C64 adventure games

Adventure games on the C64 were mostly just text, though many had some sort of graphics in them. These are the games I liked to play, you always had some new exciting picture to look forward to. The screen shots from the games usually show just the graphical part. The text gets blurred too much, which is why the descriptions are plain text format instead.

You are in a room with a bed. You see the Asylum logo. A camera watches. You see a box within reach. In the box there is: credit card.
You may ask for help at any time.

Packed size:	93k
Original size:	171k
Format:	D64 Multiload
Doc:	No

In Asylum you play an adventurer gamer who has gone a bit over the top. You have trouble distinguishing the real world from your adventures, and thus you have been locked in the Asylum. Your mission is of course to escape. Movement in this game is achieved by using your joystick, instead of the normal s, e, n, w, etc. The game features some great graphics.

Bimbo stood outside his boggit-hole at Fag End. He was on the edge of a gloomy, empty land with dreary hills ahead. To the west was the round green door and several tracks led away north, northeast and east.

Packed size:	82k
Original size:	171k
Format:	D64
Doc:	No

This parody of the classic Tolkien game "The Hobbit" (see below) was made by Delta 4. Quite insane, but a bit too hard - even if you know what you must do, the parser stops you. A pity, since the game is fun.

Deciding to take no risks, Fordo plunged into the trees and hid. Moments later, a dark rider rode by. He stopped and seemed to be sniffing the air. Then, spurring his black mount, he emitted one great and sour fart and rode on down the way.

Bored of the rings

Packed size:	93k
Original size:	103k
Format:	D64 Multiload
Doc:	No

Another Tolkien-parody, again from Delta 4. This one is based on the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, which also was made a computer game, but it was so bad (and slow) that I never played it. This crazy game is pretty much like The Boggit - the parser limits you.

Chicago. 1922. I'm in a street full of bars and pool halls. Shot in sepia. Very atmospheric, y'know?
I'm outside Deviney's bar. The street leads east and west.

Bugsy

Packed size:	83k
Original size:	171k
Format:	D64
Doc:	No

Bugsy is a rabbit with large plans to make it into a world of crime.
A good adventure game with some nice graphics and a sense of humour.

You are in the old church ground. The road to the castle is to the west, and to the south you see a lonely graveyard.

Castle of Terror

Packed size:	71k
Original size:	171k
Format:	D64
Doc:	No

This is a really atmospheric horror adventure. In these days it would be called a "multimedia" adventure, because it features not only first class graphics, but also a haunting soundtrack that fits the game perfectly. The goal is to break into the Count's castle and steal his treasure, I believe.
I only used to play a one-parted crack of this game, which I think is what most people did. That crack is in fact only the second part of the game. This is the full game, including the first part.

You are in a pasture.
You see cattle.
The cattle seem very restless.

The Dallas Quest

Packed size:	100k
Original size:	171k
Format:	D64 Multiload Fastload
Doc:	No

Here's a pretty fun graphic adventure based loosely around the TV series with the same name. Someone is trying to kill Sue Ellen, and you, a private detective, must find out who it is and stop him. The parser is pretty limited, but the game has some nice graphics. Unlikely events, like cattle trying to trample you, also make this game pretty fun.

Jonathan Harker dies a horrible death.

But it is a wild and untamed landscape that seems only grudgingly to tolerate the tortuous coach tracks that wind through it... like arteries, hurrying tired and travel weary fares to their destinations, maybe even their destinies...

Packed size:	151k
Original size:	171k
Format:	D64
Doc:	No

Another horror adventure, this one following the legend of Dracula very closely. Based on the novel by Bram Stoker, the game does take the form of a book, with lengthy descriptions of what happens - this is not a bad thing, since the text is very well written, and interesting to read. See the short passage on the left, part of Jonathan's journey to Dracula's castle (the text is not connected with the picture). There aren't that many pictures, but the ones that do show are pretty good.

Erik is on a cart-track. Exits are north to a barn, east to a path, south to a barn and west to the farmyard.
No one is here. Erik's family have been kidnapped!

Erik the Viking

Packed size:	27k
Original size:	34k
Format:	P00
Doc:	No

Erik, who is a pretty nice guy for a viking, returns home to find his family kidnapped. Now who took them, and where? Erik must find his family and bring them home.
The game has got good graphics, but there's one drawback: they draw oh so slooooowly. Play this one with maximum emulator speed.

The Fourth Sarcophagus

Packed size:	9k
Original size:	16k
Format:	P00
Doc:	No

This is the first adventure I ever played, and it is a bad one indeed. Text only, poor parser, linear plot (if you can call being an amnesiac treasure hunter a plot). And imagine it was a cartridge game! I still can't help but love it.

I'm in a bedroom. Things I see:
Slimy Gremlin Pods. Chicken scraps. Flashlight. GREMLIN throwing Darts.
Exits: Down.

Packed size:	35k
Original size:	56k
Format:	P00
Doc:	No

A pretty crummy game really, but gremlins are great fun. And this game has some pretty decent graphics, and even animations. Very poor parser, and very poor descriptions (as you can see) though.

You are in a comfortable tunnel like hall
to the east there is the round green door
you see :
the wooden chest.
Gandalf. Gandalf is carrying a curious map.
Thorin.
Gandalf gives the curious map to you.
Thorin waits.

The Hobbit single file

Packed size:	36k
Original size:	49k
Format:	P00
Doc:	C64

The Hobbit disk

Packed size:	197k
Original size:	341k
Format:	D64(2) Multiload Fastload

The classic of the classics. Without a doubt the most well known adventure on the C64, and it's a very good one. It's based on Tolkien's book with the same name, and stars all the familiar characters from it. These characters interact with you in a way that is very uncommon in C64 adventures. They walk around on their own, and do their own stuff. Of course, they need some instructions from you at times.
This game comes in two versions that differ pretty much. The tape version (upper picture) is probably best known, and it is a good adventure with decent graphics. The disk version (lower picture) is amazing though. It doesn't only have superior graphics, it also has much better descriptive text (the text here is from the tape version) and a soundtrack. If you only played the tape version before, be sure to try the disk version - it's great.

I'm Bruce Banner, tied hand & foot to a chair.
What shall I do now?
bite lip
Ouch! I scream!
I'm
The Incredible Hulk (Tm)
now!

Packed size:	32k
Original size:	171k
Format:	D64
Doc:	No

The Hulk (tm), based on the Marvel (tm) character. Not really a good adventure, but, hey, it's the Hulk (tm)!
Bruce Banner must prove that he can control his violent alter ego by collecting some gems.

You are in a small building with a well in the middle of the only room. A rusty ladder leads down the well into darkness.
There is a bunch of keys here.
There is a small brass lamp here.
There is an empty bottle here.

Jewels of Darkness

Packed size:	128k
Original size:	171k
Format:	D64
Doc:	No

This is a trilogy of games released by Level 9. It features three classic adventures: Colossal Cave Adventure, Adventure Quest and Dungeon Adventure. In this release all games have also got graphics, which are pretty good, but the choice of colors in some locations (see picture) leaves something to wish for... All games have a pretty good parser, and are well worth playing.

LUXOR THE MOONPRINCE
He stands in the Forest of Shadows, looking Southeast to the Cavern of Shadows.

Lords of Midnight

Packed size:	37k
Original size:	53k
Format:	P00
Doc:	Spectrum

Doomdark's Revenge

Packed size:	36k
Original size:	37k
Format:	P00
Doc:	Spectrum

Lords of Midnight is quite different from most adventures. Doomdark the evil witch king is holding a tight reign on the land with the help of the Ice fear, which strikes fear into even the boldest. Not so with Luxor the Moonprince though, who thinks he stands a chance against the forces of evil. Your job is to command Luxor and his friends in order to defeat Doomdark.
You can play this game as either a strategy game, or an adventure, or both, depending on your choice of strategy.
The follow-up is Doomdark's Revenge, which plays similarly to Lords of Midnight.
The games are totally awesome, but unfortunately they do not work with CCS64 V1.09 - the RESTORE key hangs after the first use. It does work with VICE 0.14.2 (and probably later versions) though.

Master of Magic

Packed size:	32k
Original size:	46k
Format:	P00
Doc:	No

This really is more of a role-playing game than an adventure, but still... It's pretty cool, you run around an underground world in search of magic and a way back to the real world.

I say, Regis, what day is this, anyway?
Well, your Lordship, I believe it must be Wednesday.
That means then, that our next stop must be someplace called Memphis, is that right?
Yes, your Lordship, I believe that must be correct.

Murder on the Mississippi

Packed size:	72k
Original size:	171k
Format:	D64 Multiload Fastload
Doc:	No

Being a master sleuth, you're on vacation travelling the beautiful Mississippi river. Of course, there is a murder, and you must solve it.
This is actually a lot more fun than it may seem from the sample. You walk around the steamer and talk to (interrogate) people, and search for evidence, in quest of the answer. With you is the ever trustable Regis, who takes care of more mundane tasks for you, like thinking.

The Mutant Spiders

Packed size:	11k
Original size:	12k
Format:	P00
Doc:	No

The second adventure from Zyntax Zoftware that I played and loved (the first being The Fourth Sarcophagus). This is another very simple text-only adventure with an amnesiac hero. Here you must save the world from being run over by mutant spiders... muaahaahahah! You have to love that B-movie theme.

Redhawk and Kwah

Packed size:	74k
Original size:	171k
Format:	D64
Doc:	No

Another super hero, but this one doesn't bite his lip to turn into a super hero, instead he utters the magic word "kwah" (which is hawk backwards). Redhawk is the name, and with his alter ego Kevin the photographer, he has to fight crime. Both games have a simple but functioning parser, and I especially like the "Spidermanish" plot, in which the superhero must make a living by taking pictures of crimes.

You are in a dark Dungeon. You see:
Much. Will Scarlet. Locked grating. Prisoners.

Robin of Sherwood

Packed size:	32k
Original size:	45k
Format:	P00
Doc:	No

Robin the adventure game. Though descriptions and parser are slightly below average, this game manages to stay exciting, and it does have pretty good graphics.
The starting problem is a bit tough, though. Try 'stand on shoulders' to begin with.

You are in a blue mortuary beside a smooth ceramic slab. Lights twinkle beside a trapdoor on the ceiling. Exits lead north and up.

Packed size:	138k
Original size:	171k
Format:	D64
Doc:	No

Here's another trilogy from Level 9, this one leaving the fantasy world and taking a great leap out into space. The three games featured are "Snowball", "Return to Eden" and "A worm in paradise".

Spellbound and
Knight Tyme

Packed size:	73k
Original size:	76k
Format:	P00 (2)
Doc:	Spectrum

Gimbal the wizard is very poweful, but also very clumsy. In these two games, you play the magic knight who has to correct his mistakes.
You control the knight with the joystick, and get all possible actions you can take from a menu. I'm pretty much a keyboard-input guy myself, but these two games work well.

I'm in a small Office. Visible items:
Crib. SANDMAN.
Exits are: EAST

Packed size:	28k
Original size:	171k
Format:	D64
Doc:	No

The game based on my favorite comic character - and it's not so bad! Spiderman gets to use his special abilities as well as more mundane ones in order to overcome his many adverseries.

I am in a cosy looking WARDROOM. There are rows and rows of bunk beds. Above me I can see a thin SHELF. Exits lead NORTH, SOUTH and EAST.

I can also see:-
COMFY LOOKING MATTRESS

Packed size:	23k
Original size:	171k
Format:	D64
Doc:	No

Subsunk puts you in the role of reporter Ed Lines, seafaring reporter who is on a routine mission abord a submarine. But something goes wrong, and of course Ed has to save the day.
The clues are a bit obvious sometimes, but that's usually a good thing because of the poor parser. The game also has a corny sense of humor I can't resist. One of the best budget games I ever played.

You are on a road.
To the north you can see a wooden cabin.
North east is a forest path.
East you can see a road.
West you can see a road.
South is a wooden fence through which you can see the forest.

Twin Kingdom Valley

Packed size:	23k
Original size:	30k
Format:	P00
Doc:	No

An adventure game of the more classical type. Walk around a fantasy world and collect as much treasure as possible. Get more by playing two kingdoms against each other.
It has very good graphics, and even some animations. The parser is remarkably good for a tape game.

Packed size:	31k
Original size:	54k
Format:	P00
Doc:	Spectrum

"Thor asks Loki to drop the wine. Loki refuses. Thor attacks Loki. Thor kills Loki."
Another day, another death, in Valhalla. You must get the six treasures, try not to die too often and get help from other characters at times. A very original, if a bit strange, adventure.

Packed size:	32k
Original size:	48k
Format:	P00
Doc:	No

A game based on one of the most bizarre TV-series ever, how could that turn out? Bizarre? Damn right!
You've got to grab your stuff and move out before the landlord comes to collect the rent. Of course, what's your stuff depends on which character you're playing. I mostly just break stuff. Heh.

The sun burns down onto an empty beach and a smell of the sea is in the air. The sand shows signs of recent movement.
You see: the spade.

Zzzzz

Packed size:	43k
Original size:	171k
Format:	D64
Doc:	No

Zzzzz is an icon-driven adventure, where I believe the goal is to wake up. And it works pretty well.

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