VIC-20 Overload - Penultimate Cartridge, Pentagorat, & Planet X1
The 8-Bit Guy・20 minutes read
The speaker received a Penultimate cartridge for the Commodore VIC-20, their first computer, containing 40 games that provide a convenient gaming experience and showcase the system's capabilities. Despite graphical limitations, VIC-20 games demonstrate impressive programming skills and creativity, offering enjoyable gameplay experiences reminiscent of classic arcade games.
Insights
- The VIC-20, though often overlooked in retro computer discussions, boasted over 300 available games, surpassing other popular gaming platforms of its time like the ColecoVision, Intellivision, and Atari 5200 and 7800, showcasing its significant role in the gaming market competition of 1980.
- Despite its graphical limitations, VIC-20 games exhibit impressive programming skills and creativity, providing enjoyable gameplay experiences reminiscent of classic arcade games, with titles like Omega Race and Pharaoh's Curse offering personal insights into the speaker's early gaming experiences and preferences.
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Recent questions
What games are included in the Penultimate cartridge for the VIC-20?
Various games like Aggressor, Centipede, and Donkey Kong.
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Summary
00:00
"VIC-20: Retro Gaming Nostalgia Revived"
- The Penultimate cartridge was sent to the speaker by a fan, designed for the Commodore VIC-20, a computer that holds sentimental value as the speaker's first computer at the age of six.
- The VIC-20 is often overshadowed by the Commodore 64 in retro computer discussions, despite having over 300 available games, surpassing other gaming platforms like ColecoVision, Intellivision, Atari 5200 or 7800, Sega Game Gear, TRS-80 Color Computer, and TurboGrafx-16.
- In 1980, the gaming market competition included the Apple II, Atari 400 and 800, Intellivision, TRS-80 Color Computer, VIC-20, and Atari 2600, with varying prices and features.
- The VIC-20, priced at $299, competed with the Atari 2600, offering superior graphics and sound, making it a notable gaming platform.
- The Penultimate cartridge for the VIC-20 contains 40 games, eliminating the need for additional equipment like a disk drive, providing a convenient gaming experience.
- VIC-20 games are challenging to insert but rarely have contact issues, requiring a joystick for most games.
- Games on the Penultimate cartridge include Aggressor, Amazing Maze, Avenger, Battlezone, Centipede, Choplifter, Defender, Demon Attack, Dig Dug, and Donkey Kong, each offering unique gameplay experiences.
- The VIC-20 games, such as Frogger, Galaxian, Gorf, Jelly Monsters, Jungle Hunt, Jupiter Lander, Lode Runner, Lunar Leeper, Monster Maze, Moon Patrol, Ms. Pac-Man, and Attack of the Mutant Camels, showcase the system's capabilities and limitations.
- Some games, like Omega Race, hold personal significance for the speaker, providing insights into early gaming experiences and preferences.
- Despite graphical limitations, VIC-20 games demonstrate impressive programming skills and creativity, offering enjoyable gameplay experiences reminiscent of classic arcade games.
12:18
Classic arcade game reviews for retro gamers.
- The original arcade game may have been a vector-based CRT like asteroids, explaining the monochrome choice.
- The official Pac Man port from Atari is considered better than the Atari 2600 version.
- Pharaoh's Curse is a game that requires practice but could be fun, reminiscent of Montezuma's Revenge.
- The official Pole Position from Namco plays fine but lacks fun factor.
- The Q*Bert port for the VIC-20 is criticized for poor movement and black squares around characters due to running in text mode.
- Radar Rat Race, unique to the VIC-20 and Commodore 64, is a simple yet fun game with rats chasing cheese.
- Robotron 2084 and Shamus are games with gameplay similar to Berzerk or Robotron, with Shamus having more interesting graphics.
- Star Battle is a Galaxian clone, with the official Galaxian port preferred over it.
- The penultimate cartridge for the VIC-20 upgrades memory to 35K and supports newer games like Planet-X1, a real-time strategy game.
