Running R-Type on 3 Computers At Once: C64, Amiga, Atari ST | Retro Comparisons

[@sigsputnik]

It's 1988. I'm over at my friend's house, and we've all brought our computers over. His parents are away for the weekend. Later we'll order pizzas and watch Aliens on TV. But right now, we're gonna play R-Type. Life is good.

[@RetroDream]

Those Were The Days

[@litjellyfish]

@@RetroDream take me back. How much will it cost?

[@mitchridder4955]

background with parralax scrolling on the C64 which Amiga and Atari ST did not have! Wow C64

[@nossy232323]

Wow, that C64 keeps up well with the much stronger systems!

[@RetroDream]

Sure it does, incredibly good

[@jkeelsnc]

The C64 version even shows off its own respectable capabilities. Pretty impressive for an 8 bit home computer from 1982.

[@KKR75_pcb]

I might be biased but i prefer the amiga version the most. Though watching all 3 similtaneously with their original CRTs gives me the shivers.

[@naviamiga]

What a classy way to show off the games.

[@drzeissler]

Framerate on ST too low. C64 very nice and smooth.

[@rickholdenmusic]

Music on the Amiga and C64 title screens is phenominal Atari ST not so much all three versions were brilliant though as had all 3 machines back in the day!

[@RetroDream]

Phenomenal is the word yes! But IMHO it applies to all versions

[@wimwiddershins]

The C64 port is still a phenomenal piece of coding.

[@off1k]

Even more amazing is I'm fairly certain the C64 version was done in something like 3 weeks iirc, the Amiga version in 6 weeks. Both were unfinished when released.

[@mashk]

Manfred Trenz coded the C64 version, originally he coded a game called Katakis which was a R type rip off, Activision saw the game and were going to sue, I exchange for not suing him he had to code R Type.

[@MIKandJEAN]

The tape version was a grind of mass loading and enough to put you off playing it for life. I remember giving up after pressing fire on the title screen as it wanted to continue loading after spending what felt like an hour to get that far. 😂😂😂

[@eddiesfedj603]

I agree with you that the C64 is really amazing.

[@thehillsidegardener3961]

Thank you ​@@mashk, I was trying to remember the name of the R-Type rip-off! At it happens Katakis quickly got distributed by the pirates so we all got to play it anyway, as you can now of course. And yeah, it was really at the peak of the C64 when we were getting some amazing games and every issue of Zzap!64 was like walking into Aladdin's cave.

[@be236]

Cool.. I played R-Type so many times as a kid and it was so hard near the end to fight the big alien, and I think I won one time... Now gotta find this game on my Commodore 64 and play it again when I get a chance.

[@RetroDream]

Thanks for sharing

[@yopachi]

cool to see these machines lined up like this!

[@markdillon5494]

I had all three machines in the 80's (though not at the same time). The C64 still my favourite machine to this day.

[@RetroDream]

I can understand that. Thanks for sharing

[@ninjaalex-yf5io]

with matching CRTs nonetheless ! fuck yeah!

[@BloodiTearz]

Amiga version runs smooth while Atari has lower frames, C64 version looks surprisingly amazing with the background effect that was not implemented on other versions.

[@RetroDream]

Absolutely. Same analysis

[@lucal7756]

... and the mythical Konix Speedking Joystick ;)

[@eddiesfedj603]

The first game I see on computer that make buy an Amiga (my first computer). The Music is WoW ! Of course the C64 version is impressive for an 8bit machine but I didn’t know computers at this time.

[@RetroDream]

Same here

[@eddiesfedj603]

@@RetroDream Only Amiga Make It Possible

[@havaham]

This is crazy and I LOVE it.

[@RetroDream]

Thanks for you interest :)

[@panzerdragonlegend6664]

Amiga 500 Atari ST C64 and the First R-Type each version adapted to these wonderful machines 💾

[@NicolasCorte]

I still have a hard time believing the C64 can run a game like R-Type practically just like the Amiga or the Atari ST. I would even go as far a to say that the scroll on the C64 is better than the Atari ST. Insane!

[@RetroDream]

The scroll IS indeed better. Absolutely insane

[@stunthumb]

Definitely... but the beloved ST always had its work cut out with scrolling. I mean, on the C64 and Amiga scrolling the screen involves changing a memory value. On the ST it's either pre-shifting or screen buffering, both cost a lot of memory unfortunately.

[@Terry-oc7hz]

Not surprising really. The C64 and Amiga have hardware scrolling (and sprites and Bobs on Amiga) the ST has none of these and is relying on the CPU to do everything and struggling with the frame rate being just acceptable. This sort of game suits the Amigas and C64 hardware perfectly and it shows!

[@glenndoiron9317]

Yeah, the scrolling on the ST and overall framerate is pretty janky.

[@totoonthemoon3593]

Nice video! The Amiga verson should have been better (colours). It plays full screen at 60Hz on NTSC machines.

[@RetroDream]

Thanks!

[@eddiesfedj603]

I have never tried in 60hz, maybe I will look at it thus weekend.

[@DbugII]

The ST version does not look to bad in term of graphical fidelity compared to the Amiga, but the framerate.... ouch! I believe someone released a STe enhanced version, not sure if it was ever finished 100%

[@RetroDream]

Good question

[@turbolenza35]

Why not including the x68000 version.....??

[@RetroDream]

Yes why not

[@eddiesfedj603]

Look at the ST version, like a CPC with just little more colors 😂

[@RetroDream]

That's my opinion too. Could have been better :)

[@erikehrling4715]

You missed the Spectrum version

[@RetroDream]

next time

[@OndrejSc]

Wowzers!

[@mlann2333]

Could never get past level 4 😢

[@RetroDream]

which computer / console ?

[@mlann2333]

@@RetroDream arcade or Amstrad CPC funnily enough. The speccy port was the same, written by Bob Pope, he wrote a book about it, will worth a read.

[@litjellyfish]

Unfair to compare C64 as its not really a normal R type conversion but more a hack of Katakis, which of course shows in enemy pattern and level layout

[@RetroDream]

It's awesome in any case

[@litjellyfish]

@@RetroDream yeah technically it’s amazing. Gameplay is as said for me rather different. To be honest the C64 version if for me the most impressive. Amiga is ok. What I love is how they used sprites to form a second parallax layer in the Amiga version. I think it was R type or if it was R type 2. Can’t remember. Anyway this HW “trick” was great

[@Kppot]

I choose you, commodore 64

[@MIKandJEAN]

Next up Super Hang-On... Good luck to the person who has to play the C64 version. 😂

[@RetroDream]

For sure:)

[@MegaGasek]

It is such a shame that so many Amiga games ended up being inferior because programmers would do the game for the Atari ST and just port it over to the Amiga, not considering its much better hardware. Are you telling me that my Amiga 500 couldn't have parallax scrolling? Shame on you programmers.

[@gamingtonight1526]

Graphics best on the Amiga, music the best on ST, and best special effect sounds on C64. Takes all three to make a great game! :)

[@RetroDream]

Couldn't agree more!

[@htcmeme]

1) amiga wins 2) c64 3) atari is lag thanks

[@RetroDream]

thanks for sharing

[@aldo8589]

the spectrum version is the best and is not here

[@totoonthemoon3593]

Definitively NOT, but really great for this computer capabilities.

[@RetroDream]

Next time

[@eddiesfedj603]

Arcade version to compare !