Was this game better than Midnight Resistance? 😇🕹👌 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= More from 1988: tinyurl.com/1988-C64-GAMES My Top Picks: tinyurl.com/CCGS-BEST-GAMES
@@CheekyCommodoreGamer Tough one. On the Amiga, Midnight Resistance was amazing, but on the C64 the 8 sprites per line restriction made it a little less impressive as you had to reserve enough sprites for the player and flamethrower weapon (3 sprites from memory). This left the gameplay area a bit sparse with enemies. For that reason, I give the nod to Gryzor over Midnight Resistance on the C64. Both fine games though!
I took a broken joystick, removed the button, spring and circuit board, built a wooden case around it and attached it to another joystick (plugging it into port 1 so it emulates a keypress) just so I could have two buttons to play this game. Also worked great for Rush 'n Attack.
Ahh nice! It definitely would have come in handy for Rush 'n Attack... known here in the UK as 'Green Beret' and is also on the channel 😇🕹️👌ua-cam.com/video/QIXiO2FzV-Y/v-deo.html
I never played the C64 version, but I played this as Contra in the arcade and on the NES. This is a great game that's even more fun to play with a friend!
Wow you are really pumping out the vids, must take a lot of time, thanks though as I really look forward to the notifications, loved my C64 back in the day.
Yup, that was the technique for me... my brother would absolutely go ballistic with me if I didn't take off my shoe first, or.. if I had a hole in my sock hahaha... good memories 😇🕹️👌
Another excellent example of a game that would have benefited dramatically by a multi-button controller rather than having to use your big toe to press the space bar. Since the Sega Master System controller uses the same Atari-style plug, I wonder if any hackers out there have ever tried to modify the code slightly to allow the use of that instead of the stock option. Anyway, looks like they did a decent job.
The 'one shoe off' foot pressing of the spacebar is one of the most nostalgic memories from being a kid... it'd never work today, but it seemed to be acceptable back in the day 😇🕹️👌
@@CheekyCommodoreGamer I need to emphasise here once more my admiration for RENEGADE, and ingenious decision to place 3 buttons on the keyboard. Can't accept complains from C64 fans about joystick's lack of buttons - for God's sake, C64 had dozens of them. Just put a hand on the keyboard, won't bite you! And joystick should be glued to the surface, used with one hand. My Quickshot II joys kept in one place quite well. Had those gums on the bottom for sticking properly.
Konami brought so many great classic games 😺👍🕹️. In fact, i still love these classic games 🕹️ on the Commodore 64: - MIKIE - HYPER SPORTS - TRACK & FIELD - YIE-AR KUNG FU - NEMESIS - IRON HORSE - GRYZOR - KONAMI'S PING PONG GRYZOR may have been frustrating with the controlling on the Commodore 64 😹🕹️, but it brings more action with a friend 🐱👍🕹️🕹️ than solo 😹🕹️.
The only problem with hyper sports was the weight lifting. First couple of rounds are ok then it gets literally impossible. Unless you are Usain bolt and can waggle at inhuman speeds 😳
It's a competent port with the mentioned control issues and a slightly goofy looking player character. : ) For run and gun gameplay on the C64 I always preferred Midnight Resistance.
I really liked Gryzor on the C64, but it was extremely tough. I managed to complete it several times, and usually got to the final stage at least. To complete it, you relied on getting certain weapons like the laser in the underground tunnel sections, as you could destroy the stuff blocking the switches much easier. If you accidentally ended up with the wrong weapon, you were often toast. In New Zealand we had the Zenith crack (without trainer!), which was a preview version missing the vertical scrolling section, thus it was a bit easier to complete. I agree with the other comment about the CBM font being used - that let down the presentation. And space bar to jump was always a hassle. It's a pity games didn't detect that you were about to die (in the next frame update) and could auto-jump for you.
whomever owns Ocean now should get all the licenses and re-release those licensed game compilations. It is okay if they become expensive compilations due to all the licensing, actually adds to the value.
Not sure if there are any differences to be honest, just the name - apparently Konami said the name Contra was chosen for the U.S. as it was thought to be more impactful and resonant with the audience there... god knows 😇🕹️👌
I think it's very good solution to have a dedicated kbd button (in the case of Gryzor for jumping) in multi direction shooting games. Implementing this into joystick movements ( Midnight Resistance, Robocop, etc) makes the games extremely hard to play. The trick in games like these is to play them with single hand pilot-style joysticks (I've always used Quick Shot series back in the day ) that you could securely attach to the table with suctions cups - then you can actually use the second hand for keyboard manipulation instead of feet :D
Those suction cups came in extremely handy for joystick waggling games, thats for sure. I never tried the 'one hand' trick though... I'd just have my C64 on the floor and tap the space bar with my socked foot haha 😇🕹️👌
what a great game, i managed to complete it in the in the end on the c64 back in the day i played it in the arcade first and loved it! I played a pallie in World of Warcraft called Gryzor going back to 2005 ! hahaha and Gryzor was my name in all online games and i have it as my email address too, you can say a i like the name Gryzor! great video thanks
I remember there was a demo of this on the tape version of Combat School? I obviously didn't enjoy it much as I barely played it, unlike the Operation Wolf demo on Commodore User that I played so much I didn't bother buying the game.
It was, I think... yeah. Combat School was another decent game wasn't it (also on the channel). I had loads of games on demo tape and I didn't buy the full game because I'd just play the demo over and over again - I was legendary on many Level 1's of games due to this - haha 😇🕹️👌
Be interesting to know if you find it - I found it tricky playing with joystick & space bar in present day... however back in the 80s it wasn't a problem. I must have muscle memory trained my right foot to be legendary for quick responses hehe 😇🕹️👌
Everywhere I look I get the same reply... 'The C64 used the same 9-pin port as the Atari 2600, which had a straightforward wiring scheme that supported only a single button input.' But maybe someone more technical will explain it better for us in the comments 😇🕹️👌
Well, main sprite looked kinda underwhelming - jovial and chunky - but this game seems to move smooth and has a lot of neat things going on. I believe it is a good game in the crucial department - arcade gameplay. It's about capturing the spirit of the original. Probably does it.
The lump of cheesy goodness certainly moved well as a sprite and the game as a whole ran really fluidly. I really liked this game but I found it pretty difficult in places... especially when having to juggle the spacebar whilst avoiding the bullets 😇🕹️👌
I also had this (and Platoon) via Ocean Software's "The In Crowd" compliation - I don't think I got past the 3rd stage whenever I played it (trying to jump by using the 'Space' bar was a nightmare on the busier levels). Finishing this might require emulation and a programmable 2 button wireless controller, methinks 😉 From memory, the C64 version of "The In Crowd" also had Barbarian, Predator (the PAL version, which was bugged), Combat School, Target: Renegade, The Last Ninja, and Karnov.. pretty sure you've reviewed each title *except* Karnov at this point, right?
The old space bar jump issue. The DB9 ports on the 8-bits were capable of a 2nd button. The industry should made it standard; think of the platformers and other genres that came later that would have shined more. All the micros would have benefited, I don't get it.
don't remember this one, looks and plays a bit like Midnight Resistance, a game that I completed on more than one occasion. Have you done that game yet? Also, how about Slap Fight (Alcon)
It seems like a rushed job to me, the default C64 font is a dead giveaway. I tend to prefer Midnight Resistance to Gryzor especially because Special FX nailed the controls much better for a run'n'gun. I think that the developers of the speccy and cpc versions of Gryzor did a better job.
Two great developers with the likes of Robert Tinman for Midnight Resistance and also Colin Porch for Contra - I guess the games are subjective as both received really high review scores when they were first released 😇🕹️👌
I've definitely stayed far away from this one for the mighty Commodore. That controller set up never sounded fun, leading me to master the Nintendo version, instead. Other than what was impossible to avoid, (and yes, I do know the fun of turning your whole computer into a clumsy foot pedal) this game does look like a masterpiece of porting effort on the behalf of the programmers. *applause*
Those spacebar tapping days are a massive part of the nostalgia. I was 'Grenade Boy' for my brother whilst playing Commando on many many occassions hehe, we still talk about that to this day 😇🕹️👌
Was this game better than Midnight Resistance? 😇🕹👌
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
More from 1988: tinyurl.com/1988-C64-GAMES
My Top Picks: tinyurl.com/CCGS-BEST-GAMES
No this was just a little too fiddly
Yeah the space bar could be an issue, especially when needing to get out of the enemies' way quickly 😇🕹️👌
@@CheekyCommodoreGamer Tough one. On the Amiga, Midnight Resistance was amazing, but on the C64 the 8 sprites per line restriction made it a little less impressive as you had to reserve enough sprites for the player and flamethrower weapon (3 sprites from memory). This left the gameplay area a bit sparse with enemies. For that reason, I give the nod to Gryzor over Midnight Resistance on the C64. Both fine games though!
I took a broken joystick, removed the button, spring and circuit board, built a wooden case around it and attached it to another joystick (plugging it into port 1 so it emulates a keypress) just so I could have two buttons to play this game. Also worked great for Rush 'n Attack.
Ahh nice! It definitely would have come in handy for Rush 'n Attack... known here in the UK as 'Green Beret' and is also on the channel 😇🕹️👌ua-cam.com/video/QIXiO2FzV-Y/v-deo.html
Nice idea ! I might try something like that now (I have a dozen or so joysticks and 7 C64s and sometimes play on tape still)
I never played the C64 version, but I played this as Contra in the arcade and on the NES. This is a great game that's even more fun to play with a friend!
Yeah it's superb in 2 player mode isn't it. Midnight Resistance was another one I'd play a lot... run & gun games were very addictive 😇🕹️👌
Wow you are really pumping out the vids, must take a lot of time, thanks though as I really look forward to the notifications, loved my C64 back in the day.
Yeah... they are taking longer to make lately, so some later nights than usual. I keep going because of the passion - long may it continue 😇🕹️👌
I loved this game so much. I had no idea that Contra even existed at this point but loved the artwork with Arnie & Stallone.
Bob Wakelin created some amazing box art for Ocean Software games (amongst many other software houses) 😇🕹️👌
It takes a lot of effort to remove all the fun from Contra but they did a spectacular job with this one.
Ouch... this actually got superb reviews back in the day. I really enjoyed this one 😇🕹️👌
I too got this as part of "The In Crowd". What a great game package. On tape though unfortunately.
Yeah me too... the cassette versions are painful to wait for to load now thats for sure! We had soooo much more patience back in the day huh 😇🕹️👌
I remember contra arcade game getting a very good review in c&vg magazine, never fancied it myself.
Worth playing if you ever see it at a retro event... especially in two player mode 😇🕹️👌
@CheekyCommodoreGamer certainly looks good on c64, I think they did a good conversion, I played it on the nes and mame years later and got thrashed 😭
😅 The footwork on the spacebar! I do remember that move! Sometimes I put the C64 on the floor to make it easier instead of half laying onto the desk.
Yup, that was the technique for me... my brother would absolutely go ballistic with me if I didn't take off my shoe first, or.. if I had a hole in my sock hahaha... good memories 😇🕹️👌
Another excellent example of a game that would have benefited dramatically by a multi-button controller rather than having to use your big toe to press the space bar. Since the Sega Master System controller uses the same Atari-style plug, I wonder if any hackers out there have ever tried to modify the code slightly to allow the use of that instead of the stock option.
Anyway, looks like they did a decent job.
The 'one shoe off' foot pressing of the spacebar is one of the most nostalgic memories from being a kid... it'd never work today, but it seemed to be acceptable back in the day 😇🕹️👌
@@CheekyCommodoreGamer I need to emphasise here once more my admiration for RENEGADE, and ingenious decision to place 3 buttons on the keyboard. Can't accept complains from C64 fans about joystick's lack of buttons - for God's sake, C64 had dozens of them. Just put a hand on the keyboard, won't bite you! And joystick should be glued to the surface, used with one hand. My Quickshot II joys kept in one place quite well. Had those gums on the bottom for sticking properly.
Konami brought so many great classic
games 😺👍🕹️.
In fact, i still love these classic games
🕹️ on the Commodore 64:
- MIKIE
- HYPER SPORTS
- TRACK & FIELD
- YIE-AR KUNG FU
- NEMESIS
- IRON HORSE
- GRYZOR
- KONAMI'S PING PONG
GRYZOR may have been frustrating with the controlling on the Commodore 64 😹🕹️,
but it brings more action with a friend 🐱👍🕹️🕹️ than solo 😹🕹️.
The only problem with hyper sports was the weight lifting. First couple of rounds are ok then it gets literally impossible. Unless you are Usain bolt and can waggle at inhuman speeds 😳
Keep checking the playlist for more Konami greats ua-cam.com/play/PL_TYjnCNYSeyItK8Ve4vfF4C5pkAOcJdj.html 😇🕹️👌
Haha yeah, the joystick waggling games could be brutal! 😇🕹️👌
It's a competent port with the mentioned control issues and a slightly goofy looking player character. : ) For run and gun gameplay on the C64 I always preferred Midnight Resistance.
Another superb game, also on the channel. I loved Midnight Resistance for my Amiga 😇🕹️👌
I really liked Gryzor on the C64, but it was extremely tough. I managed to complete it several times, and usually got to the final stage at least. To complete it, you relied on getting certain weapons like the laser in the underground tunnel sections, as you could destroy the stuff blocking the switches much easier. If you accidentally ended up with the wrong weapon, you were often toast.
In New Zealand we had the Zenith crack (without trainer!), which was a preview version missing the vertical scrolling section, thus it was a bit easier to complete. I agree with the other comment about the CBM font being used - that let down the presentation. And space bar to jump was always a hassle. It's a pity games didn't detect that you were about to die (in the next frame update) and could auto-jump for you.
I liked the laser too, but like you say.... often you'd accidentally pick up a new weapon and it would screw up your game 😇🕹️👌
whomever owns Ocean now should get all the licenses and re-release those licensed game compilations. It is okay if they become expensive compilations due to all the licensing, actually adds to the value.
Pretty sure it's Atari now... I know it went to Infogrames first back in the day 😇🕹️👌
Could've sworn I played this game on the C64 but with different graphics
Only you will know that hehe but maybe the US version was different? 😇🕹️👌
I had both this version and Contra for C64. Can't remember if it was just the cover or if the game was different, it's been a long time!
Not sure if there are any differences to be honest, just the name - apparently Konami said the name Contra was chosen for the U.S. as it was thought to be more impactful and resonant with the audience there... god knows 😇🕹️👌
The Amstrad cpc 464 version of this game is fantastic. Only lacks music.
The aspect ratio looks like it was lifted directly from the Arcade... however, it never seemed as smooth as the C64 version 😇🕹️👌
I think it's very good solution to have a dedicated kbd button (in the case of Gryzor for jumping) in multi direction shooting games. Implementing this into joystick movements ( Midnight Resistance, Robocop, etc) makes the games extremely hard to play. The trick in games like these is to play them with single hand pilot-style joysticks (I've always used Quick Shot series back in the day ) that you could securely attach to the table with suctions cups - then you can actually use the second hand for keyboard manipulation instead of feet :D
Those suction cups came in extremely handy for joystick waggling games, thats for sure. I never tried the 'one hand' trick though... I'd just have my C64 on the floor and tap the space bar with my socked foot haha 😇🕹️👌
what a great game, i managed to complete it in the in the end on the c64 back in the day i played it in the arcade first and loved it! I played a pallie in World of Warcraft called Gryzor going back to 2005 ! hahaha and Gryzor was my name in all online games and i have it as my email address too, you can say a i like the name Gryzor! great video thanks
Ahh nice! If I ever play a game online and Gryzor pops up I hope it's you! That'd be cool 😇🕹️👌
I remember there was a demo of this on the tape version of Combat School? I obviously didn't enjoy it much as I barely played it, unlike the Operation Wolf demo on Commodore User that I played so much I didn't bother buying the game.
It was, I think... yeah. Combat School was another decent game wasn't it (also on the channel). I had loads of games on demo tape and I didn't buy the full game because I'd just play the demo over and over again - I was legendary on many Level 1's of games due to this - haha 😇🕹️👌
I've got a set of prgs and d64s that are cracked for 2nd button support. I wonder if this is on there?
Be interesting to know if you find it - I found it tricky playing with joystick & space bar in present day... however back in the 80s it wasn't a problem. I must have muscle memory trained my right foot to be legendary for quick responses hehe 😇🕹️👌
Is there any reason C64 joysticks couldn’t incorporate a second button?
Everywhere I look I get the same reply... 'The C64 used the same 9-pin port as the Atari 2600, which had a straightforward wiring scheme that supported only a single button input.' But maybe someone more technical will explain it better for us in the comments 😇🕹️👌
I don’t think I ever played the c64 version somehow, I definitely played it on my mates Amstrad though. Looked a bit better!
Blasphemy! 😇🕹️👌
Well, main sprite looked kinda underwhelming - jovial and chunky - but this game seems to move smooth and has a lot of neat things going on. I believe it is a good game in the crucial department - arcade gameplay. It's about capturing the spirit of the original. Probably does it.
The lump of cheesy goodness certainly moved well as a sprite and the game as a whole ran really fluidly. I really liked this game but I found it pretty difficult in places... especially when having to juggle the spacebar whilst avoiding the bullets 😇🕹️👌
I also had this (and Platoon) via Ocean Software's "The In Crowd" compliation - I don't think I got past the 3rd stage whenever I played it (trying to jump by using the 'Space' bar was a nightmare on the busier levels). Finishing this might require emulation and a programmable 2 button wireless controller, methinks 😉
From memory, the C64 version of "The In Crowd" also had Barbarian, Predator (the PAL version, which was bugged), Combat School, Target: Renegade, The Last Ninja, and Karnov.. pretty sure you've reviewed each title *except* Karnov at this point, right?
That's right, I am holding off with Karnov as I am struggling to bring myself round to playing it haha... but I'll get there eventually 😇🕹️👌
The 64 could've done a better job. I'd like to see what some homebrewers could do.
I genuinely thought this was a brilliant game back in 88' 😇🕹️👌
The old space bar jump issue. The DB9 ports on the 8-bits were capable of a 2nd button. The industry should made it standard; think of the platformers and other genres that came later that would have shined more. All the micros would have benefited, I don't get it.
Very true, in hindsight - I guess we just got so used to it... the NES controller triumphed with games due to the 2 button feature 😇🕹️👌
don't remember this one, looks and plays a bit like Midnight Resistance, a game that I completed on more than one occasion. Have you done that game yet? Also, how about Slap Fight (Alcon)
Midnight Resistance is on the channel, but Slap Fight is a video for the future for sure 😇🕹️👌
It seems like a rushed job to me, the default C64 font is a dead giveaway. I tend to prefer Midnight Resistance to Gryzor especially because Special FX nailed the controls much better for a run'n'gun. I think that the developers of the speccy and cpc versions of Gryzor did a better job.
Two great developers with the likes of Robert Tinman for Midnight Resistance and also Colin Porch for Contra - I guess the games are subjective as both received really high review scores when they were first released 😇🕹️👌
Just how much are those aliens paying the soldiers? 🤔
Not enough! 😇🕹️👌
Looks like a fun game, but I think I'll stick with Midnight Resistance.
Another good game, also on the channel 😇🕹️👌
I've definitely stayed far away from this one for the mighty Commodore. That controller set up never sounded fun, leading me to master the Nintendo version, instead.
Other than what was impossible to avoid, (and yes, I do know the fun of turning your whole computer into a clumsy foot pedal) this game does look like a masterpiece of porting effort on the behalf of the programmers. *applause*
Those spacebar tapping days are a massive part of the nostalgia. I was 'Grenade Boy' for my brother whilst playing Commando on many many occassions hehe, we still talk about that to this day 😇🕹️👌