OMEGA RACE | Commodore 64 (1982)

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

What was your first ever Commodore 64 cartridge game? 😇🕹👌 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= More from 1982: tinyurl.com/1982-C64-GAMES My Top Picks: tinyurl.com/CCGS-BEST-GAMES

[@matslarsson5988]

This is Nostalgia overload for me. The first game I ever owned on the Vic-20. My dad and I played this for hours and hours.I loved this one. I actually preferred that version over the C64 one in every way for some reason. Your video brought back some good memories. Thanks ❤

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

More than welcome my friend, some great memories playing this one also. I loved the early C64 cartridge games... I'm still trying to rebuild the library to have them all original once again 😇🕹👌

[@The8BitGuy]

I was also one of those who had the VIC-20 version, and was surprised to find the C64 version was not any better, and in fact slightly inferior without the title screen.

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

A superbly nostalgic taste from the very early days in gaming on our Commodore! I believe theres a few who definitely favour the VIC-20 version... It was a shame we never got that wonderful colour splash logo on the menu! 😇🕹️👌

[@IsaacKuo]

The "space cockpit" style sit down version was extremely immersive and also peak 1980s aesthetic. The controls were placed on the front of the arm rests, so you sort of "clawed" your hands over them in a unique way.

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

The early 80s was a time for innovation especially with the arcade games... superb times to be a kid! 😇🕹️👌

[@Eirath]

Imho this kind of Space War-like gameplay was perfected on Star Control II (1992) on PC. If you never played that game, I urge you to. It's a masterpiece.

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

I checked it out on youtube and I agree with you... looks awesome. Definitely one I really would have enjoyed playing! I'll have to source it someday 😇🕹️👌

[@delsydsoftware]

There was a time when this was my favorite arcade game, so I had to get the cartridge on the C64. The C64 version was basically arcade perfect. I always felt like it would have been perfect on the Vectrex, though.

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

Back in 82', there was some true classics released for the C64 that will definitely have a nostalgic on me 😇🕹️👌

[@MichaelSollienmusic]

I think I had the most fun with changing the colours of the ships and background in this game. Also had it on cartridge, but I think we used the paddle for playing it.

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

Yeah I fiddled around with the colours before playing... I liked the fact you could choose which colours you want to have - which, for 1982, was a nice touch indeed 😇🕹️👌

[@Mika73x2]

For me this is always Vic20 game, just like Jupiter Lander and Gorf. C64 Commodore carts first come to my mind International Soccer and Lazarian. How ever I didn’t have this when got Vic20. It was Jupiter Lander, Gorf and Sargon II Chess. Don’t actually remember where meet this first. Anyways wonder how this work with paddles.. If turn paddle turns ship and fire button fires, how you move forward.. Anyway this was one of best Vic20 shooters and so was Gridrunner. When got C64 it was all about games like Ghostbusters, Summer Games, Beach Head II etc. So there weren’t much interest of C64 carts anymore..

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

You mention some classics there! Ghostbusters... Summer Games, Beach Head.. all classics and favourites of mine. All on the channel too - iconic games indeed. As for the controls... 1. Rotate your ship by turning the paddle knob. 2. Hold the firebutton on the side of the paddle to start your ship’s thrusters and move your vehicle in the direction that the front of your ship is pointed toward. 3. Hit the firebutton and then immediately release it to launch your missiles. Tap on the firebutton rapidly to fire bursts of missiles 😇🕹️👌

[@gamingtonight1526]

This was the first game I got for my new Commodore VIC-20!

[@jonnysmith7962]

Wow was mine 2on vic 20 that and star trek I

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

Great memories 😇🕹️👌

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

This game will no doubt bring back some superb memories 😇🕹️👌

[@Ultrapub]

Omega Race holds a special place for me, as it was the first ever arcade machine I actually played. This happened at a Laundromat. Next to it was also the first ever Pinball machine I played, a copy of Atari's Hercules. While I continue to respect Omega Race to this very day, Hercules is a horrible table - with an unfun gimmick - that I only have contempt for. Anyways, the Commodore 64 here has a rather nice conversion of that Vector classic! Admittedly it's not the prettiest C64 game, as you've fairly mentioned, but it's otherwise still an accurate facsimile.

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

Great memories, I guess you could say that this is where your gaming experiences first began! Precious and very nostalgic memories indeed 😇🕹️👌

[@OperationPhantom]

Always liked this Asteroids variant and since I never owned a VIC 20, have also been a bit fascinated that those who played both versions usually prefer it to the c64 game! Maybe someone could do a "remaster" for the C64 one day that also includes the VIC game. There's something exciting about having momentum forcing you towards the enemy and your only hope of survival being to get the kill shot in at just the last moment!

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

Yeah I had to rely on luck when absolutely pelting into the enemy ships... I think I was more skillful as a kid and could control the ship at speed. Nowadays its more 'pure luck' 😇🕹️👌

[@OperationPhantom]

@@CheekyCommodoreGamer It just occurred to me yesterday that there is also a nice Amiga PD version of Omega Race called... Amega Race! At least I remember it as being quite fun, it was on an Amiga Power cover disk in July of 1992.

[@Megawatt]

This was my brother’s favourite game, so we played the crap out of it.

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

Good memories my friend - I had similar memories playing games with my brother too... the best times 😇🕹️👌

[@The_Badseed]

Back in the day I had a Vectrex, it was a bit weird, however if you liked vector graphics back then there was none finer

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

I hear good things about the Vectrex, even though I only managed to play one myself for 5 or so minutes at a retro event... a very unique little system indeed! 😇🕹️👌

[@The_Badseed]

@CheekyCommodoreGamer The Vectrex is one of my top 3 favorite retro systems (the Sega Genesis and my beloved old Apple IIC computer are my two others). So many cool games that had that late 70s early 80s arcade vibe. The only problem was they didn't shield the speakers properly and the screen would make the system buzz pretty loudly.

[@nosotrosloslobosestamosreg4115]

1980s advertising... whattime to be alive.

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

Absolutely. The best era in my opinion ❤️🕹👌

[@Syragar]

My first experience of Omega Race was in the arcade, but I also had it on the C64. I never could quite get the hang of this game... and I think the fast acceleration had something to do with it. You just barely tap to move forward and you go flying! I found Asteroid to be a bit easier for me to manage.

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

Yeah I struggled with the speed too, as you can see... I just seemed to bounce off all of the walls. I remember it being easier to control as kids as we had the paddles 😇🕹️👌

[@chrishensley5384]

Vic-20 is where I played it first and it was a fine version.

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

I agree with you, plays great on the Vic-20 doesn't it 😇🕹️👌

[@adroharv5140]

enjoyed the arcade loads and found the VIC20 to have a decent version but struggled with the C64 one because controlling your ship was way too flippin fast

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

I agree! Either my reflexes are much worse than it was when I was a young kid, or I just suck at it... but the ship seemed to just bounce around all over the place haha. Good game though, simple yet addictive 😇🕹️👌

[@cpu_UP]

First game I had on cartridge for the C64.

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

Precious memories in gaming with my brother with this game, I really loved those C64 cartridge games... convenient and very robust! 😄🕹👌

[@Parlimant_Strifey]

it stars the same character as Asteroids.

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

It certainly has a similar vibe to it 😇🕹️👌

[@Mika73x2]

Someone should make cartridge that has all Commodore cartridges at one cart. And I mean those Commodore own games.😊

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

Hopefully the guys at Evercade would do something like that - which would be awesome! 😇🕹️👌

[@Mika73x2]

What is that Omega Race 3D version? I can find Omega Race 2009 that someone made. Also OSX version. But didn’t find 3D version of game.

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

Theres a video called 'Omega Race 3D snapshot' and the user name is MrTripusm but it appears as though the download link has been removed from the game... which is a shame, hopefully he'll develop it futher 😇🕹️👌

[@lurkerrekrul]

What is the name of that 3D version? I tried Googling 3D Omega Race, but didn't find anything.

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

Theres a video called 'Omega Race 3D snapshot' and the user name is MrTripusm but it appears as though the download link has been removed from the game... which is a shame, hopefully he'll develop it futher 😇🕹️👌

[@lurkerrekrul]

@@CheekyCommodoreGamer Thanks for the reply. It's a shame the download link is gone.

[@reinhard3209]

A little bit quirky, but i like it all the same. 👍😉

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

Glad you like it! It's definitely one of those early greats which I am sure will hold many nostalgic memories for many of us 😇🕹️👌

[@AndyHewco]

After loving the Vic version it was a disappointment to play the C64 version years later. For me, the main flaw was the difficulty. While the Vic version is as tough as nails, the difficulty was well balanced. You could get better at it and survive more waves as time went on. While on the 64 it felt unfair most of the time and lead to frustration. The presentation was not as good either. The higher res graphics looked better, but the title screen and stock font appear lacking. It's a shame as it could have been as good as, if not better. However, bear in mind the primary programmer of the Vic version was Andy Finkel and he pretty much knew the machine inside out.

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

My reflexes were much better as a kid thats for sure! I just tended to 'bounce around' all over the place when playing it again after all these years, but it's still an enjoyable early title isn't it 😇🕹️👌

[@trepaning]

Something old and dusty found in the closet is just ripe for yet another mother-in-law joke, but definitely not the "worth keeping" part.

[@CheekyCommodoreGamer]

Haha yes! Very true 😇🕹️👌