Dantalion: New C64 Platform Puzzler Arrives Digitally
A new Commodore 64 title has emerged, as Eleanor Burns' Dantalion, a dark fantasy flip-screen platform puzzler, has landed exclusively on The New Dimension (TND) website. It is quite something to see new software, particularly one crafted with the venerable SEUCK Sideways, still gracing the C64 scene, proving the enduring creativity within this community decades after its heyday.
This particular programme was originally slated for release on a special Scene World magazine cover tape. However, due to unforeseen delays with the physical tape's production and distribution, the development team received permission to launch the digital files directly online, ensuring players could experience the adventure without further waiting.
The Hero's Journey and SEUCK's Legacy
Players take on the role of Dantalion, a hero driven by a tragic past, having witnessed his mother's horrific fate at the hands of the monster Bael. To confront this nightmare, Dantalion enrols in the Academy of Dark Arts, aiming to hone his skills and ultimately defeat Bael. His path is, of course, fraught with Bael's evil creatures and other obstacles, promising a magical, if perilous, journey through the game's many screens.
What this hints at, for the scene, is the continued adaptability of homebrew distribution. While the romance of a physical cover tape, much like those that accompanied Zzap!64 or Commodore User back in the mid-1980s, remains strong, the practicalities of getting new work into players' hands often favour digital channels today. It is a pragmatic shift, allowing creators like Eleanor Burns to share their work promptly.
Crafting on the C64
The use of SEUCK Sideways for Dantalion is notable. The original Shoot 'Em Up Construction Kit, released by Sensible Software in 1987, allowed aspiring bedroom coders to create their own scrolling shooters with relative ease. The 'Sideways' variant extended this tool's capabilities, letting designers craft games with horizontal scrolling or, as in Dantalion's case, flip-screen mechanics that move between static screens. This shows the ingenuity of the C64 community, always finding new ways to stretch existing tools, much like Jeff Minter did with his early Llamasoft creations.
This digital release on TND means that Dantalion is immediately accessible to anyone with a Commodore 64 emulator or compatible hardware. It is a testament to the C64's lasting appeal that new, fully-formed games continue to appear, offering fresh experiences on a machine that first captivated a generation of British computer users in the early 1980s. The story of Dantalion is one of both creative passion and practical adaptation, ensuring its dark fantasy world reaches its audience.
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Originally published by Indie Retro News. Read original article.