Impossible Mission 🤖 Versions Comparison

✅ Decide which is the DEFINITIVE VERSION of Impossible Mission (Epyx 1984).
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Originally written for the Commodore 64 by Dennis Caswell, Impossible Mission features variety of gameplay mechanics from platform and adventure games, and includes digitized speech. The player controls a secret agent who must stop Professor Elvin Atombender, an evil genius who is believed to be tampering with national security computers. The player races against the clock to reassemble and decrypt the password to Atombender's control room while avoiding deadly robots.
00:00 Intro
00:15 Commodore 64 / C64 (1984)
02:56 Apple II (1984)
05:15 ZX Spectrum (1985)
07:47 Acorn Electron (1986)
10:01 BBC Micro (1986)
12:37 Amstrad CPC (1986)
14:57 Atari 7800 (1987)
17:26 Sega Master System / SMS / Sega Mark III (1990)
20:10 Amiga (Impossible Mission 2025) (1993)
22:39 Amiga (AGA) (Impossible Mission 2025) (1994)
24:49 Amiga CD32 (Impossible Mission 2025) (1994)
27:30 Nintendo DS (2007)
30:17 PlayStation Portable / PSP (2007)
33:50 PlayStation 2 / PS2 (2007)
37:14 Wii (2007)
40:38 Nintendo Switch (2019)
43:07 PC Windows (Impossible Mission Remastered) (2020)
The PSP, PS2, Wii and Switch footage shows gameplay of the new, classic and merged modes.
Which are your favorite ports or conversions?
#retrogaming #retrogames #oldgames

[@lemange99]

This on the C64 taught me the true depths of frustration and the absolute futility of perseverance

[@StitchJones]

I had this on my C-64. I loved it so much.

[@marcomarco6710]

The original C64 version is by far the best version of the game. For comedy gold though, the Amstrad version is hysterical to watch.

[@gwishart]

It looks like the Amstrad version was a victim of the publishers insisting that the programmers use Mode 0 to produce nice colourful screenshots for adverts and magazine reviews. In this case, it would probably have been better to use Mode 1 with raster splits; allowing for more detailed sprites and smoother movement.

[@montymole7114]

Looks like it is in wide screen for this video which wouldnt have been the case, emulation setting?

[@Woot007]

@@gwishart the Amstrad version should have been alot better mostly because of it didnt have any really scrolling in game (except elevators) what was one of the Amstrad big weakness.

[@puzzud]

I am partial to the C64 version. But the Master System version enhanced while also feeling true to the original.

[@jamiewilliamson9829]

As someone who doesn't know, why is the Amstrad CPC version hysterical to watch?

[@BrettAlt41]

The commodore 64 version was the best in my opinion

[@retrosutra]

Agree

[@AnthonyFlack]

I think few people would disagree. The only version actually made by Dennis Caswell. It's hard to beat the original.

[@bucbuc472]

And the IM2 was the best.

[@ArttuTheCat]

"Another visitor 😺. Stay awhile 😸... STAY FOREVER 😼!" Not only i played IMPOSSIBLE MISSION on my Commodore 64, i have also played its sequel, IMPOSSIBLE MISSION II on both of my Commodore 64 and Amiga 500. Both of them are the legendary classic games 😺👍🕹️. Also... "AAAAAAAARGH!!"

[@tsuikagura]

I loved the C64 version and the DS version has the classic mode which is pretty much 100% the same as that. On a DS. I got it last year and completed it on a DSi XL and it was so much fun.

[@bananonymouslastname5693]

That DS port is really fun. I was stunned that it even came out at the time, and it was only a $10 game at launch. I grabbed it and the Wii version and enjoyed a really pleasant walk down memory lane.

[@cristianseres1353]

I still get goosebumps from the C64 version which I played as a child around 1985.

[@asilver50]

I had no idea there were modern versions of this. I had a copy as a kid for the c64 but no manual. I had no idea what I was doing.

[@werpu12]

Loved the modern versions, you basically could play with 3 different protagonists which had small differences, and you could play with updated graphics or old style or in a mixed style, a remake as good as it can get. Too bad the PC never got a port of the remake, just a remaster! You can play it on a pc on emulators though!

[@somedude6647]

I’m just shocked how many computers/consoles this game was ported to

[@FadkinsDiet]

Especially for how many years afterward

[@federicocatelli8785]

A truly iconic game for the "humble beige box"...never thought it had received so many ports (the one for master system really stands out)

[@ioloavatar8430]

C64 is the best in my opinion .I had great memories jamming that game , especially in the 1980's summer with MTV in the background. The Atari 7800 looks good also .

[@Postghost]

C64 still looked and played the best. Can't say I'm a fan of those goofy re-skins though, that kinda made it look like Impossible Mission: Scooby-Doo edition.

[@8bitgamerC64]

"Stay awhile, Stay forever!!" WOW my C64 speaks! Its still on my to-do list to complete this game. Probably should move it to my bucket list now i'm so old.

[@elijahvincent985]

I love that the quotes show up (mostly) accurately in KZbin's janky autocaptions. Shows how well-executed the text-to-speech from 1984 is!

[@fuzzywzhe]

It's digitized audio, believe it or not. The reason the screen freezes when audio shows up on the C=64, is all the processing power was needed to produce the speech.

[@west_coast_77]

Commodore 64 version for the win! My first time with that game. I've tried some of the others with an emulator on my laptop and they are almost painful to play.

[@paulspencer6477]

Had this on an ACE magazine covertape. Never got very far but a great game nonetheless. Didn't realise there are so many different ports! Sega Master System speech sounds like a sample of the C64 speech being played through a dodgy TV speaker. Great stuff!

[@hippocrates72]

*solely the C=64 1984 original nailed the smooth athletic running & saumersaulting animations, as well as synced step sounds when threading.* Still sublime till this day, attention to detail only surpassed by *Karateka* for C=64/Atari 8bit

[@laszloposzmik5829]

Also seems "impossible" that this game was made in 1984. Compared to the other games from the same year, it is far beyond it's time. It was my favourite game on my C64.

[@Saxdude26]

I kept wondering how different the arrange mode is for IM2025, and WOW! This little '84 C64 game has had quite a journey. And had no idea there was a cross platform PSP/DS/PS2/Wii version... with a SWITCH PORT? :O

[@brazilmugenteam]

Oh, the master system version is impressive. I just don't think the speech intro was needed at all

[@allwaizeright9705]

It just shows how the C=64 was ahead of it's time - I wouldn't be another 6 years until you get speech...

[@AnimationMaster167]

Fact: The speech behind the original C64 game was the voice from Stern's 1980 Berzerk Arcade Game; "Otto Mozer"

[@AnthonyFlack]

Forrest Mozer was the founder of Electronic Speech Systems and was responsible for the speech in both games. But it's not the same voice. The guy who read the lines for Impossible Mission was an ESS employee who has never been identified as far as I know. Berzerk used a speech synthesiser.

[@sheepshead77]

I got this as a cover tape on Ace magazine. It had loads of different versions on there, mine was the zx spectrum version

[@Lofote]

The sound of the C64 version (not just the speech) is just the only real thing.

[@zingstar57]

I had this for the NES and thought it was shovel ware. It turns out it is very much loved

[@Risingson2]

it's... a very typical 8-bit computer game. While the NES games were very polished (but not too ambitious) , the c64/spectrum/st/amiga ones were usually eurojunk with loads of brilliant ideas.

[@SEngelsg]

Interesting that none of the duplicates got the sound right. The Windows version was not bad, but forgot to disable the sound when the robots was disabled. Also for a remastered version things like fading lights on the robots and stuff like that could have been done. e.g. the original but with slight embellishments that simply was not possible in the old days. The C64 version is still the best it seems - which pleases me!

[@iXien]

The original is of course the best this time, on C64. But I played a lot the Amstrad CPC version. Despite the lack of speeches and a the fact it's a bit to fast, it was really a good version compared to the other conversions at the time🤩

[@timecapsule5604]

I'm telling u that sid chip was extraordinary no one can duplicate it it's just special

[@neilloughran4437]

Like many others I had the C64 version and it was amazing for the time. I love watching the other versions... the poor ZX Spectrum with the colour clashes and somewhat unrefined main character is funny to watch but then again the ZX could do amazing stuff in mono modes. Had no idea the Atari 7800 had a version... The Amiga version isn't looking much better than the C64 if at all.

[@Games-bw5ee]

Lol! The Amiga version is titled 'Impossible Mission 2025" ... Only two more years to go and we're in the dystopian future. Spoiler: I realise, we're already living in one. 🤖

[@ShanetheFreestyler]

I'm curious why you didn't show off the remastered mode for the Amiga versions of IM 2025, but did for the DS through Switch? Then again, I'm curious why they were able to have classic sounds in the classic mode of the DS and PSP version, but not the PS2, Wii, or Switch versions? Not only that, but the latter 3 horribly filtered the sprites, making them look rather blurry for some reason. At least it's the same game either way. And to top it off, animations in the Windows "remaster" seem a little bit... slow? I mean the sounds of your footsteps don't match your running animation!

[@williamsanborn9195]

I had no idea there were other versions of Impossible Mission. Let alone the Wii, DS, and Switch ports!

[@alan_flynn]

Thumbs up for this cooool intro! 👍👍👍

[@xonox_868]

haha i will never forget that scream.....AAAaAAAAaAAGGAHHAhAHGGAAHAHGAHAHahahaaaaaaa......

[@rozone5757]

Played this and nexus which is similar for hour's as a kid on the c64 and hadn't a clue what i was doing in either but loved them all the same 😅

[@f.k.b.16]

The Apple IIe has to be the worst!

[@antdude]

Apple 2 port since I played it on my //c.

[@Sneakers8b]

This was one of my mother’s favorite games, the least gamer of my family members. If I recall Zillion for the super master system played very similarly?

[@DEVILTAZ35]

This is funny I just played this on the Amiga mini and it played almost too fast lol. I never really liked the game back in the day though and was more I to games like Sorcery on Amstrad and Beach head as well as various text and graphics games that it’s great to catch up again with on A500 Mini. Out of these versions I like the Amiga AGA the best it just looks so crisp yet close to C64 original. The issue with the Amstrad CPC is the mode they chose was low res mode as it offered the best speed for the game. It does look rather terrible though sadly. Compare it to Sorcery on a 464 which blew the C64 graphics out of the water in detail and it is a stark contrast. There as something about that time period where getting a new game was so much more exciting than it is today.most likely as unless you read it in a magazine you would go to a store and be surprised at all the new releases to look at.

[@retrosutra]

Your last words touched my heart. You're right, there was something magical, very different from what I feel now, when it came to get a new game... although maybe it's because we were just kids then and we tend to magnify certain memories from the past, hahaha. I wonder what feel my kids every time I buy a new game for them...

[@fralics]

Nice video! There is the Commodore 16 / plus4 version if you want to try it.

[@sulrich70]

Peak c64, peak Epyx. So much fun. And so difficult

[@chrisbg99]

There is something mildly charming about that synthesized voice sample.

[@retro-rock3067]

The game also has a Sharp X1 and Nec Pc-8801 version but they haven’t been found yet

[@idegteke]

In a mere 36 years, the PC could almost reach the quality of the original C64 game, unlike the film industry that was unable to produce anything like the original Star Wars or Terminator. Not even close.

[@Deimos_Fresh]

I only played Atari 7800 version and guess I like it the most. Didn't know there was a DS port, looks very interesting. Actually I'm surprised how many ports there are, they all looks good. Maybe I'll try Switch version.

[@ecernosoft3096]

Ah, the Atari 7800 version. Triggers my nostalgia. Gosh, it could've taken advantage of the hires 320B and still looked good!

[@jackuzi9542]

The Oric remake is pretty awesome too 👍

[@paxhumana2015]

There are also sequels to this game. Impossible Mission II had an NES port, which was surprisingly released on the NTSB-U market, but I think that someone should make a Homebrew prequel to that game. Also, there is supposed to be a third sequel of this franchise that is going to be released soon. Personally, I think that they should remove the timer and just make it a straight up Metroidvania in the veins of Axiom Verge 1 and 2 and Shadow Complex, as that would give this franchise a lot more depth. Also, there is a similar game that was made by many of the people that had worked on these games that is called Electrocop, and they also worked with the person that is responsible for the Chip's Challenge game (which honestly needs a modern sequel as well).

[@neil36619]

Don't have the patience now, but it's not that difficult if you spend some time with it and persevere - and I was an average game player compared to some out there.

[@magvs_mæstro216]

Mission Impossible: Flashback

[@FanaticsArea]

The speech is essential for setting the scene. It wouldn’t be the same game without it. You can enjoy the versions that don’t have it, but you have to heard it at some point to get the most out of the game 😃

[@rashounjohnson9562]

🙂 Another visitor. 😊 Stay awhile. 😈 STAY FOREVER!

[@lylepetersen814]

The 7800 and SMS ports looked pretty good, but both had bugs which made the game literally impossible to beat most of the time. So, at least the title was accurate.

[@OldAussieAds]

I never heard that about the SMS version.

[@lylepetersen814]

@@OldAussieAds Yes, the SMS version had a bug with the platform lifts that let them only go up one notch, even when they were designed to go up multiple levels. This makes parts of some rooms inaccessible and unsearchable. Still, the bug in the 7800 was much worse.

[@OldAussieAds]

@@lylepetersen814 Unbelievable. I played that game on the SMS many times as a kid. I'd like to say it was the bug that got in my way, but honestly, I was pretty hopeless.

[@allwaizeright9705]

The AMIGA port was exactly the same as the C=64 - WOW... I would have thought there would have been some update...

[@fran5678can]

He didn't demonstrate the remastered option, only the classic option

[@Zontar82]

Never knews about the atari 7800 version, looks so different

[@NathanHassall]

so many versions but only one really mattered

[@OldAussieAds]

The C64 version is the best. For me, you can't beat the sound of the elevator. The SMS port was a masterclass on how to do sound on the system. None of that horrible sounding background music you hear in many of its games. Just well done sound effects.

[@antdude]

I played this on my Apple //c. So hard!

[@Games-bw5ee]

I can see similarities in game mechanics and graphic aesthetics between this game and the Metroid series, which first debuted on NES in 1986. So perhaps, Nintendo developers were inspired or influenced by this game, when making Metroid, which released a couple of years later?

[@sandmanxo]

I'm glad I had the C64 version in the 80s. The rest either look or sound terrible, and the reimagination versions just don't look good. The Master System version at least looks better but the sound is terrible.

[@Adrian-rc2ss]

En la época jugué la versión ZX Spectrum y después la de C64. Excelentes las dos, con una atmósfera atrapante. No hace tanto decidí acabarlos, primero la de Spectrum, a la que creo le encontré un bug, como las piezas se esparcen aleatoriamente, según se configure la partida puede que no se encuentren todas las piezas del puzle, faltandome en dos ocaciones una pieza, pero finalmente la terminé; después terminé la de C64, la mejor verión a mi criterio. La de ZX Spectrum es rápida, ágil y muy divertida...muy bien para el sistema. La de Atari 7800 me parece interesante, muy jugable y con aspecto moderno...aunque demasiado ruidosa. La de Sega Master System muy buenos gráficos. Las de Amiga no entiendo para que las rehicieron, empeoraron la original, hubiera sido mucho mejor correrla directamente sobre un emulador de C64. Notorio como Apple II denostaba el peor hardware para juegos, y aún así supo convertirse en lider tecnológico. Te faltó poner el grito cuando se cae...AAaaaaaaaaaarrrggggg!!!! 😆

[@retrosutra]

Gracias por tu análisis, Adrián. Creo que el grito sale en un par de versiones hacia el final, pero quizás podría hacer un vídeo dedicado exclusivamente a las muertes y mostrarlas en todas ellas.

[@swapd0]

Recuerda que la version para Atari 7800 es realmente una mision imposible... si quieres jugarla tienes que buscar una version parcheada o no podras terminar el juego 😛

[@maurocarvalho3041]

The best was amiga aga version.. Amiga rulezzz forever :D

[@international806yachting]

Looking at the WII port, the screens from one room to the next one wildly differ. One screen has the super modern look, the next one is in the classic look. Video footage got mixed up??

[@gwishart]

The Wii version has three different gameplay modes: New = uses the super modern look. Classic = uses a C64 styled retro look. Merged = switches between the two other modes during gameplay. Presumably this footage was captured while the game was being played in Merged mode.

[@funkydmunky1]

Was there no A-8bit version?

[@seamushadron]

Awesome ☺️☺️☺️ It looks like every port has a different map... Am i wrong?? 😮

[@AnthonyFlack]

Every time you play the game it has a different map.

[@seamushadron]

Ahhhh i didn't remember that, thank you :)

[@claudiexx6274]

the zx sprectrum situation where the robot keeps electrifying... is a dead or dead situation?

[@NorthWay_no]

Hm. I thought my 7800 version looked a lot like the original, but it has been over 25 years since I last looked at it. I don't know if the NTSC and PAL versions were identical?

[@francisconunez9933]

C64 by far the BEST versión.

[@tsl9430]

There is PC DOS version not in this video. I played it a lot in late 80s!!

[@darwiniandude]

I can't believe the Amiga got a port that looks directly like the C64 version, nothing updated for Amiga hardware. That's sad. As far as older versions go, I'm surprised how good the Master System version looks. I'll have to try that.

[@gwishart]

The Amiga footage is from Impossible Mission 2025 being played in Classic mode. This is essentially a simulated/emulated version of the C64 game. The normal game is very different: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp_IqnqEpr1-bLs

[@darwiniandude]

Thanks! That makes sense. Not a great platform to platform comparison then I guess :) @@gwishart

[@MR7604]

A homebrew version for Videoton TV Computer : kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5rChYCFob56o6M

[@luisonl1563]

Flipa en el '84 lo que hacía EPYX, Karateka salió 2 años después, y es el que se lleva el reconocimiento de los movimientos realistas, cuando el prince of persia tiene la misma animación. Q buenos eran los de esta compañia EPYX, con los california games , q pena que firmó el contrato con commodore , y quebraron por temas de politicas dejando en la lynx un par de titulos. Tambien se nota mucho cuando trabajan ellos en las conversiones, la de amstrad y spectrum creo q ellos no la trabajaron, o al menos el equipo original con el caswell a la cabeza, la de SMS está genial, y las de amiga son copias exactas, miraré esta noche q tal parecen las otras versiones. Muy buen video , y flipa en el 84. 1. Commodore 2. SMS 3. whatever clon

[@retrosutra]

No tenía ni idea de esa historia de Epyx, gracias por la información. La verdad es que C64 se lleva de calle a los demás ordenadores de 8-bits. Y la versión de Steam es absolutamente vergonzosa. Sale más a cuenta jugarlo en un emulador.

[@jensdroessler3575]

I don‘t know what‘s the use of showing „Classic“ on the Amiga versions which is supposed to look like the C64 version, while DS, PSP and soon het „New“.

[@retroscener]

The C64 version remains the best, hence why the 16bit ports include a version of it calling it the classic version. Not without good reason too, and it has the best speech by far. But what's this "Play Pool" on the Windows version in the terminal menu all about? Again, that is ported from the C64 too. Can't wait for Impossible Mission III being released soon on the C64.

[@NTxC]

The "remastered" PC version of IM1 is a joke. After I'm done with the IM2 PC remake I'm working on (based on the ST version, you can check it out on my channel) I will be making a proper IM1 PC remake.

[@retrosutra]

Nice, which framework or engine do you use?

[@NTxC]

@@retrosutra I am writing the remake in C++ with SDL2 (or rather, a custom version of the library called SDL_gpu due to the fact that it allows the use of shaders). :)

[@retrosutra]

I had programmed in C++ a long time ago. Today I use C# and Unity, Unreal Engine (with its own visual scripting language) and GameMaker although I don't make games now. I work as a programming teacher haha

[@daerth4423]

I played the heck out of the C64 and Master System versions back in the day. I had no idea it was ported to DS or anything after that. Going to have to check some of those out.

[@litjellyfish]

I can’t get why the manager to mess up the main sprite / animation / and even more so the timing in so many other versions apart from the original C64 one

[@olek4182]

But this is not the Amiga version of the game. You have launched the "classic version" option, which runs the game on the "C64 version". The Amiga version of the game looks completely different. :) :)

[@retrosutra]

I wanted to show the diferent versions of the classic C64 game.

[@mcd3379]

Wow - the Commodore 64 version is the best by a country mile!

[@danfors1333]

He runs like Tom Cruise

[@jasonlee7816]

i wanted or i would've like impossible mission 2 remake

[@toasteee252]

Was the guy running with a drum or have taps on his shoes in the bbc micro version?

[@toasteee252]

Ok the amstradt one is hilarious. Landing on one leg. Why did it take those guys so long to search the bathtub anyways?

[@toasteee252]

He searched...a toilet

[@DrJ3RK8]

Nice comparison! I really wish they had used the Pokey in the 7800 version. That would have made it top notch for 8 bit systems. (well aside from the SID synthesis on the C64) SMS is pretty amazing all around. Also top notch.

[@werpu12]

The 7800 and its sprits ugh... not sure why they rolled those sprites instead of using the good looking ones from the C64, interesting btw, that it never got an Atari 8 bit computer port, which was pretty much the only widespread system from that era which never got a port. Sort of the Ti Zaxxon of the Atari 8 bit computers!

[@josephkissel6062]

Aside from the Playstation 2 version, how is the C64 the best one? Better than the Amiga, which makes no sense ... As someone who played this on C64 in the day, the fluidity of character movement and the relatively mature, subdued setting were real standouts ...

[@jeva2791]

commodore plus/4 version by TCFS : kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4ise4uZhs-ceac

[@williamwright9079]

Dunno if the footage is correct for the amiga cd32 version.

[@retrosutra]

I hope so. I've checked again the footage and compared with other video and the "classic game" looks and sounds the same as the other Amiga versions.

[@williamwright9079]

@@retrosutra Oh yeah I must be thinking of the remake, not the classic!

[@Nevidimka0]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@MrNonesuch]

Why choose the "Classic" mode for the Amiga versions?

[@retrosutra]

Because the Amiga's "normal" versions aren't conversions of the original game.

[@frankbrodie5168]

I mean.. I'd cite Impossible Mission as in my all time top 10 favourite games. But does anyone know why the Amiga version looks worse than the original Commodore 64 version?

[@retroscener]

You overlooked the Commodore Plus/4 version. A fairly recent homebrew port. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4ise4uZhs-ceac

[@El_Febo_Abel]

Exist a versión of Famicom/Nes.

[@iwanttocomplain]

The Atari 7800 version has really nice animation and gameplay. So responsive. Did you know the original 3 Atari consoles did not use sprites? That’s why animations so smooth.

[@MauveDash]

They did afaik, at least the 2600

[@iwanttocomplain]

@@MauveDash what’s that?

[@MauveDash]

@@iwanttocomplain The first of the iconic 3

[@iwanttocomplain]

@@MauveDash i meant afaik. But I figured it out. It’s “as far as I know”. The 5200 definitely did not use sprites and the 7800 looks pretty similar so I think it’s a fair bet it also doesn’t use sprites.

[@litjellyfish]

@@iwanttocomplaindo you mean the game did not use sprites? As all 3 Atari consoles indeed had sprite hardware. Also why would it be smoother without sprites? If anything it would be the opposite

[@angeloconvertini6781]

C64 Forever

[@kuro68000]

Odd how the AGA version is so much better than the OCS version. It's not a very demanding game. Crap coders maybe?

[@Adrian-rc2ss]

Anyways, an emulation running through the Amigas would have been so much better...and simpler

[@leighbyford635]

@@Adrian-rc2ss Can an Amiga emulate a C64?

[@glenndoiron9317]

@@leighbyford635 yes

[@ferkramer2817]

Sega mastersysteem and C.Dore64 best versions.And remake asome to on ps2

[@user-fe9qn2du2s]

0:23

[@user-fe9qn2du2s]

25:34

[@jammerc64]

Wasn't IM 2025 kinda different looks?

[@claudiexx6274]

what was he saying before STAY A WHILE... STAY FOREVEEERRR !!! ?

[@retrosutra]

Another visitor

[@claudiexx6274]

@@retrosutra hahaha thank you very much!!! You solve an almost 40 years question that i had !!!

[@taccat361]

The Amiga Version was wrong.

[@ianbrooke9313]

Where is the 3ds version?