Desert Fox (1985). C64

Desert Fox is a WWII wargame for the C64. That genre seems to have quite a footprint on this platform. Well, the computer IS titled the Commodore 64. Let's take on the Desert Fox (Nazi Erwin Rommel) and battle against tanks and planes and the desert itself!

The cover is simple but effective. It lets us know that we are (or are taking on) a powerful opponent. There are tanks and planes and explosions! The green against white color scheme evokes a sense of desperation. Other colors can come in when things are easy and comfortable. When it is life-or-death, anything extraneous falls away. Who IS the Desert Fox?

Status: Played it

Thoughts: I liked this game. The map scenes are tense. The swastika looms ever closer and my tank feels like it is trying to move through quicksand. I turn on the in-game radio. Hearing static is a blessing. Hearing "Stuka!" "Minefields" is not a blessing. I know I must target them and clear out enemy forces. But taking damage brings me closer to death. And every moment I spend where I am not pushing East risks losing those depots! There are no "good" choices. There are only necessary and more-necessary choices. I hope my aim is good! Those enemy Tiger tanks seem to be able to turn on a dime. 

This seems impossible! Yet, there must be a way to win...

(The way to win is to practice more. Download this game and give it a try!)

Rating: 3.0 out of 4 Sherman Tanks

Sceptre of Baghdad (1993). C64

Sceptre of Baghdad came out quite late in the C64 lifecycle. That usually means excellent graphic, controls and music! I hope I will be platforming, slinging spells and swinging a sword! 

We do need to discuss the cover art, though...

The cover is busy, as in a "Where's Waldo?" level of busy. It's hostile. The cover is daring us to stay around long enough to find the main character. This art has some of the most appalling use of color that I have ever seen in a game jacket. Cyclops is dull. Medusa is completely one color, as if her face and clothing and snakes are all made from the same material. Her facial expression is fantastic, however! She seems incredibly grateful for the chance to do evil. Not quite sure about the reasoning for the fangs. Is she also supposed to be a vampire? Regarding the hero, we don't get to see the hero's face. My assumption is that the artist started drawing from the outer edges first. They got bored once they reached the middle and didn't bother giving my dude a face. The genie on the bottom got way more love than the rest of the cast, considering that he got actual clothes to go along with a full facial expression. Don't I wish that I was playing as him!  

Status: Played it

Thoughts: The controls are wonderful! I love running around and jumping. And on screens with enemies, I can shoot energy blasts from my hands! The game looks beautiful. So smooth that you would think it was an early Amiga title! The music is EXCELLENT.

The problem is that this game also wants to be an adventure. When there is only 1 button, the choice is usually between adventure or action. It is a poor idea to put both of them together. Both modes end up shortchanged. In this case, the adventure portion is boring. It involves picking up objects while having a very small inventory that must be cycled through. Then drop certain objects in different places, essentially trading them with other objects in order to solve puzzles. If you have the correct item highlighted and are in the right place, something will happen to advance your play. 

But since the items don't really have descriptions and you cannot use the item in a visible way, there is no reward for accomplishing goals. A text adventure would give detailed descriptions and you can communicate with the game. A point-and-click adventure would allow everything to be examined on the screen at your own pace, along with providing a list of verbs that can change the context of your interaction with the item.

Sceptre of Baghdad made me realize that I really want the randomizer to give me an adventure game!

Rating: 2.0 out of 4 Genies

Operation Swordfish (1985). C64

Operation Swordfish is 1st-person shooter with 2 different modes. I man a submarine. Gun mode is used for attacking enemy planes and torpedo mode is used for attacking enemy ships. The C64 has some excellent and imaginative wargames, so let's see how this goes!

Here is the cover:

I love this watercolor drawing. It is beautiful and it has that feel that no other fine art medium can evoke. "Operation SWORDFISH"! The title comes out at you in that classic 70's movie glory! There is one massive submarine dominating the rest of the cover. My dude is standing on the top of the hatch, and he is nearly as big as one of approaching planes! Heck, why bother with those measly guns. My man can reach out and arm-wrestle one of those planes to the ground!

Status: Played it

Thoughts: I really enjoy the idea of a shooter with multiple modes. There is a mechanic where being in one mode requires being in the other mode for an ammo reload. It is cool!

What's less cool is that the controls are stiff and crappy. My gun was one of the weakest and least impactful weapons that I have ever seen. Huzzah, I shall take you down with this wet noodle! Some people called it a poor man's Beach Head. But Beach Head (and especially Beach Head II) are light years ahead of this game! Operation Swordfish is far worse than even a poor imitation of BH. The game is designed as a shooting gallery, but it is so slow! It was a forgettable experience. But I still love the box art!

Rating: 1.5 out of 4 Submarines