Commander X16

Try It Now!

This is a platformer inspired by the game H.E.R.O for Commodore 64 and Atari. Your mission is to search several mines and find the miner that is trapped in each of them.

Equipment
Fortunately, you have some equipment when setting out on your mission. This is what you have:
1. A backpack helicopter to make you fly. After a short while you will start to lose height if you don't accelerate upwards.
2. An integrated helmet laser that will effectively kill every living thing that threatens your life.
3. Unlimited number of dynamite bars to blow certain rocks and walls up. Just move away fast to avoid getting killed in the blast.

Dangers
There are lots of creatures threatening to kill you: hunting bats, poisonous spiders, biting snakes, carnivorous plants, and alien creatures that no one knows what it really is. As if that wasn't enough, some rocks contain magma sediments. They glow red and must not be touched.

Torches
There are torches on the walls that illuminate the mines. If you touch one of them all torches go out leaving you in darkness. Touch another and all will be ignited again.

Controls

When walking
A Button (X or Left CTRL) - Fire laser
B Button (Z or Left ALT) - Place and ignite a bar of dynamite
Up - Start flying
Left,Right - walk in the indicated direction

If you step over an edge to a shaft, you will fall. It won't hurt you, but watch out where you land.

When flying
A Button (X or Left CTRL) - Fire laser
Up - Fly upwards and extend the time before you start losing altitude
Left, Right, Down - Fly in the indicated direction

You cannot crash, when you reach the ground, your hero will land.

Pausing the game
Pause the game by pressing the start button (ENTER). A dialog opens where you can choose to resume the game or quit.

High-score table and start level
The high-score table is highly relevant. If you earn a spot, the next time you play, you can choose to start at the level you reached (or one of the levels below). The drawback of starting at a higher level is that it reduces your chances of reaching the high-score table again. You skip the easily saved miners on the lower levels.

The number of saved miners matters the most when trying to earn a spot on the high-score table. Time is only relevant when it comes to distinguishing between two players who have saved as many miners.

Completing the game
You have 5 lives. For each completed level you get one extra life if you have less than 5 left. There are ten levels in the game. Can you complete them all?

Running the game with the emulator
Run the emulator from the folder where all the game files are located. Use: "x16Emu -prg mine.prg -run -joy1". If a game controller is connected this is what you use for playing otherwise the keyboard.

Releases:
V 1.0 - November 6, 2023
V 1.0.1 - March 24, 2024. A minor bug has been corrected and the faster walking speed is removed. It kicked in when the player had walked a certain distance but was more confusing than helpful.

#R47 - Compatible with release 47 of the emulator

I find it very hard to adjust for the sudden increase in movement speed after a short while... It keeps getting me killed when running heads on into an enemy because of the sudden surge. I don't like this, personally.

Other than that, a solid game. Nice graphics, nice sound, classic H.E.R.O vibes.

desertfish wrote: ↑Wed Nov 08, 2023 8:14 pm I find it very hard to adjust for the sudden increase in movement speed after a short while... It keeps getting me killed when running heads on into an enemy because of the sudden surge. I don't like this, personally.

Thanks for telling me. This can easily be changed. I have to wait for more reactions and see what people think. Three possible alternatives are: skip the extra speed boost completely (1), increase the delay before it kicks in (2), reduce the faster speed to be 50% faster than the original (now it is 100%) (3). If I get you right, you would vote for option 1?

I suspect #1 would suit me the best yes.
…..did the original HERO have this movement mechanic?

desertfish wrote: ↑Thu Nov 09, 2023 7:14 pm…..did the original HERO have this movement mechanic?

No, I have added it. The original game has separate screens and small distances to cover. I was afraid that the game would feel slow due to the larger levels in this version, so I first added a boost when flying. The extra walking speed is a late change. I have made a number of adjustments the last two months to make the game playable. But I am strongly inclined to agree with you, I think I will remove this late feature.

If you (or anyone else) have any other thoughts, they are most welcome.

V 1.0.1 has been released. The only change is that the increase in speed after walking a certain distance, is removed. You can still fly at a lower and a higher speed though. The fastest way to move is still falling down a shaft ...

Thanks Johan for this change! I will definitely play it again some more now!

Mind if I add this game to the BBS as well?

Raven67854 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 31, 2024 3:28 am Mind if I add this game to the BBS as well?

Not at all! You're doing a great work with the BBS : )!

Johan Kårlin wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 2:29 pm Not at all! You're doing a great work with the BBS : )!

Thank you! It's up on the BBS.