C64ANABALT C64 Game Review | Canabalt Steam, iOS, Android

C64anabalt is a port of the open-source game Canabalt designed by Adam Saltsman, which was released in 2009.

Reading from the developer’s website. Canabalt

“is a one-button endless runner in which a well-dressed person attempts to outrun the destruction of their city via a series of carefully timed jumps. Platforms and obstacles are sequenced procedurally, so the game is different every time you play.

Canabalt was originally released as a Flash game in September 2009 and ported to iOS in October 2009. Canabalt directly inspired a number of well-known iOS games including Temple Run and Jetpack Joyride, and generally popularized the endless runner genre.”

Wikipedia actually states:
–Reading from the Wikipedia entry on Canabalt:

“Canabalt has been credited with inventing the endless runner subgenre.[8]”

From <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canabalt>

Features
• Popularized the endless runner genre.
• Deep controls featuring a single button.
• Stunning color palette featuring 6 colors.
• Updated with a vocal remix by Mega Ran.
• Updated with 8 alternate game modes including invisible buildings.

From <http://finji.co/about/sheet.php?p=canabalt>

The Commodore 64 version of Canabalt was ported by Paul Koller and “was developed as an entry for the RGCD C64 16KB Cartridge Game Development Competition (2011)”

Reading from the Manual, a quote by Paul Koller:

“although Adam open-sourced the iOS version of Canabalt, the Commodore conversion is actually based on the decompiled source of the original flash version, which has some subtle differences. Due to the narrower screen on the C64 version and the lack of vertical scrolling, some of the procedural parameters relating to the building generation and jump height needed to be slightly adapted. In the end, I think C64anabalt turned out as close as you can get to the original flash version of the Commodore 64”

RGCD.co.uk states:

“C64anabalt is compatible with NTSC C64’s, but lacks the static parallax background cityscape (the background scrolls instead) and it stutters slightly at high running speeds (due to the NTSC machine having less CPU time available). The game also plays fractionally faster than the PAL version. None of these issues severely affect the play of the game”

You can still purchase this game in cartridge format for the Commodore 64 at this site:
http://rgcd.bigcartel.com/product/c64anabalt-commodore-64

Although this video is covering C64anabalt, it is tough to cover the game without covering it’s origin, which is Canabalt.
If you’re interested in Canabalt for another platform such as IOS, PC on Steam or Android, they each can be had for $2.99.

I love when you start the game, it states: “For maximum Awesome, headphones recommended”. It does not state this on the Commodore version, although I believe it still applies, even if its monotone.

Both the steam and IOS versions of Canabalt include a really nice voice rap song, and also include 8 new game modes including two-player options.

The game modes are as follows:
○ Bombardment – falling obstacles
○ Purity – no obstacles at all
○ Fractured – lots of crumbling buildings
○ Box Tripper – lots of boxes
○ Panic – faster than normal
○ Leap of Faith – invisible buildings
○ Invasion – death spikes
○ Defenestration – lots of glass windows

From <http://appadvice.com/appnn/2014/07/canabalt-goes-2-0-with-8-new-game-modes-local-multiplayer-support-and-more

From what I can tell the Android version is nearly identical to the Steam version with exception of the rap song by Danny B Featuring Mega Ran. For single-player, I prefer the Android version on mobile (sorry C64) and for two-player, it is hard to beat the IOS version on the Ipad.

The Android version includes over 30 unlockable achievements in order to try to keep things interesting. The Steam version appears to only have 6, while IOS looks to have about 16.

The C64anabalt is lacking some of the graphics touches found on the other ports, such as the 3D options, Leaderboard, parallax scrolling, has fewer birds, and has no sound effects at all. It also noticeably slows down at some points during gameplay. You are however still able to make out the main character you play as. He is wearing some sort of jacket and has dark-colored shoes. Having said that, C64anabalt is the first version of Canabalt that I purchased and it happened to be my very first purchase from the RDCD website. It is fun and enjoyable to play. It introduced me to the genre and I highly recommend it.

Sources:

C64anabalt on RGCD Website:
http://www.rgcd.co.uk/2011/12/c64anabalt-c64-2011.html
RGCD purchase page:
http://rgcd.bigcartel.com/product/c64anabalt-commodore-64
Canabalt official website:
http://canabalt.com/
Canabalt wikipedia entry:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canabalt
Developer website:
http://finji.co/about/sheet.php?p=canabalt
Canabalt on Steam for PC:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/358960/
Canabalt for IOS:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/canabalt/id333180061?mt=8
Canabalt for Android, play store:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fishnoodle.canabalt&hl=en
Link I used to decipher the game modes:
http://appadvice.com/appnn/2014/07/canabalt-goes-2-0-with-8-new-game-modes-local-multiplayer-support-and-more