We are still waiting on a suitable Amiga AGA emulator with robust recording features before tackling such games.
Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future
Dan Dare, developed by Gang of Five and published by Virgin Games in 1986.
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Player's Review
"Arcade action that plays like a comic book"
Dan dare for the C64 is different to what we got an Spectrum and Amstrad which were fast paced action games whereas the C64 game is more of a puzzler with some action. The C64 game looks quite basic compared to the Spectrum and Amstrad games which used hires sprites and plenty of colour and effects notable in the spectrum game.
Where the different versions are the same however are the time limits and the objective of destroying Mekon and getting home. Each game is challenging in there own ways but the C64 game in particular gives you only one life and limited energy with no possibility of restoring it. There is no resurrection in prison in this version.
The longplay is by no means optimal as I try to show all locations, all routes into the base, all items and there uses as well as getting the highest completion score I can which seems to max out at 80%. The completion rating seems to count unique rooms entered (64) plus six for completing the game (74 when having all screens and running out of time after killing Mekon). The remaining 10% I am unsure about. possibilities include items collected and used in the correct places including all pass cards to open all doors. Rescuing prisoners, Completing laser puzzle without destroying mirrors destroying each of the three reactors in order. Killing treen does not count towards it although I thought id see if anything happens if I kill em all ....nope.
For reference:-
Reeds - Found in water to breath whist fetching crowbar.
Crowbar - Opens doors, hatches. Destroyed when opening first blue door with it.
Branch - Opens Electrifies hatch
Fruit, used to coarse Stripey to fetch torch.
Torch - light up dark areas.
Oil - Opens rusty Hatch
Treen Suit - Allows to go through guard room also holds a Pass card
Pass (4) - Collect to open doors and rescue prisoners.
You get only so much energy to work with and there are plenty of ways to lose it:-
Water - absorbs energy until using reeds to breath.
Kicking the crowbar
Eating the fruit
Trying to open electrified hatch without branch
Taking fire from Mekon.
And of course losing energy fighting the treen.
The combat is poor but winning a fight against the treen is seemingly as simple as holding towards and up whilst holding fire. Back and fire throws a grenade when on the surface and Mekon. Down and fire can throw grenades downwards if you have the right angle.
00:00:00 Title cards and music
00:01:18 Caves
00:10:06 Base
00:16:55 Laser time
00:24:12 Boss battle and escape.
Dan dare for the C64 is different to what we got an Spectrum and Amstrad which were fast paced action games whereas the C64 game is more of a puzzler with some action. The C64 game looks quite basic compared to the Spectrum and Amstrad games which used hires sprites and plenty of colour and effects notable in the spectrum game.
Where the different versions are the same however are the time limits and the objective of destroying Mekon and getting home. Each game is challenging in there own ways but the C64 game in particular gives you only one life and limited energy with no possibility of restoring it. There is no resurrection in prison in this version.
The longplay is by no means optimal as I try to show all locations, all routes into the base, all items and there uses as well as getting the highest completion score I can which seems to max out at 80%. The completion rating seems to count unique rooms entered (64) plus six for completing the game (74 when having all screens and running out of time after killing Mekon). The remaining 10% I am unsure about. possibilities include items collected and used in the correct places including all pass cards to open all doors. Rescuing prisoners, Completing laser puzzle without destroying mirrors destroying each of the three reactors in order. Killing treen does not count towards it although I thought id see if anything happens if I kill em all ....nope.
For reference:-
Reeds - Found in water to breath whist fetching crowbar.
Crowbar - Opens doors, hatches. Destroyed when opening first blue door with it.
Branch - Opens Electrifies hatch
Fruit, used to coarse Stripey to fetch torch.
Torch - light up dark areas.
Oil - Opens rusty Hatch
Treen Suit - Allows to go through guard room also holds a Pass card
Pass (4) - Collect to open doors and rescue prisoners.
You get only so much energy to work with and there are plenty of ways to lose it:-
Water - absorbs energy until using reeds to breath.
Kicking the crowbar
Eating the fruit
Trying to open electrified hatch without branch
Taking fire from Mekon.
And of course losing energy fighting the treen.
The combat is poor but winning a fight against the treen is seemingly as simple as holding towards and up whilst holding fire. Back and fire throws a grenade when on the surface and Mekon. Down and fire can throw grenades downwards if you have the right angle.
00:00:00 Title cards and music
00:01:18 Caves
00:10:06 Base
00:16:55 Laser time
00:24:12 Boss battle and escape.
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