I say Commodore. The colors are better and the Hardball music brings back so many childhood memories. I need to get my 64 setup going again so I can play it..
It’s always great to hear when the Commodore 64 brings back such strong memories! The colors and music in those games, like *Hardball*, really stick with us, don’t they? I hope you get your C64 setup going again-it’ll be like revisiting those childhood moments!
I think I have come to the conclusion that the reason a lot of Atari games looked like mud was that it had a large enough color palette that people picked the colors of the era... look at car colors from the late 70s/early 80s... if you look at modern games for them, the colors are much better, and less of that muddy green / brown. Though Hardball was one of the few exceptions and actually looked quite good.
The Atari 800 came out in 1979. It's darn impressive considering. The sound was generally much better on the C64, but the Atari 800 had 4 joystick ports, making MULE better if you can find 4 people to play it. Generally, a lot of games are better on the system it was designed for. Artillery in basic was better than the C64 (sound and "ouch" cartoon like text during explosion, but commercial types were available on the C64. An Amiga versionhad dozens of weapons and Shields). The main difference is the C64 was cheaper than the Atari 800 and ultimately has more games (I had over 3000 games on floppy for it).
Great points! The Atari 800 having 4 joystick ports definitely made games like *M.U.L.E.* a blast if you could gather enough players. The C64's sound superiority is hard to beat, but you're right-the Atari 800 was ahead of its time in many ways considering it came out in 1979. And yeah, the C64's affordability and massive library were huge selling points. Over 3000 games on floppy is amazing! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Man, it is cool seeing these systems again! I had the 800XL, and one of my buddies had a C64. I did love a few of the graphics games for the 800 (Return to Castle Wolfenstein, a Basketball game with Larry Bird vs. Dr. J.), but most of my games were the text based Infocom games. I had all 3 Zork games, Hitchiker's Guide, Deadline, Cutthroats, Planetfall, and even Infidel. I have fond memories of spending an entire summer trying to solve Deadline with a neighbor friend of mine. Finally wound up buying one of Infocom's "invisible ink" hint books to solve it. I would LOVE to play all these games again. Thanks for posting.
It's great to hear about your experiences with both the Atari 800XL and C64! Those text-based Infocom games were really something special, especially with the creativity and imagination they required. Sounds like you had quite the collection with all the Zork titles, Planetfall, and Infidel. I can totally relate to getting stuck and having to resort to the "invisible ink" hint books! Those games were intense. Thanks for sharing your memories-it’s always fun to look back at the impact these classic systems and games had on us. If you haven’t checked out my video where I have ChatGPT play Zork you should check it out! ruclips.net/p/PL70122o_bB72kx6RY2f1IewvtJZreFswc&si=gR8dZniwUeelMHmX
@@FloppyDeepDive Hey, thanks for the response, and for the link. I will absolutely check that video out. A few other things I remember about both those systems... One was that the C64 seemed to have a MUCH larger user and "programmer" base than the 800XL. My buddy with the C64 had hundreds of games and programs that were peer to peer and user group based. There was relatively little of that with the Atari. At least in my experience. Second was the sound. Not of the software (games), but of the actual hardware. The external floppy drive on the 800XL was extremely loud. My mom used to say that it sounded like an angry chicken clucking.
It’s funny you mention the sound of the Atari 800XL’s floppy drive! It’s so true-those older drives had such distinctive noises. I’ve heard them compared to all sorts of things, but "angry chicken clucking" is a new one for me, and it made me laugh. It’s also interesting what you said about the C64's user base; it really did foster such a large community of programmers and users, which made it special. Thanks for sharing your memories!
Really enjoying your channel, mate! I'm well past owning actual hardware now as I have a MiSTer and I'm lazy, so it's nice to see it all in action in vids like yours :)
Thanks so much! I totally get where you're coming from with the MiSTer-it's such a great way to experience retro games without the hassle of hardware upkeep. I appreciate you tuning in to see the original hardware in action, and I'm glad you're enjoying the channel!
I started out with an Atari 400, then bought a C-64. I favored the C-64 because there was a mail order software place nearby which rented games for the C-64. Games for the Atari were harder to find. I prefer the C-64 due to the graphics.
That’s awesome to hear! It’s interesting how access to software really shaped which system people gravitated toward. I can see how the C64 would be more appealing with easier access to games, and I totally agree-the C64’s graphics often edge out the Atari in many games. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I enjoy these series very much! A suggestion for next time: Make sure that the system on the left has its sounds panned to the left, as having them both mixed to the right made it difficult to follow which sounds belonged to which game.
Thanks for the feedback! I hadn’t thought about panning the audio like that, but it’s a great idea. I’ll definitely make sure the sound is panned to match the side each system is on in future comparisons to make it easier to follow. Glad you're enjoying the series!
Thanks for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed the comparison, and it’s always fun to discover new games! Let me know if any of them stand out to you once you’ve had a chance to check them out!
I live in Poland and I bought an Atari 65XE in 1988, but in 1990 I bought an Amiga 500. However, I still have a fondness for the 8-bit Atari. In Poland, various types of improvements are being made for both Atari and Amiga, just see what the colors look like in the Albert game for 8-bit Atari🕹🕹👍👍
That’s incredible! It’s always amazing to hear from retro gamers in Poland-especially with your journey from the Atari 65XE to the Amiga 500. Both of those systems are absolute classics! It’s so cool to know that in Poland, there are still all kinds of improvements being made for both the Atari and Amiga. The passion for 8-bit Atari really shines through, and I’m definitely going to check out what those colors look like in the Albert game. Thanks so much for sharing your story and experiences-greetings from Texas to Poland!
@@FloppyDeepDive As an interesting fact, when I bought an Atari in 1988, I didn't have enough money for a Joystick and I made one myself at work using microswitches when I was 20 years old. in 1989, a friend installed Turbo Blizzard for my XC12 tape recorder and the games loaded 10 times faster than the normal mode. My favorite game was "Robbo" written by a 19-year-old Pole at the time, a combination of Boulder dash and Sokobana - I recommend it.🕹🕹👍👍
That’s an amazing story! Making your own joystick from microswitches is seriously impressive-true DIY spirit! The Turbo Blizzard mod for your XC12 must have been a game-changer, loading 10 times faster sounds like a dream. *Robbo* sounds like a fantastic game too, especially being developed by a 19-year-old and combining elements of *Boulder Dash* and *Sokoban*-I’ll definitely check it out. Thanks for the recommendation and for sharing your story!
Hardball was jaw dropping, and memorably immortalized in The Princess Bride. It was the first sports game to emulate the the look of watching a game on TV, rather than having an abstract overhead or side view. Anyway, if you like Hard Hat Mack, check out the other initial lineup EA games: Archon, M.U.L.E., Axis Assassin, and Worms. Of course, you're already familiar with the first two. Axis Assassin was a pretty good Tempest clone, although none of the Tempest clones back in the day replicated the stunning 3D zooming effects. I actually haven't tried Worms myself, but it looks very interesting and different. Sort of in the same vein and era as Hard Hat Mack is Apple Cider Spider (not EA, but rather Sierra Online). It's a fun little platformer more inspired by Donkey Kong Jr than Donkey Kong.
Thanks for the great suggestions! I'll definitely have to revisit some of those titles, especially Axis Assassin and Worms. I haven’t tried Apple Cider Spider yet, but I’m always up for another platformer. Appreciate you sharing your thoughts!
The C64 Hardball is still one of my favorite baseball games of all time. It just may be the game I played the most back in the day because I got so good at it that I was always trying to throw a perfect game/no hitter just to see if the game would acknowledge it and/or do something different.
H.E.R.O. - I prefer the additional graphical touches on the C64 version. Henry's House - Having unlimited lives is definitely NOT standard. The version I had back in the 80s killed you very quickly if you touched anything. It's strange that the copy you have doesn't give you the option of turning unlimited lives on or off. Hacker - I solved this on the C64, wrote out the solution, double-checked it, uploaded it to local BBSs, and... was told it didn't work. Apparently there are different copies of the game that have different solutions.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I totally agree about *H.E.R.O.*-the extra graphical touches on the C64 really make it stand out. As for *Henry's House*, I knew something felt off with my copy! It’s strange that it defaults to unlimited lives without an option to turn it off. And *Hacker*-wow, that’s crazy about the different solutions! I had no idea there were multiple versions floating around like that. Thanks for the insight!
C64 users, waiting and waiting while the game loads from a friggin' casette tape, never knew the joy of an ATARI 8-bit homecomputer with two floppy stations, both modified with the "happy-drive" upgrade. Lightning fast load times. And we could just bypass copy protections by producing direct image copies. The software didn't even to be "cracked".
Atari users definitely had their advantages with faster load times, especially with the happy drive upgrades! It's interesting how the experience differed with C64 users who mostly dealt with cassette tapes or slower floppy drives. That said, there's a lot of charm to both systems, depending on what you were used to growing up with. Bypassing copy protection with direct image copies is a nice touch too-no need for cracking! Thanks for sharing!
I bought a happy drive upgrade when they first came out and remember the instructions overly stressing needing to wear ESD protection. I was so worried about frying the cmos chip on the install. Fast forward to now and I’m tossing old hardware around and stacking boards with zero esd protection and no problems at all 😆
Both systems have their positives in these games. In theory, the C64 should be the better games machine. The 800XL is essentially just a cost reduced Atari 800 with 16K more memory... and the 800 was released in late 1979, 3 years before the C64. That's a very long time to develop something much better, but in reality, they are pretty evenly matched overall. Yes, I'm an Atari fan, but I still appreciate other systems. My first computer was a Sinclair ZX81... and I loved that to bits. 😁
That's a great perspective! I agree that both systems have their strengths, and it's interesting to think about how the 800XL was built on the older Atari 800 platform. It's amazing how well the two systems stack up despite the technological differences. Also, big respect for the Sinclair ZX81-that's an awesome first computer! Thanks for sharing!
I feel like both systems have their advantages. The Commodore has more sprites and more colors in character graphics modes. But earlier versions of the 64 have some stability issues, for instance making a screen that has characters on top and bitmapped graphics on the bottom like mine did can corrupt memory and cause random crashes. The Commodore had such a messed up memory layout for bitmapped graphics that programmers avoided it, which was probably good, given that bug we didn't know about. But the Atari can do interesting tricks like place each scan line in memory at arbitrary places and scroll them each individually. See, for instance the road effect in pole position, or the playfield effect in ballblazers. The Atari has a more precise pallet of colors. It has some lower res modes with more colors that we never used because we were too enamored of resolution back then, we should have used that more if only because we could have gotten full screen animation that way. You can see people who do demos now do a better job of pushing the machine than we did back in day.
Both systems definitely have unique strengths and weaknesses. The sprite and color advantages on the C64 are undeniable, though it’s interesting how some earlier versions had stability issues that impacted gameplay. The bitmapped graphics memory bug must have been a tricky obstacle for developers, and it makes sense why they avoided it. The Atari's ability to manipulate scan lines and pull off effects like in *Pole Position* and *Ballblazers* shows how versatile it could be. It’s fascinating that the lower-resolution modes had more potential than they were given credit for back in the day-imagine what could have been achieved with more full-screen animation if people had embraced them.
@@FloppyDeepDive to be fair, if I had known about the problem I would have solved it by making the whole screen bitmapped. And that's how any bitmapped game on the commodore would have done it. It's just that bitmapped games were less common than character mapped one.
I grew up with Atari but at this point in my life love all retro computers equally. Both these fantastic machines have their strengths and weaknesses. It all boils down to how skilled the programmer was. The Atari 8 bit has superior colour but the C64 really does win overall with far better 3rd party support. I prefer the Atari version Hero. I think the c64 version is overly cluttered
I completely agree that both systems have their strengths, and it really does come down to how skilled the programmers were in utilizing each platform. The C64 certainly had a big advantage with third-party support, which helped it in the long run. I also hear you on the point about *H.E.R.O.*-the Atari version does have a cleaner look, while the C64 version might feel a bit more cluttered with the extra graphical elements. Thanks for sharing your balanced perspective!
Love the video (and H.E.R.O.!!) but I wanted to ask... colors on the C64 in your capture look waa~~aaaay more saturated than I've ever seen them, is this due to a mod, a setting, a personal preference, the difference between NTSC and PAL (my region) or something else?
Thanks for watching, glad you loved the video (and *H.E.R.O.*)! Great question about the colors! The saturation you're seeing could definitely be due to a few things-most likely the difference between NTSC and PAL regions. NTSC tends to have more vibrant, saturated colors compared to the slightly more muted PAL palette. There's no mod or special setting in my case, just capturing the C64 as is. Appreciate you pointing that out!
I never liked baseball but I was completely obsessed with Hardball! Accolade was knocking those games out of the park, between this and Law of the West and Psi-5 Trading Company, it felt like that company could do no wrong. They did a fantastic job of programming that for the C64. To this day, I'm still very annoyed about the concept of designated hitters, which Hardball! taught me about.
Hardball! was definitely something special, even for those of us who weren’t huge baseball fans. Accolade really did have an incredible run back then. Between *Law of the West* and *Psi-5*, it’s hard to argue they weren’t on fire. They nailed it with the C64 programming, and it’s funny how a game can teach you something like the designated hitter rule and still annoy you to this day! Appreciate you sharing that memory!
As far as H.E.R.O. goes, the c64 has a very slight edge graphics wise, with the stalagmites which gives it a tad more atmosphere. Other than that I agree with your scoring. Which, to me being an Atari fan, hurts a bit 😂 Thanks for another great video!
Thanks for the comment! Yeah, I totally get that-it’s always a bit tough when the other system edges out, especially for us Atari fans! But I agree, the atmosphere on the C64 does give it a slight boost with those little details like the stalagmites. Glad you enjoyed the video, and I appreciate the support!
Both systems shine here I think. Great line up games - H.E.R.O. is always awesome and I enjoyed hearing about your fun playing Hard Hat Mack - I'm going to have to get that one going!
Thanks so much! I agree, both systems really had their highlights in this lineup. H.E.R.O. is definitely a classic, and I’m glad you enjoyed hearing about my experience with Hard Hat Mack-it was a blast! You should definitely give it a go; it’s one of those games that sticks with you!
There is something wrong with your C64 version of Henry's House; some things you touched should've killed you. For example, that big crown, rotating heads, etc.
Those NTSC colors on the Atari look all over the place. Man ,do feeI lucky for growing up in Europe and enjoying those Atari ports in their proper colours! I dont know if the NTSC palette is that bad or this is how they "translate" straight from PAL. On the other hand, C64's NTSC color palette looks far more vibrant than the dirty grey/purple game screens we used to get on PAL. Overall I prefer these games on PAL Atari(vs PAL C64) except HERO. I do like the graphics on the C64 and MSX.
Totally get where you're coming from! The NTSC colors can definitely look a bit off on some Atari ports, especially when compared to the original PAL versions. You're lucky to have experienced them in their true form! I agree, the C64's NTSC palette does seem to handle the transition a lot better. And good call on *H.E.R.O.*-that one holds up no matter what! Thanks for sharing your insights!
@@FloppyDeepDiveHa, it didn't help that the NTSC color (or should I say colour) pallette are different between the 800 and 800xl and newer... so much so that in Ultima IV, if you press Control+X as it is booting, it will prompt you to pick which color scheme is correct.
Thanks for the info! That’s really interesting to know about the Atari version of *Hobgoblin* being a port from the BBC Micro. I didn’t know about the *Hobgoblin 2* port-definitely something to look out for!
Jay Miner was a genius, that also showed on the Amiga, imagine what would have happened if the 5200 came out like originally planned between 80 and 82, we would not talk about Nintendo as console manufacturer but Atari as being one!
I'm a platformer nut, and Hard Hat Mack was among my favourites (at least until we get to 'J' and Epyx Jumpman enters the fray - my longtime pick for greatest game of all time - or at least until Valve's Portal on the PC 40 years later) Hard for me to give the C64 a fair chance, as I come from the era of "Atari Rulez, Commie Droolz", and have only played these games (and I've played them all except Hover Bovver) on the 800XL. It would seem that the colours are more vibrant on the C64 (something I don't remember as a general rule thanks to Atari's adjustable colour intensity). This selection of games is very kind to Atari's Pokey chip, as it holds it's own or betters Commodore's famed SID chip (Sid files still being my go-to for chip tunes) I'm going to give "H" to Atari, but it really is with extreme prejudice. It was the system I chose when Texas Instruments discontinued my 4A, and my second favourite system of the era. Thanks for including Hacker...an excellent game that I haven't thought about in years!!
I really appreciate your detailed comment! Hard Hat Mack definitely stands out as a classic, and I love that it made such a lasting impression on you. I totally get the "Atari Rulez, Commie Droolz" mentality from back in the day. The Pokey vs. SID debate is always fascinating-both chips have their unique strengths, and it’s great to hear you still enjoy those classic tunes. Giving "H" to Atari is fair, especially with your deep connection to it. And yeah, Hacker is such an interesting game-it’s always fun revisiting it! Thanks for watching and sharing your memories!
@@FloppyDeepDive Thanks. I enjoyed your presentation. I will undoubtedly check out more of your content. BTW, if you've never played it... Inhome Software's 'Captain Beeble' by Bob Connell (1983 Canada). A cross between H.E.R.O. and Shamus, it is my absolute favourite XL exclusive title.
@@FloppyDeepDive I had it in high school started high school in very early 80s. so not sure the exact date I purchased it other than it was something like $300 to $400 maybe a little more, I know that was a lot of money when I purchased it.
It's amazing how much these systems cost back then! $300 to $400 was a huge investment, especially for a home computer. Those early 80s machines definitely left a lasting impression on a lot of us. It's great to see how much nostalgia still surrounds them!
I had no idea H.E.R.O. was released on anything else other than the 2600. It's interesting to see it played on other systems with their subtle graphical differences. Wow, this one's a tough call for me. I'd personally say the Commodore 64 perhaps wins the overall round but just marginally. It's amazing how close the comparisons are in this video.
It really is fascinating how close these systems can be, especially in a game like H.E.R.O. The subtle differences make for an interesting comparison, and I agree that the Commodore 64 just barely takes the edge here. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
First time I played H.E.R.O. was the MSX version back in the 90's. Only recently I have tried the C64 and Atari 8-bit computer versions. Great game no matter what port. :)
I prefer the cleaner look of the Atari version to the overloaded look of the C64/Colecovision version of Hero. My personal favorite is the 5200 version which is identical to the 400 version but adds a second button for bomb instead of down and fire trigger for setting off the bomb, makes the game so much more enjoyable!
Hobgoblin for Atari was released much later, in 2008. Atari performs better in some games, Henry's House looks better on Atari, colors, transparencies, etc.
There are numerous C64 ports of Atari 8-bit games which are almost pixel identical. Examples include Bruce Lee, Fort Apocalypse, and Realm of Impossibility. Going the other way is not as easy, because the Atari 8-bits lack high resolution sprites, tile colors, and the C64's weird mixed hires/multicolor screen mode (this mode was the most heavily used, for various reasons). The sprites are also narrower, and fewer when combined into multicolor sprites.
Tough choice. Some games were better on the Atari. Dropzone. Mercenary and M.U.L.E to name a few. Both very equal systems in terms of what they could do. The C64 having slightly better features for games but I think the Atari wins with its more elegant hardware design.
Totally agree! Dropzone, Mercenary, and M.U.L.E. really shine on the Atari. Both systems had their strengths, and it’s interesting how each one could pull ahead in different areas. While the C64 had some great game features, the Atari’s elegant hardware design definitely gave it an edge in certain aspects.
How do the greens on the Commodore 64 versions look so bright and vibrant as presented here? Hacker in particular - that doesn't match any green in the machine's characteristically muted palette. Is there something funny happening with your capture method? (Forgive my ignorance if I'm missing something obvious, I'm not too familiar with the C64.)
Great observation! The greens do look more vibrant than usual, especially in *Hacker*. It could be a quirk of the capture method or how the NTSC colors display compared to PAL, as the C64 palette does tend to be more muted overall. I haven't modified anything, so it's definitely an interesting result from the capture process. Appreciate you pointing that out!
I agree with your picks with the exception on HERO. I think it plays better on the 64. The Atari version is good, but the sounds and controls are just a little better on the 64. One thing that is most notable is the Atari version seems to have different gravity. When you press up to fly you ascend almost instantly. On the 64 there's a longer delay - like your backpack is winding up to take off. It changes the way the game plays. Generally speaking it also seems like the pixels on the Atari are a little fatter making the screen resolution seem lower.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I completely understand what you mean about HERO-there's definitely a noticeable difference in the way the gravity and controls feel between the Atari and the 64. The delay in the backpack winding up on the C64 version really does change the experience. And you're right about the Atari's pixel resolution feeling a bit lower with the slightly "fatter" pixels. It's always fascinating to see how the same game can play so differently across systems!
@@FloppyDeepDive HERO is better on the Atari than it is on other systems. I can't recall which one it is, but I played one version that was super floaty and it wasn't fun at all.
I had this on the c64 and also atari 2600, they played the same just a bit better in sound, the graphics where the better on the 800 but highest on the c64 .
Are you showing the two screens with different aspect ratios? The Atari image looks like it has been stretched out in the horizontal direction. Or the C64 has been squeezed. The letters should look the same size on the two.
Nope not at all. Atari used full screen while the Commodore has it borders. Thats why I showed them live on my original hardware. Did you see that? Thanks for Watching!
@@FloppyDeepDive Oh, wow, the Atari must have had graphics way outside the TV screen then? Because on most TV sets, only parts of the border were visible. On a monitor, this was of course easy to adjust.
When you get to L you could review a game I wrote on both systems, Lode Runner's Rescue. I'm partial to the Atari here, because I eventually found out that my game crashes on early versions of the Commodore. It turns out that switching screen modes part way down the screen on early 64s can eventually cause some memory corruption. :/
You're doing a fantastic job! Just a quick off-topic question: I have a SafePal wallet with USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (behave today finger ski upon boy assault summer exhaust beauty stereo over). How should I go about transferring them to Binance?
Atari was not so popular in the UK as the original 400/800 models were expensive. I know that Archer McClean who wrote Dropzone always favoured the Atari but I think the C64 always looks better to me.
That's a great point! The Atari 400/800 models were definitely more expensive in the UK, which probably contributed to the C64's popularity there. I didn’t know that about Archer MacLean and *Dropzone*! Even though he favored the Atari, I agree-the C64 just has a look that stands out. Thanks for sharing that bit of history!
Archer changed his stance in later interviews, saying he didn't have a favourite, this after saying the C64 was the BMW to the Atari Porsche many years earlier.
C64, Atari in those day's was never really popular. The only really popular thing Atari had was a bit later in the Amiga/ST era. Midi for using in music production.
You're right about Atari's rise in the music production world, especially with the ST's MIDI capabilities. That really was a game changer, and it gave Atari a niche that it dominated for years in that field. The C64, on the other hand, enjoyed widespread popularity for gaming and home use, while Atari never quite reached that same level of mainstream success in the earlier years. Still, both systems made a lasting impact in their respective areas!
The problem with 1:1 comparison is that many great games for C64 dont exist on 800XL. Maybe it would make more sense to compare categories, like the best 3 vertical shooters on each system, best platformers, and so on. As for the games shown here, they look the same to me, all of them.
That’s a fair point! A 1:1 comparison can be tricky when there are such unique games for each system that don't have counterparts on the other. Focusing on categories like shooters, platformers, or other genres might give a more balanced comparison of what each system does best. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Great assortment of games! Loved Hard Hat Mack as a kid too! Hero on the A8 for sure. The 64 tries to do "real textures" but looks messy. While the A8 is a glorified 2600 with the look, it just looks slicker.
yeah it's too noisy in comparison to the clean Atari look. I guess you could argue that the C64 looks more realistically dank which it does but I don't like it much personally. Hero is one of the few games I've tried quite a few times to get into but it just doesn't appeal to me. I'm probably missing the point to why it's so appealing to many gamers
Thanks for the comment! I'm glad you also loved Hard Hat Mack as a kid-it really is such a fun game! As for H.E.R.O., I can see where you're coming from with the A8 version having that slick, clean look, while the C64 does try to add a bit more texture. It’s always interesting to compare how each system handled the graphics.
Hi! I prefer H.E.R.O on Atari. I have C64 and I must admit that colors are boring and looks washed and very limited to 11 + black, white, and 3 shades of grey. Atari on the other side has exciting palette of 16/8 shades x 15 colors + shades of grey which result 256/128 colors palette. The advantage to C64 are color attributes for hires called color ram and mixed font graphics where 2 color 8x8 fonts can be mixed with 4 color multi-color 4x8 fonts. In real there are others limitations in C64 but in case of use all it has in its arsenal C64 can make use of all colors with more ease than Atari. However if a good programmer is demoing Atari it can look incredibly good compared to C64. Cheers! I hope you understand me, because I barely understand myself.
I appreciate your in-depth breakdown of the color limitations and advantages of both systems! It’s clear that both the Atari and C64 have their strengths, and it really comes down to how the hardware is used and how skilled the programmer is in utilizing the system's full potential. Your explanation about the C64’s color RAM and mixed fonts is great, and I totally get what you’re saying. Sometimes, it feels like pushing these systems to their limits is half the fun. Thanks for sharing your thoughts-it's always interesting to hear perspectives on how different systems handle graphics and color!
You chose to use a faulty version of Henry's House and played a PAL version of Hobgoblin on an NTSC C64. Good video. It was fun seeing these games, but the comparison is invalid.
Thanks for the feedback! I appreciate you pointing that out. The Henry’s House version was definitely a cracked version with unlimited lives, and you’re right about Hobgoblin-I did play the PAL version on my NTSC C64. I’ll be more careful with those details in future comparisons. Glad you enjoyed the video otherwise!
@@FloppyDeepDiveGood Video, the PAL vs NTSC has always been a longstanding issue. There are far too many newer games coming out that are PAL only. Some of which do not play at all correctly on NTSC machines. Unfortunately, the 8bit machines are not like the 16bit ones where it was easy enough to switch between the two.
Price was definitely a big factor for the C64's success, and it helped Commodore dominate the market. However, each system had its strengths. While the Atari 8-bit line had some impressive features, the C64's sound and graphics capabilities, along with a huge library of games, played a major role in its popularity. It's always interesting to see how different people prioritize those features today!
@@FloppyDeepDive BUT it couldn't compete with the superiority of the 8 bit computers . It's ironic the Tramiel controlled ATARI made the 16 bit successor to the Commodore 64 and Commodore bought the 16 bit successor of ATARI's 8 bit computers . The ATARI ST was cheaper than the AMIGA but the AMIGA was a little more powerful than the ST .
The whole dynamic between Commodore and Atari after Tramiel took over Atari is fascinating. It's ironic how the companies ended up with each other's former successor platforms. The Atari ST vs. Amiga debate is still one of the most interesting, with the ST being more affordable but the Amiga having a slight technical edge, especially in graphics and sound capabilities. Always fun to look back at how those battles shaped the industry! I know I love my Amiga 500!
@@FloppyDeepDive It's sad they both got treated like 💩 from experts saying they only made game machines with the AMIGA and ST . They were both better deals than an overrated Wintels or a too expensive Apple computer .
Let me say one thing first, growing up in the 80s in the US, EVERYONE had a C64. I Always wanted one but my parents were to fancy and I had to have an Apple IIC. Plus I've never met someone who had Atari computers. It seems like that stuff was much more popular in Europe. Back Than the "European" Platformers were all over, and they all suck. With their touchy platforming and stupid daminging falling droplets
It’s interesting to hear how different regions seemed to have their preferences for systems. In the US, the Commodore 64 was certainly huge, and it’s funny you mentioned the Apple IIC-it was definitely considered the more 'fancy' computer at the time!
@@FloppyDeepDive It's evident, especially on Hobgoblin. The screen looks like an almost perfect square - consistent with emulators that support several aspect ratios. Perhaps the process of enlarging the screen is inaccurate? Btw, your conclusion that Atari's graphics in this game "win hands down" is odd considering it lacks the nicely textured and shaded backdrops of the C64 version.
Have you played Hobgoblin before? It is a perfect square. If I could attach pictures I would send it to you. I can not respond to emulators sizing because as I mention and show in the video I use all original hardware. You do sound like an expert so I would love to see how you would lay out your Atari and C64 screens side by side. Please email me video or even a picture. p1tom@yahoo.com I would love to see your expertise in action. No emulation please. Just the real thing. As for the game itself I would say it’s just a preference thing, the terrible scrolling on the C64 just drove me nuts. Have a good one and look forward to your example to help me in future videos get it right.
Its joke ? C64 is King forever! Atari dont have so many good platformers. You can maby show me platformer like flimbos quest on atari? Ha ha ha! But off course 1 or 2 good games you can find eaven on atari, 800 or 130.
The C64 definitely has a strong library of platformers, and *Flimbo's Quest* is a standout example. Atari might not have the same volume, but it still had some fun platformers-though maybe not as iconic in that genre. Both systems had their share of great games, just depends on what you're looking for!
25 дней назад+1
You need glasses. The C64 blew away every single Atari version in Graphics and I mean EVERY game. Go get your eyes checked. :)
I have a weird commodore 64 I think no badge name it has a "built in floppy drive" not sure what it is never seen one life it anywhere. my neighbor offered me $400! bucks for it does anyone know what it could be?
That sounds like you might have a Commodore 64DX or a Commodore 64C with some kind of custom modification. Commodore never officially released a C64 with a built-in floppy drive, but there were some third-party modifications or prototype models that could fit that description. The $400 offer seems pretty good if it's in working condition. I'd suggest doing a little more research or asking around in retro computing forums to see if anyone else has more info on this type of modification!
@@FloppyDeepDive Oh wow thank you! it looks like the Commodore 65 but there is no adge name anywhere one of the rear ports looks like it has been plugged or might be a bad mold. my dad found it in a church rectory he was cleaning out iI think in Santa Clara I really want to use it to try out Geos but I am missing the power supply . Thank you so much for your help!
C64 vs Atari Playlist
ruclips.net/p/PL70122o_bB73I419GmCnyM0W_OIDWwXez&si=pPYpQGY1a2qoLasX
I say Commodore. The colors are better and the Hardball music brings back so many childhood memories. I need to get my 64 setup going again so I can play it..
It’s always great to hear when the Commodore 64 brings back such strong memories! The colors and music in those games, like *Hardball*, really stick with us, don’t they? I hope you get your C64 setup going again-it’ll be like revisiting those childhood moments!
I loved the Commodore music on this too... those lovely funk vamps with the Rhodes like comping were influential on me :D
I think I have come to the conclusion that the reason a lot of Atari games looked like mud was that it had a large enough color palette that people picked the colors of the era... look at car colors from the late 70s/early 80s... if you look at modern games for them, the colors are much better, and less of that muddy green / brown. Though Hardball was one of the few exceptions and actually looked quite good.
C64 failed on colors Atari had the palette and color tricks. Atari CPU much faster too.
The Atari 800 came out in 1979. It's darn impressive considering. The sound was generally much better on the C64, but the Atari 800 had 4 joystick ports, making MULE better if you can find 4 people to play it. Generally, a lot of games are better on the system it was designed for.
Artillery in basic was better than the C64 (sound and "ouch" cartoon like text during explosion, but commercial types were available on the C64. An Amiga versionhad dozens of weapons and Shields).
The main difference is the C64 was cheaper than the Atari 800 and ultimately has more games (I had over 3000 games on floppy for it).
Great points! The Atari 800 having 4 joystick ports definitely made games like *M.U.L.E.* a blast if you could gather enough players. The C64's sound superiority is hard to beat, but you're right-the Atari 800 was ahead of its time in many ways considering it came out in 1979. And yeah, the C64's affordability and massive library were huge selling points. Over 3000 games on floppy is amazing! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Man, it is cool seeing these systems again! I had the 800XL, and one of my buddies had a C64. I did love a few of the graphics games for the 800 (Return to Castle Wolfenstein, a Basketball game with Larry Bird vs. Dr. J.), but most of my games were the text based Infocom games. I had all 3 Zork games, Hitchiker's Guide, Deadline, Cutthroats, Planetfall, and even Infidel. I have fond memories of spending an entire summer trying to solve Deadline with a neighbor friend of mine. Finally wound up buying one of Infocom's "invisible ink" hint books to solve it. I would LOVE to play all these games again. Thanks for posting.
It's great to hear about your experiences with both the Atari 800XL and C64! Those text-based Infocom games were really something special, especially with the creativity and imagination they required. Sounds like you had quite the collection with all the Zork titles, Planetfall, and Infidel. I can totally relate to getting stuck and having to resort to the "invisible ink" hint books! Those games were intense. Thanks for sharing your memories-it’s always fun to look back at the impact these classic systems and games had on us. If you haven’t checked out my video where I have ChatGPT play Zork you should check it out! ruclips.net/p/PL70122o_bB72kx6RY2f1IewvtJZreFswc&si=gR8dZniwUeelMHmX
@@FloppyDeepDive Hey, thanks for the response, and for the link. I will absolutely check that video out.
A few other things I remember about both those systems...
One was that the C64 seemed to have a MUCH larger user and "programmer" base than the 800XL. My buddy with the C64 had hundreds of games and programs that were peer to peer and user group based. There was relatively little of that with the Atari. At least in my experience.
Second was the sound. Not of the software (games), but of the actual hardware. The external floppy drive on the 800XL was extremely loud. My mom used to say that it sounded like an angry chicken clucking.
It’s funny you mention the sound of the Atari 800XL’s floppy drive! It’s so true-those older drives had such distinctive noises. I’ve heard them compared to all sorts of things, but "angry chicken clucking" is a new one for me, and it made me laugh. It’s also interesting what you said about the C64's user base; it really did foster such a large community of programmers and users, which made it special. Thanks for sharing your memories!
Really enjoying your channel, mate! I'm well past owning actual hardware now as I have a MiSTer and I'm lazy, so it's nice to see it all in action in vids like yours :)
Thanks so much! I totally get where you're coming from with the MiSTer-it's such a great way to experience retro games without the hassle of hardware upkeep. I appreciate you tuning in to see the original hardware in action, and I'm glad you're enjoying the channel!
Wow, I never knew that the spacebar released the jackhammer on Hard Hat mack. Gonna try it today on my Atari.
Awesome! Let me know how it works out. Thanks for Watching!
HERO will always be etched into my memory as a Atari 2600 classic. One of my first games as a small kid. Loved it.
Awesome! Thanks for Watching!
Henry's house brought back many happy game play days
Awesome! Thanks for Watching!
Love watching your page continue to grow! Commodore wins for me. Great video and Keep’em comin!
Thanks so much for the support! Glad you’re enjoying the content, and yeah, the Commodore is tough to beat. More videos coming soon!
I started out with an Atari 400, then bought a C-64. I favored the C-64 because there was a mail order software place nearby which rented games for the C-64. Games for the Atari were harder to find.
I prefer the C-64 due to the graphics.
That’s awesome to hear! It’s interesting how access to software really shaped which system people gravitated toward. I can see how the C64 would be more appealing with easier access to games, and I totally agree-the C64’s graphics often edge out the Atari in many games. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I enjoy these series very much! A suggestion for next time: Make sure that the system on the left has its sounds panned to the left, as having them both mixed to the right made it difficult to follow which sounds belonged to which game.
Thanks for the feedback! I hadn’t thought about panning the audio like that, but it’s a great idea. I’ll definitely make sure the sound is panned to match the side each system is on in future comparisons to make it easier to follow. Glad you're enjoying the series!
I always enjoy these comparisons and this one is no exception. There were games I was not familiar with that I will have to look up!
Thanks for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed the comparison, and it’s always fun to discover new games! Let me know if any of them stand out to you once you’ve had a chance to check them out!
I live in Poland and I bought an Atari 65XE in 1988, but in 1990 I bought an Amiga 500. However, I still have a fondness for the 8-bit Atari. In Poland, various types of improvements are being made for both Atari and Amiga, just see what the colors look like in the Albert game for 8-bit Atari🕹🕹👍👍
That’s incredible! It’s always amazing to hear from retro gamers in Poland-especially with your journey from the Atari 65XE to the Amiga 500. Both of those systems are absolute classics! It’s so cool to know that in Poland, there are still all kinds of improvements being made for both the Atari and Amiga. The passion for 8-bit Atari really shines through, and I’m definitely going to check out what those colors look like in the Albert game. Thanks so much for sharing your story and experiences-greetings from Texas to Poland!
@@FloppyDeepDive 🕹🕹😉😉👍👍
@@FloppyDeepDive As an interesting fact, when I bought an Atari in 1988, I didn't have enough money for a Joystick and I made one myself at work using microswitches when I was 20 years old. in 1989, a friend installed Turbo Blizzard for my XC12 tape recorder and the games loaded 10 times faster than the normal mode.
My favorite game was "Robbo" written by a 19-year-old Pole at the time, a combination of Boulder dash and Sokobana - I recommend it.🕹🕹👍👍
That’s an amazing story! Making your own joystick from microswitches is seriously impressive-true DIY spirit! The Turbo Blizzard mod for your XC12 must have been a game-changer, loading 10 times faster sounds like a dream. *Robbo* sounds like a fantastic game too, especially being developed by a 19-year-old and combining elements of *Boulder Dash* and *Sokoban*-I’ll definitely check it out. Thanks for the recommendation and for sharing your story!
Hardball was jaw dropping, and memorably immortalized in The Princess Bride. It was the first sports game to emulate the the look of watching a game on TV, rather than having an abstract overhead or side view.
Anyway, if you like Hard Hat Mack, check out the other initial lineup EA games: Archon, M.U.L.E., Axis Assassin, and Worms. Of course, you're already familiar with the first two. Axis Assassin was a pretty good Tempest clone, although none of the Tempest clones back in the day replicated the stunning 3D zooming effects. I actually haven't tried Worms myself, but it looks very interesting and different.
Sort of in the same vein and era as Hard Hat Mack is Apple Cider Spider (not EA, but rather Sierra Online). It's a fun little platformer more inspired by Donkey Kong Jr than Donkey Kong.
Thanks for the great suggestions! I'll definitely have to revisit some of those titles, especially Axis Assassin and Worms. I haven’t tried Apple Cider Spider yet, but I’m always up for another platformer. Appreciate you sharing your thoughts!
The C64 Hardball is still one of my favorite baseball games of all time. It just may be the game I played the most back in the day because I got so good at it that I was always trying to throw a perfect game/no hitter just to see if the game would acknowledge it and/or do something different.
Yep me too! It’s still fun to play and I’m glad I had the C64 to grow up on and not the Ataris.
H.E.R.O. - I prefer the additional graphical touches on the C64 version.
Henry's House - Having unlimited lives is definitely NOT standard. The version I had back in the 80s killed you very quickly if you touched anything. It's strange that the copy you have doesn't give you the option of turning unlimited lives on or off.
Hacker - I solved this on the C64, wrote out the solution, double-checked it, uploaded it to local BBSs, and... was told it didn't work. Apparently there are different copies of the game that have different solutions.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I totally agree about *H.E.R.O.*-the extra graphical touches on the C64 really make it stand out. As for *Henry's House*, I knew something felt off with my copy! It’s strange that it defaults to unlimited lives without an option to turn it off. And *Hacker*-wow, that’s crazy about the different solutions! I had no idea there were multiple versions floating around like that. Thanks for the insight!
C64 users, waiting and waiting while the game loads from a friggin' casette tape, never knew the joy of an ATARI 8-bit homecomputer with two floppy stations, both modified with the "happy-drive" upgrade. Lightning fast load times. And we could just bypass copy protections by producing direct image copies. The software didn't even to be "cracked".
Atari users definitely had their advantages with faster load times, especially with the happy drive upgrades! It's interesting how the experience differed with C64 users who mostly dealt with cassette tapes or slower floppy drives. That said, there's a lot of charm to both systems, depending on what you were used to growing up with. Bypassing copy protection with direct image copies is a nice touch too-no need for cracking! Thanks for sharing!
I bought a happy drive upgrade when they first came out and remember the instructions overly stressing needing to wear ESD protection. I was so worried about frying the cmos chip on the install. Fast forward to now and I’m tossing old hardware around and stacking boards with zero esd protection and no problems at all 😆
Most C64 had Epyx FastLoad or ActionReplay Carts. Also most cracked games had fastloaders. So waiting on "Loading" was not an issue.
I only ever had the 1541 Disk Drive for my C=64 and also the Fast load Cartridge. So most of my wait times were minimal
Both systems have their positives in these games. In theory, the C64 should be the better games machine. The 800XL is essentially just a cost reduced Atari 800 with 16K more memory... and the 800 was released in late 1979, 3 years before the C64. That's a very long time to develop something much better, but in reality, they are pretty evenly matched overall. Yes, I'm an Atari fan, but I still appreciate other systems. My first computer was a Sinclair ZX81... and I loved that to bits. 😁
That's a great perspective! I agree that both systems have their strengths, and it's interesting to think about how the 800XL was built on the older Atari 800 platform. It's amazing how well the two systems stack up despite the technological differences. Also, big respect for the Sinclair ZX81-that's an awesome first computer! Thanks for sharing!
I feel like both systems have their advantages. The Commodore has more sprites and more colors in character graphics modes. But earlier versions of the 64 have some stability issues, for instance making a screen that has characters on top and bitmapped graphics on the bottom like mine did can corrupt memory and cause random crashes.
The Commodore had such a messed up memory layout for bitmapped graphics that programmers avoided it, which was probably good, given that bug we didn't know about.
But the Atari can do interesting tricks like place each scan line in memory at arbitrary places and scroll them each individually.
See, for instance the road effect in pole position, or the playfield effect in ballblazers.
The Atari has a more precise pallet of colors.
It has some lower res modes with more colors that we never used because we were too enamored of resolution back then, we should have used that more if only because we could have gotten full screen animation that way. You can see people who do demos now do a better job of pushing the machine than we did back in day.
Both systems definitely have unique strengths and weaknesses. The sprite and color advantages on the C64 are undeniable, though it’s interesting how some earlier versions had stability issues that impacted gameplay. The bitmapped graphics memory bug must have been a tricky obstacle for developers, and it makes sense why they avoided it.
The Atari's ability to manipulate scan lines and pull off effects like in *Pole Position* and *Ballblazers* shows how versatile it could be. It’s fascinating that the lower-resolution modes had more potential than they were given credit for back in the day-imagine what could have been achieved with more full-screen animation if people had embraced them.
@@FloppyDeepDive to be fair, if I had known about the problem I would have solved it by making the whole screen bitmapped. And that's how any bitmapped game on the commodore would have done it.
It's just that bitmapped games were less common than character mapped one.
@@joshuascholar3220 character mapping takes a fraction of memory then bitmapping.
We lived in SF when Atari Test Marketed the 1200XL. My Father got us one. Man I'd love to have one again
I would like to get my hands on a 1200XL too. Thanks for Watching!
I grew up with Atari but at this point in my life love all retro computers equally. Both these fantastic machines have their strengths and weaknesses. It all boils down to how skilled the programmer was. The Atari 8 bit has superior colour but the C64 really does win overall with far better 3rd party support.
I prefer the Atari version Hero. I think the c64 version is overly cluttered
I completely agree that both systems have their strengths, and it really does come down to how skilled the programmers were in utilizing each platform. The C64 certainly had a big advantage with third-party support, which helped it in the long run. I also hear you on the point about *H.E.R.O.*-the Atari version does have a cleaner look, while the C64 version might feel a bit more cluttered with the extra graphical elements. Thanks for sharing your balanced perspective!
Love the video (and H.E.R.O.!!) but I wanted to ask... colors on the C64 in your capture look waa~~aaaay more saturated than I've ever seen them, is this due to a mod, a setting, a personal preference, the difference between NTSC and PAL (my region) or something else?
It must be the NTSC system. Notice how bad the NTSC colors are on the Atari.
Thanks for watching, glad you loved the video (and *H.E.R.O.*)! Great question about the colors! The saturation you're seeing could definitely be due to a few things-most likely the difference between NTSC and PAL regions. NTSC tends to have more vibrant, saturated colors compared to the slightly more muted PAL palette. There's no mod or special setting in my case, just capturing the C64 as is. Appreciate you pointing that out!
I never liked baseball but I was completely obsessed with Hardball!
Accolade was knocking those games out of the park, between this and Law of the West and Psi-5 Trading Company, it felt like that company could do no wrong. They did a fantastic job of programming that for the C64. To this day, I'm still very annoyed about the concept of designated hitters, which Hardball! taught me about.
Hardball! was definitely something special, even for those of us who weren’t huge baseball fans. Accolade really did have an incredible run back then. Between *Law of the West* and *Psi-5*, it’s hard to argue they weren’t on fire. They nailed it with the C64 programming, and it’s funny how a game can teach you something like the designated hitter rule and still annoy you to this day! Appreciate you sharing that memory!
As far as H.E.R.O. goes, the c64 has a very slight edge graphics wise, with the stalagmites which gives it a tad more atmosphere. Other than that I agree with your scoring. Which, to me being an Atari fan, hurts a bit 😂
Thanks for another great video!
Thanks for the comment! Yeah, I totally get that-it’s always a bit tough when the other system edges out, especially for us Atari fans! But I agree, the atmosphere on the C64 does give it a slight boost with those little details like the stalagmites. Glad you enjoyed the video, and I appreciate the support!
Both systems shine here I think. Great line up games - H.E.R.O. is always awesome and I enjoyed hearing about your fun playing Hard Hat Mack - I'm going to have to get that one going!
Thanks so much! I agree, both systems really had their highlights in this lineup. H.E.R.O. is definitely a classic, and I’m glad you enjoyed hearing about my experience with Hard Hat Mack-it was a blast! You should definitely give it a go; it’s one of those games that sticks with you!
There is something wrong with your C64 version of Henry's House; some things you touched should've killed you. For example, that big crown, rotating heads, etc.
I think he was playing a cracked version with a trainer built in. Tom mentioned he had unlimited lives on the 64.
Yep, that’s is correct. As I mentioned
Lovely selection there. H.E.R.O. in particular looks like a whole lot of fun whatever it is on.
Yes sir! It’s one of my favorites. Thanks for Watching!
Those NTSC colors on the Atari look all over the place. Man ,do feeI lucky for growing up in Europe and enjoying those Atari ports in their proper colours! I dont know if the NTSC palette is that bad or this is how they "translate" straight from PAL. On the other hand, C64's NTSC color palette looks far more vibrant than the dirty grey/purple game screens we used to get on PAL.
Overall I prefer these games on PAL Atari(vs PAL C64) except HERO. I do like the graphics on the C64 and MSX.
Totally get where you're coming from! The NTSC colors can definitely look a bit off on some Atari ports, especially when compared to the original PAL versions. You're lucky to have experienced them in their true form! I agree, the C64's NTSC palette does seem to handle the transition a lot better. And good call on *H.E.R.O.*-that one holds up no matter what! Thanks for sharing your insights!
@@FloppyDeepDiveHa, it didn't help that the NTSC color (or should I say colour) pallette are different between the 800 and 800xl and newer... so much so that in Ultima IV, if you press Control+X as it is booting, it will prompt you to pick which color scheme is correct.
Yes the Pal palette of the C64 is dreadful, and I agree the atari games on PAL look extremely vibrant while you get a grey brownish look on the C64!
Worth mentioning that the Atari version of Hobgoblin is a port from the BBC Micro, released several years ago. A port of Hogoblin 2 is in the works.
Thanks for the info! That’s really interesting to know about the Atari version of *Hobgoblin* being a port from the BBC Micro. I didn’t know about the *Hobgoblin 2* port-definitely something to look out for!
Apart from Hardball being better on c64 i'd give everything else a tie.
I can’t argue with that. Thanks for Watching!
The Atari holds up rather well considering it came out 3 years before the C64.
Yep, it’s a fun system!
Jay Miner was a genius, that also showed on the Amiga, imagine what would have happened if the 5200 came out like originally planned between 80 and 82, we would not talk about Nintendo as console manufacturer but Atari as being one!
You missed Hunchback. It was one of my favorite 'letter H' games on the C64 platform.
I couldn’t find a working release for Atari. It was scheduled on my list. One of my favorites too.
I'm a platformer nut, and Hard Hat Mack was among my favourites (at least until we get to 'J' and Epyx Jumpman enters the fray - my longtime pick for greatest game of all time - or at least until Valve's Portal on the PC 40 years later)
Hard for me to give the C64 a fair chance, as I come from the era of "Atari Rulez, Commie Droolz", and have only played these games (and I've played them all except Hover Bovver) on the 800XL. It would seem that the colours are more vibrant on the C64 (something I don't remember as a general rule thanks to Atari's adjustable colour intensity). This selection of games is very kind to Atari's Pokey chip, as it holds it's own or betters Commodore's famed SID chip (Sid files still being my go-to for chip tunes)
I'm going to give "H" to Atari, but it really is with extreme prejudice. It was the system I chose when Texas Instruments discontinued my 4A, and my second favourite system of the era.
Thanks for including Hacker...an excellent game that I haven't thought about in years!!
I really appreciate your detailed comment! Hard Hat Mack definitely stands out as a classic, and I love that it made such a lasting impression on you. I totally get the "Atari Rulez, Commie Droolz" mentality from back in the day. The Pokey vs. SID debate is always fascinating-both chips have their unique strengths, and it’s great to hear you still enjoy those classic tunes. Giving "H" to Atari is fair, especially with your deep connection to it. And yeah, Hacker is such an interesting game-it’s always fun revisiting it! Thanks for watching and sharing your memories!
@@FloppyDeepDive Thanks. I enjoyed your presentation. I will undoubtedly check out more of your content.
BTW, if you've never played it...
Inhome Software's 'Captain Beeble' by Bob Connell (1983 Canada). A cross between H.E.R.O. and Shamus, it is my absolute favourite XL exclusive title.
I’ve never played it. I need to check it out! Thanks for the recommendation!
I had an Atari 800XL purchased it in the late 70s. Later on around 1988 or so I purchased a C64 Almost 10 years between each computer, for me any way.
The 800XL was released in 1983.
@@FloppyDeepDive I had it in high school started high school in very early 80s. so not sure the exact date I purchased it other than it was something like $300 to $400 maybe a little more, I know that was a lot of money when I purchased it.
It's amazing how much these systems cost back then! $300 to $400 was a huge investment, especially for a home computer. Those early 80s machines definitely left a lasting impression on a lot of us. It's great to see how much nostalgia still surrounds them!
@@FloppyDeepDive Just to compare: I paid $600 for my 1st car in 1984. 10 years old and just over 100,000 miles.
I had no idea H.E.R.O. was released on anything else other than the 2600.
It's interesting to see it played on other systems with their subtle graphical differences.
Wow, this one's a tough call for me.
I'd personally say the Commodore 64 perhaps wins the overall round but just marginally.
It's amazing how close the comparisons are in this video.
It really is fascinating how close these systems can be, especially in a game like H.E.R.O. The subtle differences make for an interesting comparison, and I agree that the Commodore 64 just barely takes the edge here. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
First time I played H.E.R.O. was the MSX version back in the 90's. Only recently I have tried the C64 and Atari 8-bit computer versions. Great game no matter what port. :)
Agree!
it was also released on Colecovision
I prefer the cleaner look of the Atari version to the overloaded look of the C64/Colecovision version of Hero. My personal favorite is the 5200 version which is identical to the 400 version but adds a second button for bomb instead of down and fire trigger for setting off the bomb, makes the game so much more enjoyable!
Hobgoblin for Atari was released much later, in 2008. Atari performs better in some games, Henry's House looks better on Atari, colors, transparencies, etc.
Thanks for Watching!
Does the same Game for Different Systems ever use the same Graphic Data?
There are numerous C64 ports of Atari 8-bit games which are almost pixel identical. Examples include Bruce Lee, Fort Apocalypse, and Realm of Impossibility.
Going the other way is not as easy, because the Atari 8-bits lack high resolution sprites, tile colors, and the C64's weird mixed hires/multicolor screen mode (this mode was the most heavily used, for various reasons). The sprites are also narrower, and fewer when combined into multicolor sprites.
@@IsaacKuo Thank You! Those were the days!
I concur with Isaac!
Tough choice. Some games were better on the Atari. Dropzone. Mercenary and M.U.L.E to name a few.
Both very equal systems in terms of what they could do. The C64 having slightly better features for games but I think the Atari wins with its more elegant hardware design.
Totally agree! Dropzone, Mercenary, and M.U.L.E. really shine on the Atari. Both systems had their strengths, and it’s interesting how each one could pull ahead in different areas. While the C64 had some great game features, the Atari’s elegant hardware design definitely gave it an edge in certain aspects.
Hobglobin for the Atari was never deveoped and published by Atantis. The version you played is a homebrew version made by Polish programmers in 2008.
Awesome info, thanks for sharing. I really had no history on this game.
I grew up with the 800XL and genuinely prefer the Atari. Comparing the games today was pretty even
Agree! Thanks for Watching!
How do the greens on the Commodore 64 versions look so bright and vibrant as presented here? Hacker in particular - that doesn't match any green in the machine's characteristically muted palette. Is there something funny happening with your capture method? (Forgive my ignorance if I'm missing something obvious, I'm not too familiar with the C64.)
Great observation! The greens do look more vibrant than usual, especially in *Hacker*. It could be a quirk of the capture method or how the NTSC colors display compared to PAL, as the C64 palette does tend to be more muted overall. I haven't modified anything, so it's definitely an interesting result from the capture process. Appreciate you pointing that out!
@@FloppyDeepDive Ah ok, yeah, just had to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me lol.
I have Commodore 64, but in this video, seems the Atari graphics is sharper/better in HERO game.
Thanks for Watching!
you're crazy. The C64 has way more detail. All the vines and stuff growing in there. The Atari version is very basic with no detail.
I agree with your picks with the exception on HERO. I think it plays better on the 64. The Atari version is good, but the sounds and controls are just a little better on the 64. One thing that is most notable is the Atari version seems to have different gravity. When you press up to fly you ascend almost instantly. On the 64 there's a longer delay - like your backpack is winding up to take off. It changes the way the game plays.
Generally speaking it also seems like the pixels on the Atari are a little fatter making the screen resolution seem lower.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I completely understand what you mean about HERO-there's definitely a noticeable difference in the way the gravity and controls feel between the Atari and the 64. The delay in the backpack winding up on the C64 version really does change the experience. And you're right about the Atari's pixel resolution feeling a bit lower with the slightly "fatter" pixels. It's always fascinating to see how the same game can play so differently across systems!
@@FloppyDeepDive HERO is better on the Atari than it is on other systems. I can't recall which one it is, but I played one version that was super floaty and it wasn't fun at all.
I had this on the c64 and also atari 2600, they played the same just a bit better in sound, the graphics where the better on the 800 but highest on the c64 .
Thanks for Watching!
FYI Hover Bover is pronounced Hover Bovuh not Boother 😀. Great video. I never had that Atari, so I am biased.
lol, thanks for keeping me in line.
Are you showing the two screens with different aspect ratios? The Atari image looks like it has been stretched out in the horizontal direction. Or the C64 has been squeezed. The letters should look the same size on the two.
Nope not at all. Atari used full screen while the Commodore has it borders. Thats why I showed them live on my original hardware. Did you see that? Thanks for Watching!
@@FloppyDeepDive Oh, wow, the Atari must have had graphics way outside the TV screen then? Because on most TV sets, only parts of the border were visible. On a monitor, this was of course easy to adjust.
For Hardball its the Amiga version for me, even better the HBIII on SNES.
I’ll have to check out the Amiga version. Thanks for Watching!
Did had both but only got my 64 left, i oved them both.
Thanks for Watching!
Title Music: Maniax [kingsoft] Amiga - but with 60hz timing so faster
Oh wow, good ear. I didn't think anyone would pick up on that
@@FloppyDeepDive Was one of my favorites in 1988 being a super Qix clone
@@JMDAmigaMusic Very cool 👍🏻
forgive the ignorance here, but why does the Atari resolution seem stretched compared to the C64?
Atari uses the full screen vs Commodore has a border all the way around it.
When you get to L you could review a game I wrote on both systems, Lode Runner's Rescue.
I'm partial to the Atari here, because I eventually found out that my game crashes on early versions of the Commodore.
It turns out that switching screen modes part way down the screen on early 64s can eventually cause some memory corruption.
:/
Very cool! I look forward to it! Thanks for Watching!
You're doing a fantastic job! Just a quick off-topic question: I have a SafePal wallet with USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (behave today finger ski upon boy assault summer exhaust beauty stereo over). How should I go about transferring them to Binance?
Thanks and huh ❔
Hero looks much better on the C64. Look at the extra details not seen in the Atari version.
Good observation! Thanks for Watching!
You have to remember the Atari 800 was out 3 YEARS earlier than C64 ! and 3 Years in computers was a life time!
When did the 800XL get released? A chance to enhance and get better. How did Atari handle that?
Atari 800 came out in 1979 !
Not what I asked, when did the Atari 800XL come out?
Atari was not so popular in the UK as the original 400/800 models were expensive. I know that Archer McClean who wrote Dropzone always favoured the Atari but I think the C64 always looks better to me.
That's a great point! The Atari 400/800 models were definitely more expensive in the UK, which probably contributed to the C64's popularity there. I didn’t know that about Archer MacLean and *Dropzone*! Even though he favored the Atari, I agree-the C64 just has a look that stands out. Thanks for sharing that bit of history!
Archer changed his stance in later interviews, saying he didn't have a favourite, this after saying the C64 was the BMW to the Atari Porsche many years earlier.
C64 all the way. Had them both and the Atari simply didn’t cut it.
Thanks for Watching!
Hero was better on the C64 the play field was multi color. The green grass and brown rocks for example.
Thanks for Watching!
@@FloppyDeepDive thanks for making the video! ❤️
C64, Atari in those day's was never really popular. The only really popular thing Atari had was a bit later in the Amiga/ST era. Midi for using in music production.
You're right about Atari's rise in the music production world, especially with the ST's MIDI capabilities. That really was a game changer, and it gave Atari a niche that it dominated for years in that field. The C64, on the other hand, enjoyed widespread popularity for gaming and home use, while Atari never quite reached that same level of mainstream success in the earlier years. Still, both systems made a lasting impact in their respective areas!
Id say the commodore because most games seem to have more detail on the c64. Just my opinion.
Respect! Thanks for Watching!
Nice, love vs videos.
Thanks!!
The problem with 1:1 comparison is that many great games for C64 dont exist on 800XL. Maybe it would make more sense to compare categories, like the best 3 vertical shooters on each system, best platformers, and so on. As for the games shown here, they look the same to me, all of them.
That’s a fair point! A 1:1 comparison can be tricky when there are such unique games for each system that don't have counterparts on the other. Focusing on categories like shooters, platformers, or other genres might give a more balanced comparison of what each system does best. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Great assortment of games!
Loved Hard Hat Mack as a kid too!
Hero on the A8 for sure. The 64 tries to do "real textures" but looks messy. While the A8 is a glorified 2600 with the look, it just looks slicker.
yeah it's too noisy in comparison to the clean Atari look. I guess you could argue that the C64 looks more realistically dank which it does but I don't like it much personally. Hero is one of the few games I've tried quite a few times to get into but it just doesn't appeal to me. I'm probably missing the point to why it's so appealing to many gamers
Thanks for the comment! I'm glad you also loved Hard Hat Mack as a kid-it really is such a fun game! As for H.E.R.O., I can see where you're coming from with the A8 version having that slick, clean look, while the C64 does try to add a bit more texture. It’s always interesting to compare how each system handled the graphics.
Hi! I prefer H.E.R.O on Atari. I have C64 and I must admit that colors are boring and looks washed and very limited to 11 + black, white, and 3 shades of grey. Atari on the other side has exciting palette of 16/8 shades x 15 colors + shades of grey which result 256/128 colors palette. The advantage to C64 are color attributes for hires called color ram and mixed font graphics where 2 color 8x8 fonts can be mixed with 4 color multi-color 4x8 fonts. In real there are others limitations in C64 but in case of use all it has in its arsenal C64 can make use of all colors with more ease than Atari. However if a good programmer is demoing Atari it can look incredibly good compared to C64. Cheers! I hope you understand me, because I barely understand myself.
I appreciate your in-depth breakdown of the color limitations and advantages of both systems! It’s clear that both the Atari and C64 have their strengths, and it really comes down to how the hardware is used and how skilled the programmer is in utilizing the system's full potential. Your explanation about the C64’s color RAM and mixed fonts is great, and I totally get what you’re saying. Sometimes, it feels like pushing these systems to their limits is half the fun. Thanks for sharing your thoughts-it's always interesting to hear perspectives on how different systems handle graphics and color!
I think C64 edged Hero..in a competitive sense.
Thanks for Watching!
I had these both
Awesome!
As a former Atari owner, I get the sense that C64 is gonna win every single one of these!
You must not have watched. Simply not true.
@@FloppyDeepDive it sure is true. You need your eyes checked, like I said. C64 was better in all games.
Retro Gaming Showdown: C64 vs. Tandy Coco3 w 512k please
I don’t own a Coco 3 but I take donations.
@@FloppyDeepDive okay i want a Coco 3
Me too now!
@@FloppyDeepDive did Sierra adventure game with c64? btw c64 vs Apple Computer 2c/e
Hero looks so much better on the 64 wrt the background graphics.
Thanks for Watching!
8 Bit forever !
Amen brotha!
You chose to use a faulty version of Henry's House and played a PAL version of Hobgoblin on an NTSC C64. Good video. It was fun seeing these games, but the comparison is invalid.
Thanks for the feedback! I appreciate you pointing that out. The Henry’s House version was definitely a cracked version with unlimited lives, and you’re right about Hobgoblin-I did play the PAL version on my NTSC C64. I’ll be more careful with those details in future comparisons. Glad you enjoyed the video otherwise!
@@FloppyDeepDiveGood Video, the PAL vs NTSC has always been a longstanding issue. There are far too many newer games coming out that are PAL only. Some of which do not play at all correctly on NTSC machines. Unfortunately, the 8bit machines are not like the 16bit ones where it was easy enough to switch between the two.
The only reason the 64 outsold the ATARI 8 bit computerline was the price . The Atari was way better than the 64 .
Price was definitely a big factor for the C64's success, and it helped Commodore dominate the market. However, each system had its strengths. While the Atari 8-bit line had some impressive features, the C64's sound and graphics capabilities, along with a huge library of games, played a major role in its popularity. It's always interesting to see how different people prioritize those features today!
@@FloppyDeepDive BUT it couldn't compete with the superiority of the 8 bit computers . It's ironic the Tramiel controlled ATARI made the 16 bit successor to the Commodore 64 and Commodore bought the 16 bit successor of ATARI's 8 bit computers . The ATARI ST was cheaper than the AMIGA but the AMIGA was a little more powerful than the ST .
The whole dynamic between Commodore and Atari after Tramiel took over Atari is fascinating. It's ironic how the companies ended up with each other's former successor platforms. The Atari ST vs. Amiga debate is still one of the most interesting, with the ST being more affordable but the Amiga having a slight technical edge, especially in graphics and sound capabilities. Always fun to look back at how those battles shaped the industry! I know I love my Amiga 500!
@@FloppyDeepDive It's sad they both got treated like 💩 from experts saying they only made game machines with the AMIGA and ST . They were both better deals than an overrated Wintels or a too expensive Apple computer .
Let me say one thing first, growing up in the 80s in the US, EVERYONE had a C64. I Always wanted one but my parents were to fancy and I had to have an Apple IIC. Plus I've never met someone who had Atari computers. It seems like that stuff was much more popular in Europe. Back Than the "European" Platformers were all over, and they all suck. With their touchy platforming and stupid daminging falling droplets
It’s interesting to hear how different regions seemed to have their preferences for systems. In the US, the Commodore 64 was certainly huge, and it’s funny you mentioned the Apple IIC-it was definitely considered the more 'fancy' computer at the time!
Atari GO! Atari GO! *proudly waves a tiny flag* :3 Just kidding, I love them both! Thanks for the video!
Glad you enjoyed!
I'm sure if you Google it, it will tell you.
Lol 😆 Yep 1983. What year was the C64 released?
You mean you didn't check that out while you were on Google? I think you know the answer to that already lol@@FloppyDeepDive
Lol, I should have. Thanks for playing along.
@@FloppyDeepDive 👍😵💫
HERO on C64 looks a bit messy - compared to Atari 800
Thanks for Watching!
The aspect ratio on the C64 screen doesn't look right.
How so? It 4:3. ratio with surrounding borders. I just made larger. That’s why I also showed on real hardware side by side.
@@FloppyDeepDive It's evident, especially on Hobgoblin. The screen looks like an almost perfect square - consistent with emulators that support several aspect ratios. Perhaps the process of enlarging the screen is inaccurate?
Btw, your conclusion that Atari's graphics in this game "win hands down" is odd considering it lacks the nicely textured and shaded backdrops of the C64 version.
Have you played Hobgoblin before? It is a perfect square. If I could attach pictures I would send it to you. I can not respond to emulators sizing because as I mention and show in the video I use all original hardware. You do sound like an expert so I would love to see how you would lay out your Atari and C64 screens side by side. Please email me video or even a picture. p1tom@yahoo.com I would love to see your expertise in action. No emulation please. Just the real thing. As for the game itself I would say it’s just a preference thing, the terrible scrolling on the C64 just drove me nuts. Have a good one and look forward to your example to help me in future videos get it right.
Its joke ? C64 is King forever!
Atari dont have so many good platformers.
You can maby show me platformer like flimbos quest on atari? Ha ha ha!
But off course 1 or 2 good games you can find eaven on atari, 800 or 130.
The C64 definitely has a strong library of platformers, and *Flimbo's Quest* is a standout example. Atari might not have the same volume, but it still had some fun platformers-though maybe not as iconic in that genre. Both systems had their share of great games, just depends on what you're looking for!
You need glasses. The C64 blew away every single Atari version in Graphics and I mean EVERY game. Go get your eyes checked. :)
lol 😆 I wear glasses already, sounds like yours are rose colored. Or C64 beige. Love the passion for the C64! Thanks for Watching!
I remember hacker pretty well. Spent a lot of time on that game.
Awesome!
I have a weird commodore 64 I think no badge name it has a "built in floppy drive" not sure what it is never seen one life it anywhere. my neighbor offered me $400! bucks for it does anyone know what it could be?
That sounds like you might have a Commodore 64DX or a Commodore 64C with some kind of custom modification. Commodore never officially released a C64 with a built-in floppy drive, but there were some third-party modifications or prototype models that could fit that description. The $400 offer seems pretty good if it's in working condition. I'd suggest doing a little more research or asking around in retro computing forums to see if anyone else has more info on this type of modification!
@@FloppyDeepDive Oh wow thank you! it looks like the Commodore 65 but there is no adge name anywhere one of the rear ports looks like it has been plugged or might be a bad mold. my dad found it in a church rectory he was cleaning out iI think in Santa Clara I really want to use it to try out Geos but I am missing the power supply . Thank you so much for your help!