THE COMMODORE ARCHIVE: FORT APOCALYPSE - C64 - 1983
0Originally released on the Atari 400/800 by Steve Hales and converted onto the C64 by Joe Vierra, this is one of the early examples of the 8 bit machines offering more originality over the arcade conversions that were pretty much all you could get at this time. Fort takes the template from Choplifter and expands on it to become a multi level, multi scrolling adventure. Its the same basic premise, find and rescue the little stickmen scattered over each level which then opens up the next to be explored. Force fields need to be shot through and enemy fire avoided. Find a landing pad to 'save' your progress so, when you die, you start at the last landing pad. It even maintains Choplifters rather cumbersome controls where the player sprite can face in three directions. Graphics are functional, with good use of colour and the sound effects are very basic and there is no music.
This is one of those games that made people sit up and take notice, offering something different to the standard arcade game. Unfortunately, it suffers from one arcade hangover, the unforgiving difficulty level which made the game a real badge of honour for completing without POKE help.