I Need Your Help (Worst C64 Games)

[Flack]

In 2004, I posted a poll here on DP asking people what type of book I should write. You voted for a book of old Commodore 64 modem stories, and you got it. The result was Commodork, which turned out to be a great experience.

Looking back at that old thread, I see the second place option (a book of game reviews) has now tied with Commodork. That's good, because I'm currently working on a book of C64 game reviews. The new book will be a free PDF download, and will contain sixty-four game reviews. 32 of the reviews will be of "good" games -- ones I like. The other 32 will be of terrible games. Kind of a "good cop/bad cop" approach.

Here's where you come in. I need help picking 32 bad games to review. Coming up with 32 good games was no problem; in fact, the only problem was limiting it down to 32! As for the bad ones though, I'm looking for the real stinkers -- the worst of the worst. If there's one C64 game that you think is the worst of the worst, post it here. If I end up using your suggestion, I'll mention your name in the book.

I've already combed through Lemon 64's list ([url=http://www.lemon64.com/games/votes_list.php?worst=true]Worst 100 Games[/url), so posting that link is no help.

I currently have about 18 games on my "bad" list, but some of those are subject to change depending on what you guys come up with!!

[le geek]

Ghouls, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Judge Dredd (1987) come to mind.

[Gameguy]

What about Sky Twice?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWRFDPxomeI

[Flack]

What about Sky Twice?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWRFDPxomeI

I found that same link through Google. Compared to a lot of the ones on my list, that game's not that bad.

[scooterb23]

The Human Race - Mastertronic game where you have to evolve. If you check Lemon 64...you'll notice there's only 1 screenshot of the game in progress. Because it's impossible to beat the 1st level. Your character runs so slowly, and he can't jump well enough to evade the multitude of enemies.

If you get the cracked version, they made a version where you can't die. So I've actually been able to play the entire game...and I wish I hadn't bothered. Each level controls differently, but none of them are any fun at all. One of the biggest turkeys I've played on the C64.

[AB Positive]

I'm guessing you already have this but my first thought was Renegade III: The Final Chapter. Or BMX Ninja.

[Sanriostar]

The Human Race - Mastertronic game where you have to evolve. If you check Lemon 64...you'll notice there's only 1 screenshot of the game in progress. Because it's impossible to beat the 1st level. Your character runs so slowly, and he can't jump well enough to evade the multitude of enemies.

If you get the cracked version, they made a version where you can't die. So I've actually been able to play the entire game...and I wish I hadn't bothered. Each level controls differently, but none of them are any fun at all. One of the biggest turkeys I've played on the C64.

HOLD YOUR TONGUE!

Human Race is one of my favorite 'little' C64 games made for the computer!
I had an original, Non-cracked copy of HR, *Beat* all 5 screens, (cheated on screen 3 with a trac-ball; you kinda have to to save your knuckles), and highly dig the Ron Hubbard music.


As for crap C64 games, I'd go with Cohen's Towers, Mr. Wimpy, Frog Master, and the cart version of Congo Bongo.

[Flack]

Ghouls, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Judge Dredd (1987) come to mind.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood is already on my list. I'll check out the other two here in a few minutes -- thanks!

[Mayhem]

Frankie Goes to Hollywood is already on my list. I'll check out the other two here in a few minutes -- thanks!

FGTH should be in the GOOD games list... anyone who says otherwise... just didn't get it

I'd be interested in seeing the good list anyways, might be something Europe centric that really should go in there. Unless this is a more personal take on the games...?

As for bad games... off the top of my head springs to mind "Alice in Videoland", "Robobolt", "Web Dimension", "Hunchback at the Olympics" and a bunch of bad arcade conversions such as "Breathru", the US version of "Bionic Commando", "Cisco Heat" and "Gunsmoke".

[Flack]

Here's the bad list so far:

Aaargh!
Alice in Videoland
Army Moves (259)
Aztec
Back to the Future
Bionic Granny
BMX Ninja
Break Dance
Chuck Norris
Cops 'N' Robbers
Double Dragon
Dragon's Lair
E.K. Jump Challenge (282)
Hard Drivin'
Ikari Warriors (USA version)
Intergalactic Cage Match
Judge Dredd (195A)
Kid Niki
Knight Rider
Lancer Lord (004B)
Ninja (137)
Smurf Massacre (011B)
Street Fighter I and/or II
Transformers

It is still being tweaked, of course. I need to look at the suggestions you guys offered!

As for the best list, it's still being worked on. My first attempt literally had 200 titles listed. The good news is, if people like this one, there will be plenty of fodder left over for volume 2!

[scooterb23]

These give me some stuff to try out. I tend to love bad games. I don't think I've ever played any of those... on the C64

[tom]

FGTH should be in the GOOD games list... anyone who says otherwise... just didn't get it

I'd be interested in seeing the good list anyways, might be something Europe centric that really should go in there. Unless this is a more personal take on the games...?

".

I think Europe would top the 'worse' C64 games list and USA the 'better' C64 games list

[scooterb23]

Ok, so I've been giving a few of those games in Flack's list a try...is it wrong that I kind of enjoy BMX Ninja?

[Mayhem]

I'd remove Army Moves and Dragon's Lair, neither are sufficiently bad enough to warrant inclusion, just being more middle of the road affairs. The rest of the entries Flack I can't really argue too much about their presence.

I think Europe would top the 'worse' C64 games list and USA the 'better' C64 games list

Nah, not by a long shot. Both sides of the pond had excellent and crap titles. Trust me, I've played a ton of crap US games now heh. Although of my personal top ten best C64 titles, only one is American, the other nine are European...

[Flack]

I'd be interested in seeing the good list anyways, might be something Europe centric that really should go in there. Unless this is a more personal take on the games...?

Here's the good list as it stands. I still need to cut it down to 32 titles, and there are 50 more I could add. I guess my caveat would be that I don't necessarily think that these are the best 32 games, only that they are 32 great games. Like I said, whatever gets the shaft this round will probably end up in "volume 2" ...

Archon
Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior
Bard's Tale, The: Tales of the Unknown
Bounces
Bruce Lee
Buggy Boy
California games
Defender of the Crown
Elite
Friday the 13th
Ghostbusters
Impossible Mission
Jumpman
Kikstart
Last Ninja
Law of the West
Little Computer People
Lode Runner
M.U.L.E.
Maniac Mansion
Mayhem in Monsterland
Montezuma's Revenge
Nebulus
Paradroid
Park Patrol
Pirates!
Racing Destruction Set
Rally Speedway
Realm of Impossibility
Sentinel, The
Seven Cities of Gold
Skate or Die!
Space Taxi
Toy Bizarre
Ultima (3 or 4)
Uridium
Wasteland
Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders

I'm not really sure which list to put Friday the 13th on. It's so bad, it's good!

Part of the deciding factor will also be if I can find interesting information about them and how well the reviews turn out.

[98PaceCar]

No gold box AD&D games on the good list? I lost countless hours to those and still go back to them today.

Oh, and I'd probably lose LCP. There's not much of a game there. It is a direct line to the Sims though, so if you are going that route with the reviews I can understand having it there.

I might also consider Beachhead or Beachhead 2. Tough call though, will have to replay them and see if I'm remembering right.

[tom]

Here's the good list as it stands. I still need to cut it down to 32 titles, and there are 50 more I could add. I guess my caveat would be that I don't necessarily think that these are the best 32 games, only that they are 32 great games. Like I said, whatever gets the shaft this round will probably end up in "volume 2" ...

Archon
Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior
Bard's Tale, The: Tales of the Unknown
Bounces
Bruce Lee
Buggy Boy
California games
Defender of the Crown
Elite
Friday the 13th
Ghostbusters
Impossible Mission
Jumpman
Kikstart
Last Ninja
Law of the West
Little Computer People
Lode Runner
M.U.L.E.
Maniac Mansion
Mayhem in Monsterland
Montezuma's Revenge
Nebulus
Paradroid
Park Patrol
Pirates!
Racing Destruction Set
Rally Speedway
Realm of Impossibility
Sentinel, The
Seven Cities of Gold
Skate or Die!
Space Taxi
Toy Bizarre
Ultima (3 or 4)
Uridium
Wasteland
Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders

I'm not really sure which list to put Friday the 13th on. It's so bad, it's good!

Part of the deciding factor will also be if I can find interesting information about them and how well the reviews turn out.

Good list so far (except Elite, a real stinker on C64, but a British number 1 title in the USA, so maybe that's why it has to be on the list), also include The Castles of Dr Creep as a good title.

As for Magnetic Scrolls and Level 9 as good as Infocom, not by a long shot (But both include good British humour). A couple of good Scrolls games are Fish and The Guild of Thieves. Level 9s highlights are Snowball and The Worm in Paradise, those could be included in a good list.