts to capture Lex Luthor and his criminal associates while navigating through a side-scrolling cityscape of Metropolis.

The objective involves finding and capturing three of Lex Luthor's accomplices who have escaped from prison, then locating Luthor himself, but Superman must first repair the damaged Metropolis Bridge by finding bridge pieces scattered throughout the city. The experience features Superman flying through various screens of the city using his flight powers, with players able to move in multiple directions while searching for the required items and criminals.

Superman possesses several of his classic abilities including flight, super strength for moving objects, and X-ray vision that allows him to see through walls to locate hidden items and enemies. The challenge includes various obstacles such as kryptonite that weakens Superman and reduces his powers, forcing players to avoid these deadly green fragments while completing their mission.

I find the game historically fascinating as one of the earliest licensed superhero video games that helped establish the template for future comic book adaptations in gaming, though I have to admit the gameplay itself is quite repetitive and the city layout can be confusing and frustrating to navigate.

The graphics were basic even for 1978 standards, featuring simple sprite representations of Superman and the city environment, but I appreciate what an ambitious attempt this was to create an open-world exploration game on the limited Atari 2600 hardware, even if the execution doesn't hold up well today.

[retrogamingloft]

Pacmania is a Pac-Man clone developed by Mr. Chip Software and released in 1983 for the Commodore 64, Commodore 16, Plus/4, and VIC-20. This maze game follows the classic Pac-Man formula where players guide their character through a maze collecting dots while avoiding four patrolling ghosts, consuming power pellets to temporarily turn the tables on pursuers, and progressing through multiple levels with increasing difficulty.

The game was noted for staying relatively faithful to the original arcade experience while introducing distinctive features that set it apart from other clones. Unlike the original Pac-Man, bonus fruits appear randomly throughout the labyrinth rather than in a fixed location, ghosts immediately regenerate upon reaching the center of the game area after being eaten creating continuous pressure, and special H-Fields power-ups make Pac-Man invisible for several seconds while teleporting him to a random maze location as a strategic escape mechanism.

Released five years before the more famous hyphenated "Pac-Mania" by Grandslam, this version represents an interesting piece of early home computer gaming history that showcases how developers adapted popular arcade concepts for home systems during the early 1980s computing boom.

[retrogamingloft]

Pacmania is a Pac-Man clone developed by Mr. Chip Software and released in 1983 for the Commodore 64, Commodore 16, Plus/4, and VIC-20. This maze game follows the classic Pac-Man formula where players guide their character through a maze collecting dots while avoiding four patrolling ghosts, consuming power pellets to temporarily turn the tables on pursuers, and progressing through multiple levels with increasing difficulty.

The game was noted for staying relatively faithful to the original arcade experience while introducing distinctive features that set it apart from other clones. Unlike the original Pac-Man, bonus fruits appear randomly throughout the labyrinth rather than in a fixed location, ghosts immediately regenerate upon reaching the center of the game area after being eaten creating continuous pressure, and special H-Fields power-ups make Pac-Man invisible for several seconds while teleporting him to a random maze location as a strategic escape mechanism.

Released five years before the more famous hyphenated "Pac-Mania" by Grandslam, this version represents an interesting piece of early home computer gaming history that showcases how developers adapted popular arcade concepts for home systems during the early 1980s computing boom.

[retrogamingloft]

Pizza is a logical puzzle game developed by S. Erlewine and Harriet Hungate and published by CUE, Inc. in 1981 for the Commodore 64. Despite its simple pizza delivery theme, it's actually classified as a logical game rather than an action or simulation title.

The game presents players with a basic coordinate grid system reminiscent of Battleship, where the objective is to guide pizza delivery drivers to customer locations marked by letters on the grid. Players act as dispatchers, receiving requests from drivers who ask straightforward questions like "how many across?" or "how many up?" to reach specific coordinates. The player must count the grid squares and provide the correct numerical directions.

The mechanics are deliberately elementary, making it accessible to players of all ages and skill levels. The challenge comes not from complex puzzles but from basic counting and coordinate recognition. Success earns the player money while mistakes result in customer complaints and financial penalties.

As a product of the early 1980s home computer era, "Pizza" represents the kind of educational and casual gaming software that was popular on platforms like the Commodore 64. Its classification as a "logical game" reflects the era's approach to categorizing software that combined simple entertainment with basic educational elements, even when the actual gameplay was quite straightforward.

[retrogamingloft]

Pizza is a logical puzzle game developed by S. Erlewine and Harriet Hungate and published by CUE, Inc. in 1981 for the Commodore 64. Despite its simple pizza delivery theme, it's actually classified as a logical game rather than an action or simulation title.

The game presents players with a basic coordinate grid system reminiscent of Battleship, where the objective is to guide pizza delivery drivers to customer locations marked by letters on the grid. Players act as dispatchers, receiving requests from drivers who ask straightforward questions like "how many across?" or "how many up?" to reach specific coordinates. The player must count the grid squares and provide the correct numerical directions.

The mechanics are deliberately elementary, making it accessible to players of all ages and skill levels. The challenge comes not from complex puzzles but from basic counting and coordinate recognition. Success earns the player money while mistakes result in customer complaints and financial penalties.

As a product of the early 1980s home computer era, "Pizza" represents the kind of educational and casual gaming software that was popular on platforms like the Commodore 64. Its classification as a "logical game" reflects the era's approach to categorizing software that combined simple entertainment with basic educational elements, even when the actual gameplay was quite straightforward.

[retrogamingloft]

After uploading so many Shanghai videos, it's appropriate to take some time to explain what this fantastic game is all about.

Originating from traditional Chinese Mahjong, Shanghai simplifies the complex rules into a serene yet challenging solitaire format that’s enjoyable on one’s own. The main goal is to clear the board by matching pairs of free tiles, a straightforward yet strategic endeavor that requires careful planning to avoid leaving unmatchable tiles.

The game's tiles, featuring designs like Chinese characters, bamboo, and dragons, are arranged in various configurations, from simple to complex. This diversity in patterns not only adds visual appeal but also introduces different levels of challenge to each session.

What sets Shanghai apart is its perfect blend of easy-to-grasp gameplay mechanics with a depth that demands both a sharp eye for detail and strategic foresight. The game's pace encourages a meditative experience, offering a peaceful yet engaging puzzle-solving session.

Through its numerous digital adaptations, Shanghai has introduced time limits, new tile sets, and unique layouts, keeping the experience fresh and engaging. Despite these innovations, the essence of the game — its elegant simplicity and the satisfaction of clearing the board through skillful planning — remains unchanged.

For both puzzle enthusiasts and casual players, this game represents a timeless experience that marries visual appeal with mental stimulation. It’s a game that's quickly learned but offers endless hours of relaxation and brain-teasing fun.

With that said, my quest to conquer every incarnation of Shanghai has led me to the TRS-80 version…

[retrogamingloft]

After uploading so many Shanghai videos, it's appropriate to take some time to explain what this fantastic game is all about.

Originating from traditional Chinese Mahjong, Shanghai simplifies the complex rules into a serene yet challenging solitaire format that’s enjoyable on one’s own. The main goal is to clear the board by matching pairs of free tiles, a straightforward yet strategic endeavor that requires careful planning to avoid leaving unmatchable tiles.

The game's tiles, featuring designs like Chinese characters, bamboo, and dragons, are arranged in various configurations, from simple to complex. This diversity in patterns not only adds visual appeal but also introduces different levels of challenge to each session.

What sets Shanghai apart is its perfect blend of easy-to-grasp gameplay mechanics with a depth that demands both a sharp eye for detail and strategic foresight. The game's pace encourages a meditative experience, offering a peaceful yet engaging puzzle-solving session.

Through its numerous digital adaptations, Shanghai has introduced time limits, new tile sets, and unique layouts, keeping the experience fresh and engaging. Despite these innovations, the essence of the game — its elegant simplicity and the satisfaction of clearing the board through skillful planning — remains unchanged.

For both puzzle enthusiasts and casual players, this game represents a timeless experience that marries visual appeal with mental stimulation. It’s a game that's quickly learned but offers endless hours of relaxation and brain-teasing fun.

With that said, my quest to conquer every incarnation of Shanghai has led me to the TRS-80 version…

[retrogamingloft]

Demon Attack is a legendary arcade-style space shooter that became a defining game of the early 1980s home computer era. Originally developed by Rob Fulop for Imagic in 1982, this intense shooting game challenged players to defend Earth against waves of demonic alien invaders.

In this game, you control a ground-based laser cannon positioned at the bottom of the screen, facing off against increasingly aggressive waves of swooping demon creatures. These colorful, bird-like aliens attack in unpredictable patterns, diving and weaving across the screen while firing deadly projectiles at your position. The gameplay features multiple attack waves, each more challenging than the last.

Early waves present demons that move in simple patterns, but as you progress, the creatures become faster, more erratic, and employ sophisticated attack strategies. Some demons split into multiple smaller enemies when shot, while others require multiple hits to destroy.

The game was praised for its smooth animation and vibrant graphics, especially impressive for early 1980s home computers. The demons themselves are distinctively designed with flapping wings and menacing appearances that made them memorable antagonists. The sound effects, including the satisfying laser blasts and alien death sounds, added to the intense atmosphere.

This classic shooter helped establish many conventions of the space shooter genre and was ported to numerous home computer systems including the Atari 2600, TRS-80 Color Computer, Apple II, and Commodore 64. The TRS-80 Color Computer version showcased the system's colorful graphics capabilities and smooth gameplay performance, and notably featured additional content not found in all versions.

Unlike the simpler (but better, in my opinion) Atari 2600 port, this version includes extra waves culminating in a challenging boss battle against the demon mothership, where players must shoot through a protective shield to target the massive creature's eye while fending off waves of attacking demons. Each version maintained the core gameplay while adapting to the specific capabilities of its platform.

This title represents the golden age of arcade-style action games, offering pure, skill-based gameplay that rewards quick reflexes and pattern recognition. Its influence can be seen in countless space shooters that followed, making it an essential piece of gaming history worth experiencing and preserving.

[retrogamingloft]

Demon Attack is a legendary arcade-style space shooter that became a defining game of the early 1980s home computer era. Originally developed by Rob Fulop for Imagic in 1982, this intense shooting game challenged players to defend Earth against waves of demonic alien invaders.

In this game, you control a ground-based laser cannon positioned at the bottom of the screen, facing off against increasingly aggressive waves of swooping demon creatures. These colorful, bird-like aliens attack in unpredictable patterns, diving and weaving across the screen while firing deadly projectiles at your position. The gameplay features multiple attack waves, each more challenging than the last.

Early waves present demons that move in simple patterns, but as you progress, the creatures become faster, more erratic, and employ sophisticated attack strategies. Some demons split into multiple smaller enemies when shot, while others require multiple hits to destroy.

The game was praised for its smooth animation and vibrant graphics, especially impressive for early 1980s home computers. The demons themselves are distinctively designed with flapping wings and menacing appearances that made them memorable antagonists. The sound effects, including the satisfying laser blasts and alien death sounds, added to the intense atmosphere.

This classic shooter helped establish many conventions of the space shooter genre and was ported to numerous home computer systems including the Atari 2600, TRS-80 Color Computer, Apple II, and Commodore 64. The TRS-80 Color Computer version showcased the system's colorful graphics capabilities and smooth gameplay performance, and notably featured additional content not found in all versions.

Unlike the simpler (but better, in my opinion) Atari 2600 port, this version includes extra waves culminating in a challenging boss battle against the demon mothership, where players must shoot through a protective shield to target the massive creature's eye while fending off waves of attacking demons. Each version maintained the core gameplay while adapting to the specific capabilities of its platform.

This title represents the golden age of arcade-style action games, offering pure, skill-based gameplay that rewards quick reflexes and pattern recognition. Its influence can be seen in countless space shooters that followed, making it an essential piece of gaming history worth experiencing and preserving.

[retrogamingloft]

Ms. Pac-Man stands as one of the most important arcade games of the early '80s. Released in 1981 after the original Pac-Man, it's widely regarded as the superior game and an all-time arcade classic. Interestingly, Midway (not Namco) developed Ms. Pac-Man for North American distribution.

The game began as a hack called "Crazy Otto" by General Computer Corporation before Midway acquired it. What made Ms. Pac-Man special were its innovations: four different mazes instead of just one, fruits that bounce around rather than sitting still, smarter ghosts with less predictable patterns, story-based cutscenes, and one of gaming's first female protagonists - complete with her signature red bow, makeup, and beauty mark.

In this video I'm playing the 1982 Atari 2600 port. It's a surprisingly competent home version that manages to capture much of the arcade's essence despite significant hardware limitations. The 2600 couldn't handle all four maze designs, so it includes just one main maze layout, though it does retain the bouncing fruit mechanic.

The graphics are understandably simplified - Ms. Pac-Man appears as a basic yellow circle with minimal detail, and the ghosts are simple colored sprites. The famous cutscenes had to be omitted entirely due to memory constraints. The gameplay feels somewhat sluggish compared to the arcade, and the maze feels more spacious due to the lower resolution, but the core dot-chomping action remains intact.

While hardcore fans might miss the visual flair and multiple mazes, Atari delivered a playable home version that brought this arcade classic to living rooms in 1982 - an impressive technical achievement for the humble 2600.

[retrogamingloft]

Ms. Pac-Man stands as one of the most important arcade games of the early '80s. Released in 1981 after the original Pac-Man, it's widely regarded as the superior game and an all-time arcade classic. Interestingly, Midway (not Namco) developed Ms. Pac-Man for North American distribution.

The game began as a hack called "Crazy Otto" by General Computer Corporation before Midway acquired it. What made Ms. Pac-Man special were its innovations: four different mazes instead of just one, fruits that bounce around rather than sitting still, smarter ghosts with less predictable patterns, story-based cutscenes, and one of gaming's first female protagonists - complete with her signature red bow, makeup, and beauty mark.

In this video I'm playing the 1982 Atari 2600 port. It's a surprisingly competent home version that manages to capture much of the arcade's essence despite significant hardware limitations. The 2600 couldn't handle all four maze designs, so it includes just one main maze layout, though it does retain the bouncing fruit mechanic.

The graphics are understandably simplified - Ms. Pac-Man appears as a basic yellow circle with minimal detail, and the ghosts are simple colored sprites. The famous cutscenes had to be omitted entirely due to memory constraints. The gameplay feels somewhat sluggish compared to the arcade, and the maze feels more spacious due to the lower resolution, but the core dot-chomping action remains intact.

While hardcore fans might miss the visual flair and multiple mazes, Atari delivered a playable home version that brought this arcade classic to living rooms in 1982 - an impressive technical achievement for the humble 2600.

[retrogamingloft]

Buffalo Roundup is a top-down action game for the Commodore 64 released in 1984 by Commodore Business Machines (UK) Ltd. You play as a cowboy on horseback herding buffalo through a gate on a single screen. The playing field has gaps leading to the desert on the top and bottom edges - some blocked by fences, others open.

You must prevent any buffalo from escaping through these gaps while guiding them toward the exit gate before a countdown timer reaches zero.

Buffalo move independently when left alone, so you need to actively push and guide them in the right direction. A water feature in the center stops their movement but doesn't harm them. Successfully completing a level removes one fence, making subsequent levels progressively more challenging.

It's a beautifully simple yet original concept for its time - easy to understand but genuinely challenging to master. The real test comes in later levels when all fences are gone and you're frantically racing around trying to plug every gap while still pushing the herd toward the goal.

[retrogamingloft]

Buffalo Roundup is a top-down action game for the Commodore 64 released in 1984 by Commodore Business Machines (UK) Ltd. You play as a cowboy on horseback herding buffalo through a gate on a single screen. The playing field has gaps leading to the desert on the top and bottom edges - some blocked by fences, others open.

You must prevent any buffalo from escaping through these gaps while guiding them toward the exit gate before a countdown timer reaches zero.

Buffalo move independently when left alone, so you need to actively push and guide them in the right direction. A water feature in the center stops their movement but doesn't harm them. Successfully completing a level removes one fence, making subsequent levels progressively more challenging.

It's a beautifully simple yet original concept for its time - easy to understand but genuinely challenging to master. The real test comes in later levels when all fences are gone and you're frantically racing around trying to plug every gap while still pushing the herd toward the goal.

[retrogamingloft]

Rock Paper Shear is a 1992 Commodore 64 game published on Magic Disk 64, that presents an innovative fusion of the classic "Rock Paper Scissors" concept with Tetris-style puzzle mechanics. This hybrid approach creates an engaging experience that cleverly combines strategic element selection with spatial puzzle-solving as players navigate through progressive stages.

While the core concept is genuinely enjoyable, the game suffers from pacing issues that make gameplay notably slow and overly easy progression. These design problems reduced long-term engagement despite the solid mechanics and led me to abandon it after completing 20 stages with the impression that I could have kept on playing indefinitely without meaningful challenge.

Despite this, this unique title represents the experimental creativity that flourished in the homebrew community. However, the game remained largely unknown due to limited distribution typical of such releases. It exemplifies the "hidden gem" phenomenon in retro gaming - a title with genuinely interesting ideas that deserved broader recognition but was hampered by distribution limitations and design choices that affected its lasting appeal.

[retrogamingloft]

Rock Paper Shear is a 1992 Commodore 64 game published on Magic Disk 64, that presents an innovative fusion of the classic "Rock Paper Scissors" concept with Tetris-style puzzle mechanics. This hybrid approach creates an engaging experience that cleverly combines strategic element selection with spatial puzzle-solving as players navigate through progressive stages.

While the core concept is genuinely enjoyable, the game suffers from pacing issues that make gameplay notably slow and overly easy progression. These design problems reduced long-term engagement despite the solid mechanics and led me to abandon it after completing 20 stages with the impression that I could have kept on playing indefinitely without meaningful challenge.

Despite this, this unique title represents the experimental creativity that flourished in the homebrew community. However, the game remained largely unknown due to limited distribution typical of such releases. It exemplifies the "hidden gem" phenomenon in retro gaming - a title with genuinely interesting ideas that deserved broader recognition but was hampered by distribution limitations and design choices that affected its lasting appeal.

[retrogamingloft]

Darkipede is a Centipede clone for the Commodore 64, released in 2014 by Psytronik Software and RGCD. Originally bundled as a bonus game with "Darkness," it features the classic arcade shooter gameplay of firing at a segmented creature as it moves down the screen through a field of mushrooms, while dodging and destroying other hostile insects. The game puts a dark, gothic spin on the familiar Centipede formula, maintaining the addictive mechanics that made the original arcade classic so enduring while showcasing the continued creativity of the modern C64 homebrew scene.