Games were so creative back then. This is a masterpiece, and the simplicity of the graphics doesn't detract from the gameplay at all; if anything, it enhances it by making it more streamlined. Disagree with j. Rodman slightly regarding the power of the pieces: I preferred the basilisks to the unicorns, as their shot power was greater, and the manticores were as good as archers due to their spread shots on diagonals. Dark was overall stronger than light, though - the phoenix was pretty useless most of the time.
I find it so cool that, back in the day, mixing action with strategy was done like this. Nowadays, it feels like everything needs to be compartimentalized, games only focus on one or the other.
This guy knows how to win. His strategy of teleporting the basilisk/unicorn behind enemy lines to wreak havoc is what I always did. Once you got good at the actual combat - hanging your enemies up on the obstacles, avoiding diagonal shots etc - you could sweep the game with no losses.
Basilisk has an attack power of 9 (one of the highest in the game), while a Wizard with maximum health (on a White square) has only 16.5 HP, so two shots are more than enough.
This reminds me so much of playing this game when I was a kid. My friend used to absolutely crush me. It was probably due to 3 major factors: 1) he was a lot smarter than me, 2) it was his game, and I didn't have it at home, and 3) he always used the side with the basilisk, which is OP.
This is so fun to watch, I have the same strategy of going on a killing frenzy with the Basilisk, few of the times i managed to kill'em all with just 1 Basilisk
As I recall, the unicorns are very slightly better than the basilisks, just because they have more health, but frequently not enough more to matter. Also the archers are definitely better than the manticores (speed of projectiles is king). But the shapeshifter, sorceress, and especially the dragon outclass the the pheoenix, wizard, and the djinn by a longshot. Somtimes I feel like a modern reimagining of this game would be fantastic, but really the ultra-simplicity of the combat is what makes it attractive, but also shallow. The trickiest part of the game is mastering the strange effects of running into the obstructions at certain angles to move faster than seems reasonable. It's like bug-surfing.
That Basilisk is bad ASS!! I loved playing with it, Manticore or the Dragon. When I was the light I would love the Unicorn or Valkyrie action! Played this on the Atari XE...
My favourite kill as Dark was wrecking the bullying Phoenix with a Goblin, while caught on a White Square, early in the game. Exploiting the short attack interval I had, and the inability of the Phoenix to move while attacking, I would feint with a club attack; the Phoenix would always burst into flame; I would lunge in for a quick strike, and then run away! Avoid the enemy's slightest touch, stay in the open, and repeat until the Phoenix is eliminated. Goblin Victory Dance time!
I’m assuming this was against the computer playing White? I used to freaking LOVE this game! Played it a thousand times on an old Apple II+. I preferred it over the sequel. Brings back memories. This, and Rescue Raiders, and Sea Dragon, and and and. They were simple games, bite-sized.
Once you go basilisk, you never go backilisk. Also, thanks to this game, I thought as a kid that a manticore was some kinda mythological magic squirrel. For that matter, I also thought that "foe" was a word for a mythological entity.
God this needs a remake, such a good game. Like alone the fact what white could've theoretically won every engagement against the basilisk if played right shows how well designed each piece is.
When I had my C64 I think I played this (and it's sequel) more than any other game, I believe the only games that got nearly as much gameplay on my C64 were Boulderdash and the Last Ninja games
I remember playing this game with my older brother... he was a better chess player than me, but my little goblin foot soldiers would more often than not.
Damn! Can't believe this is here! Shame you didn't let the title music run fully... Reason because: I remember this game had the coolest opening theme!
I *LOVE* this game! I used to play it on my family's Amiga 1000. Even the sound effects on the C64 version are seemingly identical. Awesome!!! Thanks for the blast from the past!!!
what controler do you use? is this on an emulator? on my original 64 i use the Slick Stick, it is like an old atari joystic, with a metal shaft and red knob on end of staft,, on PC with emulator i use an old Gravis game pad with a little joystic that screws in and switch the button so i can play it right handed
This has got to be not only one of the best & coolest action/strategy games ever made, but just plain one for the coolest PERIOD. It is truly an Action & Strategy game. Would be cool if there was a way to play against other players ONLINE. Anybody know if it's possible? It might be, with NESticle emulator, but I'm not sure if,how to get the online part working.
The computer opponent (white) had serious ai issues ;-) A skilled human opponent gave the extraedge to that game. Recently I played the original version for atari 400/800 it is kinda different but still playable.
I'm 48 now, and I played Archon when I was between 11-15 on my Commodore C64, and never found it again..., Is there a possibility to get it still now 4 an Laptop or something like that ???
ahhh,, a surprise ending,,, i thought you would slap that pawn down with your dragon to win, but you sacrifieced you dragon for a power point win,,,well played,,,,i always sucked in melee fights with pawns,,,and i hate the diaganol shots,,i have to do horizontal shooting, diagonal is too hard,,,great game,,, basilsk rocks!!
omg, the opening music is epic. Never remebered the bazilisk being that powerful, although I only played vs my brother. Never AI. Unicorn was abit faster shot, maybe it just seemed that way.
@captainmic There's no such thing as an Action Replay on the Commodore 64. Having played the game to death back when I had a C64, I don't see anything going on here that can't be done normally.
Yellow literally did EVERYTHING wrong. Attacking when Dark is strongest, suiciding weaker characters to the stronger one, straight line walk directly into fire attacks... OUCH. The whole game is about bouncing around, getting those diagonal attacks, capturing all the power points, and trying to stay on your 'light' or 'dark' squares to be more powerful.
The only thing I wish was different about this game was that the health dropped to fast. If the health dropped slower then it would make the fights longer and more challenging.
I remember the computer was such a bonehead, you could decimate the entire other side with one unicorn or basilisk. The newer steam version isn't like that. Better bring your A game there.
I'm 48 now and this was one of my favorite games on my Commodore C64..., I could play hours ..👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
Couldn't get enough of this game. One of the best two-player titles out there next to Spy vs. Spy.
Mail Order Monsters was pretty good in two player too
wow..I'm 50 now. this is me at age 13! thank you.
I freaking loved this game! Graphics and sounds may be simplistic by today's standards but the gameplay was, and still is, totally engrossing!
Archon and M.U.L.E. were my favorite C64 games of all time
So am i.... they were, but i never understand M.U.L.E.
Similar, although for me it was Archon and Mail Order Monsters...oh, and Wizard of Wor
same
Same here, also add Impossible Mission.
Games were so creative back then. This is a masterpiece, and the simplicity of the graphics doesn't detract from the gameplay at all; if anything, it enhances it by making it more streamlined. Disagree with j. Rodman slightly regarding the power of the pieces: I preferred the basilisks to the unicorns, as their shot power was greater, and the manticores were as good as archers due to their spread shots on diagonals. Dark was overall stronger than light, though - the phoenix was pretty useless most of the time.
Phonix, useless? We need to play a game of Archon. ;) ;)
This was one of my favorite games. It was good to hear the intro music again. Thank you.
Brings back memories. This game use to piss me off, but I loved it.
load "$" ,8 how the magic started back when i was 10. Thanks for the upload.
I find it so cool that, back in the day, mixing action with strategy was done like this. Nowadays, it feels like everything needs to be compartimentalized, games only focus on one or the other.
This guy knows how to win. His strategy of teleporting the basilisk/unicorn behind enemy lines to wreak havoc is what I always did. Once you got good at the actual combat - hanging your enemies up on the obstacles, avoiding diagonal shots etc - you could sweep the game with no losses.
An even battle using all the characters would have been more fun to watch.
I remember this game from my childhood. Loved it!
Basilisk has an attack power of 9 (one of the highest in the game), while a Wizard with maximum health (on a White square) has only 16.5 HP, so two shots are more than enough.
This reminds me so much of playing this game when I was a kid. My friend used to absolutely crush me. It was probably due to 3 major factors: 1) he was a lot smarter than me, 2) it was his game, and I didn't have it at home, and 3) he always used the side with the basilisk, which is OP.
The best C-64 game ever.
I love this game!!! Still play it, even if the Dark team is WAY overpowered...
When you won as the light side it made it that much better because of that.
Welcome to nostalgia town, loved this game. Also made me think of the Ur-Quan Masters.
Hail to all the kings, those, who played archon. And even managed to defeat the dragon with thePhoenix.
This is so fun to watch, I have the same strategy of going on a killing frenzy with the Basilisk, few of the times i managed to kill'em all with just 1 Basilisk
As I recall, the unicorns are very slightly better than the basilisks, just because they have more health, but frequently not enough more to matter. Also the archers are definitely better than the manticores (speed of projectiles is king). But the shapeshifter, sorceress, and especially the dragon outclass the the pheoenix, wizard, and the djinn by a longshot.
Somtimes I feel like a modern reimagining of this game would be fantastic, but really the ultra-simplicity of the combat is what makes it attractive, but also shallow. The trickiest part of the game is mastering the strange effects of running into the obstructions at certain angles to move faster than seems reasonable. It's like bug-surfing.
+j. rodman The phoenix was worthless.
Completely worthless just winning vs. another Phoenix. Best item Unicorn. Easy to destroy the entire blue team.
Wow that's basilisk is really tearing through them!
That Basilisk is bad ASS!! I loved playing with it, Manticore or the Dragon. When I was the light I would love the Unicorn or Valkyrie action! Played this on the Atari XE...
Played this the other day on the original Commodore 64. Probably one of the best games I've ever played and it came before I was born
This was one of my best favirouts
This games was pretty simple but very funny ans tricky. It was one of my most favourite C64 games.
Had to watch a video of all Commodore 64 games to find this childhood game I used to play.
My favourite kill as Dark was wrecking the bullying Phoenix with a Goblin, while caught on a White Square, early in the game.
Exploiting the short attack interval I had, and the inability of the Phoenix to move while attacking, I would feint with a club attack; the Phoenix would always burst into flame; I would lunge in for a quick strike, and then run away!
Avoid the enemy's slightest touch, stay in the open, and repeat until the Phoenix is eliminated. Goblin Victory Dance time!
Ahhhhh my childhood!
I remember winning the game once against the computer with a single archer. Great game!
This game got me interested in Greek mythology. So many great stories!
Loved this game. Brings back memories. I dont think i've ever owned the computer that badly thought. COngrrats.
I’m assuming this was against the computer playing White?
I used to freaking LOVE this game! Played it a thousand times on an old Apple II+.
I preferred it over the sequel.
Brings back memories. This, and Rescue Raiders, and Sea Dragon, and and and.
They were simple games, bite-sized.
Once you go basilisk, you never go backilisk. Also, thanks to this game, I thought as a kid that a manticore was some kinda mythological magic squirrel. For that matter, I also thought that "foe" was a word for a mythological entity.
the basilisk just does a little too much damage per hit ,making it really overpowered
This was possibly the best game on C64. I would dominate with the Djinni😂
That intro music. I remember the challenge was to win with only using the club man. I was unbeatable
God this needs a remake, such a good game. Like alone the fact what white could've theoretically won every engagement against the basilisk if played right shows how well designed each piece is.
This reminds me of the times I used to kick my friends ass with my beloved Chimera on his own C64 with custom joystick. Fu TK! :)
Uno dei miei giochi preferiti per C64.
they should remake this game for the modern consoles
They did and it's great. Go to Steam and search for "archon classic"...it's a great remake
Should be made as a FPS MMORPG for Playstation 4!
One of the best, love to play nowadays. Music it's just brilliant ;), little hypnotising.
best and most original game ever
I LOVE THIS GAME!!!
An exciting game - from back in the day!
Back in the day we didn't yet have the term exploit but we did have the practice as you demonstrate so nicely
that was very funny for two players :-) I remember the time and be missing something.
This game was my c64 game, it is awesome. (1981)
It doesn't look like much but for its time this was one of the best games for C64 (is there an updated version?), played it for hours...
That was one badass basilisk. Hah hah hah... I wonder if they made a tournament of this game. I'd sign up.
Peace
@_*
Same here! XD man I have beaten my cousin every time we played. Great times!
Ahh, those worthless golems, so slow and useless...
Thanks for bringing back some memories! I'll go play this on emu.
Loved this game!
When I had my C64 I think I played this (and it's sequel) more than any other game, I believe the only games that got nearly as much gameplay on my C64 were Boulderdash and the Last Ninja games
Do you hear that? That's the sound of SID heralding the impending doom of White. Oh the poor bastard...
Love this game. LOL
Thank you for this upload! :-) Too bad the music in the intro is cutted!! :-(
I remember playing this game with my older brother... he was a better chess player than me, but my little goblin foot soldiers would more often than not.
trully a very creative game. I loved it, shame there really isnt a modern version with good gameplay.
so old school. never played it for the C64 though I did have it for the NES.
teleport behind enemy lines and kill everything I need to remember this great tactic for the next chess game.
Back when EA was good.
Getting a diagonal on those joysticks back then was impossible.
Damn! Can't believe this is here! Shame you didn't let the title music run fully... Reason because: I remember this game had the coolest opening theme!
I *LOVE* this game! I used to play it on my family's Amiga 1000. Even the sound effects on the C64 version are seemingly identical. Awesome!!!
Thanks for the blast from the past!!!
what controler do you use? is this on an emulator? on my original 64 i use the Slick Stick, it is like an old atari joystic, with a metal shaft and red knob on end of staft,, on PC with emulator i use an old Gravis game pad with a little joystic that screws in and switch the button so i can play it right handed
It seems someone find a hole in computers move algoritm and managed to kick computers ass
Very cool old game!
This has got to be not only one of the best & coolest action/strategy games ever made, but just plain one for the coolest PERIOD. It is truly an Action & Strategy game. Would be cool if there was a way to play against other players ONLINE. Anybody know if it's possible? It might be, with NESticle emulator, but I'm not sure if,how to get the online part working.
this with your friend back in the days !
The computer opponent (white) had serious ai issues ;-)
A skilled human opponent gave the extraedge to that game.
Recently I played the original version for atari 400/800
it is kinda different but still playable.
我寻找这款游戏已经很长时间了，很高兴能找到它
Lost only 2 pieces and I've legitimately never won this game after more than 30 years of playing lol
I'm 48 now, and I played Archon when I was between 11-15 on my Commodore C64, and never found it again..., Is there a possibility to get it still now 4 an Laptop or something like that ???
@@samykhiari2822 c64 emulator if you don't have original c64
@@tkelly5422 thanks 👍🏽
Ultimate sacrifice BOI
ahhh,, a surprise ending,,, i thought you would slap that pawn down with your dragon to win, but you sacrifieced you dragon for a power point win,,,well played,,,,i always sucked in melee fights with pawns,,,and i hate the diaganol shots,,i have to do horizontal shooting, diagonal is too hard,,,great game,,, basilsk rocks!!
yesssssss, this game was AWESOME
omg, the opening music is epic.
Never remebered the bazilisk being that powerful, although I only played vs my brother. Never AI.
Unicorn was abit faster shot, maybe it just seemed that way.
Is a troll of Archon like a Troll of Moria?
there is an updated version of this on steam. Loved this game though back on c64 along with 7 cities and mule.
I played this so much I ended up needing to buy a new C64 after the first one burned out from playtime...
I played this one on the C64 till my eyes fell out and rolled under the milk crates(computer desk)!
p.s. Don't tell Bordens I have there crates!
You should have only attacked with the goblins. Winning THAT way is rather cool, not stomping the alien lines wiht your basiliskt.
@zazelby OF COURSE there has been an Action Replay for the '64!!!
Hail the winged serpent QtzlQrtl !!!
Why haven't they made a remake of this I don't know. Well, just checked and see that they did. It's called "Archon Classic".
@captainmic There's no such thing as an Action Replay on the Commodore 64. Having played the game to death back when I had a C64, I don't see anything going on here that can't be done normally.
You cheezed it out
The basilisk rules!
Yellow literally did EVERYTHING wrong. Attacking when Dark is strongest, suiciding weaker characters to the stronger one, straight line walk directly into fire attacks... OUCH.
The whole game is about bouncing around, getting those diagonal attacks, capturing all the power points, and trying to stay on your 'light' or 'dark' squares to be more powerful.
Basilisk is unstoppable.
AI was good, but after months of game, you could win every match using any piece
Sweet! I love it. I used to kick my friends ass in this. But the compu got me every time.
Perfekte Strategie
The Nintendo emulator version of this could be dl'd in minutes.. I play it time to time for them sweet flashbacks!
Gioco fantastico
Who played EYES OF THE BEHOLDER ....?
confirming basi is OP.
They need to remake this game for XBL and PSN.
Gran gioco , anche il 2 era bello , quante ore .
The only thing I wish was different about this game was that the health dropped to fast. If the health dropped slower then it would make the fights longer and more challenging.
I really don't remember the teleport feature. Makes it too easy, I think.
I remember the computer was such a bonehead, you could decimate the entire other side with one unicorn or basilisk. The newer steam version isn't like that. Better bring your A game there.
Yeah. That wouldn't work against a human. Still, the vid's good for the memories alone.