Commodore 64 Longplay [009] Sanxion (EU)

Channel:

World of Longplays

Subscribers:

1,360,000

Published on December 8, 2019 11:00:03 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie9vNydS4QY

Game:

Sanxion (1986)

Duration: 46:50

6,433 views

166

http://www.longplays.org

Played by: MadMatty

Sanxion. Developed by Stavros Fasoulas and published by Thalamus for the Commodore 64 in 1986. Also released as Sanxion: The Spectrum Remix on… the ZX Spectrum in 1989.

"Sanxion: pit your wits against the perils from the sky, fight against an alien empire intent on mankind's destruction. Battle past numerous evil aggressors and acquire the skill and precision to fly through city defences. Hone your fighting skills on the practice ranges and then, if you make the grade, enter the darkside..."

Well that sells it for me! as the first release from Thalamus, it sets the standard for all the games to come from this publisher. Right from the start with the White boxes and signature covers, the loading screen and music, the tone is set for what Thalamus releases will look like as the publisher’s name is made clear in every game. For me, Thalamus games represented some of the best games on the C64 and I looked forward to each new release. I owned all their games (mostly on tape (cheaper) until the The Hits compilations came out where I bought the Disk versions) along with all the games from Rainbow Arts and System 3. The very best games for the C64.

Back to the game. The Longplay starts out with the loader music followed by the title music before entering the game. The loader still sends chills down the spine when I see it as it’s so memorable.The game opens with two views, the top representing the radar so you get a split second warning that enemies are approaching and the bottom being the main gameplay area. In classic shoot em up style you blast any oncoming enemies and watch out for any that sneak up from behind. After each level there is a bonus round to earn an extra life or two. There are 10 levels set during the day and a further 10 set at night with a few more obstacles to dodge. Because of the speed the enemies move at it can feel quite cramped in the tiny screen area but there isn’t usually to many bullets to dodge. I think the game might be using the engine sound from the game Red Max... Maybe.

Bearing in mind the game is from 1986 and pretty good for its time, it perhaps doesn’t stand up against the games that arrive later. The Manta craft does seem like it was influenced my the Manta in the Uridium game also released in 1986, but I can't remember which was released first. It is fair to say that this game was a good launch title for Thalamus and gave a sense that we are entering a new era of C64 games with the hardware being pushed more to give us some nice graphical effects, fast paced and colourful games. I did like that the levels are fairly short and can be memorised. The wall obstacles where you have to fly through the gap would be used again in the game Delta. If I fire this game up at all, it's usually for the loader music as the game isn't that great when played today. Speaking of which the music was provided by Rob Hubbard and the Loader music called “Thalamusic” in particular being really popular got published in a full synth version on the side B of the Zzap64 Megatape Issue 26 - June 1987.

00:00:00 Loader Music
00:04:15 Title Screen Music
00:07:21 Gameplay starts Here!
00:25:16 The Darkside!
00:45:14 (Bonus) Extras for the Disk version of the game. -
Disclaimer: Most videos by World of Longplays use SaveStates!