The Commodore 64 2020 Calendar – The Best Of The 80 & 90s

This is my first Commodore 64 article in a long time now and that for a reason I guess as I focus on the Amiga these days, I decided to dip into the world of calendars (LOL) last year with the 2019 Amiga calendar and yes I wrote about both that and next years one too and thanks to those I decided to go for a C64 one too now just for fun.

I’ll just copy and paste this section here from my earlier Calendar reviews from the same author.

The good thing about Facebook and Social media groups is that you sometimes meet people that want to be creative and do something for the community/scene, size or ambition doesn’t really matter as it is all about trying to do something for our beloved machine.

The C64 Reloaded Calendar is such a creation, Martin C Grundy (@C64Reloaded on Twitter) ran a twitter and facebook pre-order thing a few weeks back and luckily I managed to snag one of these calendars before it was too late.

More info about prices and such at the end of the article.

Same author (Martin Grundy), same excellent quality but the twist with the C64 calendar is that it spans 11 years of games instead of a 30 year retrospective only like the Amiga calendar, this means that C64 calendar shows games from 1982 to 1993 and the game showed was released in the same month as the one shown for the actual 2020 calendar, this means that it is very hard to do one that will please everybody out there but it certainly works as a retrospective calendar and to some (like me) it will scratch a certain itch.

The 2020 calendar kicks off with a bang, featuring First Star Software’s Spy vs. Spy from 1985. This was one of the first co-op or versus games that made me so mad I actually wanted to punch my opponent — usually my brother! It’s a brilliant title and truly one of the pioneers of its kind. Definitely a must-try for every retro gamer.

Spy vs. Spy launched in January 1985 in England to widespread acclaim.

The February game is just as memorable — for me, Park Patrol is one of the best Commodore 64 games ever made. I vividly remember the first time I saw it at a friend’s house. I was so upset when he wouldn’t let me borrow or even copy the game that I ran home crying (I was only eight), begging my parents to buy it for me. I still recall the price — £4.99 — and how my brother and I went to the shop together to get it. That’s one of my fondest early C64 memories, only surpassed by the day we finally got Ninja 2 a few years later.

Park Patrol, developed by Activision, was released in February 1984 to much acclaim. Despite being a budget title from the start, they even released an even more affordable “budget budget” version about a year later, priced at just £1.99 if I remember correctly.

The March game, Killed Until Dead, is actually one I’ve played very little. That’s probably because it wasn’t the typical game a 10-year-old would be drawn to, and by the time I might have understood its gameplay and story, I had already moved on to the Amiga.

Originally released in March 1987, Killed Until Dead is considered a true classic. I’m definitely planning to give it another try on my C64 Mini this Christmas!

The April game is none other than Factor 5’s Turrican, released in April 1990. By then, I had long since switched to the Amiga, but Turrican was one of those must-play titles I couldn’t pass up. To this day, I believe the Amiga and C64 versions stand shoulder to shoulder, each impressive in their own 16-bit and 8-bit ways.

Turrican is one of the highest-rated games ever on the Commodore 64 and absolutely deserves a place in every retro gamer’s collection.

The May game comes from the legendary game designer Jeff Minter and his incredible studio, Llamasoft — yes, it’s Attack of the Mutant Camels.

Even today, Attack of the Mutant Camels holds up just as well as it did back in May 1983. Its enduring appeal comes from its unique gameplay: strange, playful, and utterly wild. Fans of Jeff Minter’s other titles will recognise his unmistakable style and artistic vision. Remarkably, he continues to create games in this same quirky vein today, across platforms like PC, PS4, and even VR.

For a long time, I didn’t fully understand Jeff’s games beyond Hover Bover. Sure, I loved them, but his distinctive “expression” and creative style — doing things no one else dared to try — only made full sense to me once I’d grown older.

The June game needs no introduction — it’s arguably one of the most important titles of the 1980s. It defined a generation of gamers and developers alike, setting a new standard for style and quality. Yes, I’m talking about Cinemaware’s Defenders of the Crown.

While the official launch date is listed as June 1987, I distinctly remember playing it as early as 1986 on both my Amiga 1000 and Commodore 64. Maybe the release dates differed between regions, but the memory of summer afternoons spent rushing back from swimming and ice cream breaks to dive into Defenders of the Crown feels spot on.

What a classic! I struggled to put it down, and everyone I knew was equally mesmerised. I used to tell my friends the C64 version looked “photorealistic,” and they agreed — little did we know the Amiga version was just around the corner, with even more stunning visuals. (But that’s a story for another time.)

That said, the best-looking version of Defenders of the Crown was definitely the Amiga release. However, the version with the superior gameplay was, without a doubt, the C64 one. It offered more depth and had a certain edge that made it truly exceptional for its time.

After writing this and looking at those pictures… I think I need a break — time to fire up Defenders of the Crown right now!

The July game is actually one I never really took to. I absolutely loved the original Summer Games and enjoyed its sequels, but for some reason, Epyx’s Summer Games II never clicked with me.

That said, I haven’t played it in over 30 years, so maybe it’s time for a fresh look — who knows, I might actually enjoy it now. What I do remember, though, are the long loading times, frustrating controls, and feeling let down compared to the fantastic Summer Games, Winter Games, World Games, and the sublime California Games.

Summer Games II was released in July 1985, charted well, and sold strongly. Perhaps it’s time to dust it off and give it a second chance?

The featured game for August is one that completely went over my head back in the day — I was simply too young to fully grasp it. Split Personalities is a single-screen puzzle game played against the clock, packed with quirky humour and charming silliness. Sadly, I never gave it another chance as I got older, which means I probably missed out on what many consider a cult classic. It’s now firmly on my backlog list!

Split Personalities was originally released in August 1986 to strong critical acclaim, and it’s one of those titles that deserves a second look, especially for fans of clever, fast-paced puzzlers.

As with the other Calendar reviews I’ve done on the blog, I’ve decided not to show the full calendar pages, just in case someone wants to pick one up for themselves. No need to spoil the fun! That said, I couldn’t resist sharing these two standout months.

The featured game for October is none other than what many consider the greatest platformer ever released on the Commodore 64 — at least until Sam’s Journey came along a few years ago. Yes, I’m talking about Mayhem in Monsterland by Apex.

Over the years, I’ve read countless reviews of this game, and nearly all of them rank it incredibly high, calling it a true classic and an essential part of any C64 collection. And honestly? I couldn’t agree more. This game absolutely blew my mind back then, and it still impresses today. Everything you thought was impossible on the C64 is happening here — from the fluid speed and colourful visuals to the smooth scrolling and tight controls.

Mayhem in Monsterland is the ultimate proof that with enough talent, time, and polish, you can push the C64 to Nintendo-level heights.

It was originally released in October 1993, and it still stands as a technical and creative masterpiece.

The November game is the wonderful Buggy Boy by Elite.

In my opinion, this port is actually better than both the Amiga and the original arcade version. It feels noticeably faster than the sluggish Amiga release, and it’s simply more fun to play. Even the music and sound effects on the C64 hold up surprisingly well — charming in that classic 8-bit way.

Buggy Boy was a true standout on the C64 and easily one of the best driving games on the system. It delivered arcade-style thrills with tight controls and great replayability.

The game originally launched in November 1987, and it’s still a joy to revisit today.

This C64 Reloaded Calendar costs £12 plus Postage and packing, and yes, one more thing, a while back Martin Grundy reported in that he only had 10 left so if you want one then hurry up and check with him on either Facebook or Twitter or email him at Martincgrundy@hotmail.com if there’s any left. This is the gift that you want for Christmas.