Micro Natters Part 1: A Mastertronic Re-Release Guide – Commodore 64

Cavelon II (Jetsoft)

Along the same lines as BMX Stunts, Jetsoft had also created a game which was in effect a sequel to Cavelon, and despite the arcade board prototype being called Excaliba, when released on the Commodore 64, it was called Cavelon II.  Unlike the first game this was more of a platform game where you needed to progress through the screens of the castle Cavelon to win.  This proved to be quite a difficult challenge overall and so is one for the patient amongst you.  The game got a re-release by Mastertronic as Excaliba (IC 0086) thus restoring the arcade game’s name, with a new loading screen added.

Wing Commander (Creative Sparks)

Ironically, this game was around the same time that the MAD C range came into fruition.  The original game was an ambitious attempt at a flight simulation, including some air-to-air combat, that unfortunately was let down by the controls and being a little bit on the dull side, especially when compared to Cascade’s ACE when that was released.  Whether or not this was planned to be a MAD C release is unknown (bear in mind that MADC 5 is unknown and this may have been planned for release there) but eventually was re-released on the standard range (IC 0108) and with comprehensive instructions intact, which at least helped you get into the game. No conversions to other formats were undertaken.

Speed King (Digital Integration)

Racing games in three dimensions were not exactly the Commodore 64’s strongest suit, but programmer Mervyn Estcourt produced the goods here with a fun and enjoyable motorbike game that took you around ten circuits, with a useful demonstration mode showing you the way round which helped you work out the right speed to take the corners at.  It was praised well in the press at the time, and sure enough was re-released by Mastertronic (IC 0114) with a different loading screen that resembled the inlay.  It was still good fun, and Mastertronic commissioned a Commodore 16 and Plus/4 version, coded by Shaun Southern and a re-skin of his Formula 1 Simulator conversion.  There were Amstrad and MSX conversions programmed by Ed Hickman, based on the original, and an Atari XL/XE version, programmed by Hal Rushton of Sculptured Software and only appeared on a double-sided disk in the US with the Commodore 64 version. Oddly, there was a ZX Spectrum game, Speed King 2, coded by Derek Brewster, which was totally unrelated to the original game.

Super Pipeline II (Taskset)

The original Super Pipeline had you in charge of a foreman and his helper, ensuring that you would effectively maintain a flow of water through pipes to fill a barrel at the end of the pipes.  In the sequel, you would have two helpers and maintaining how they operate was one of the key skills in the game, as well as avoiding the enemies that would disrupt the pipes.  It was rightly lauded as an arcade quality game at the time with multiple screens and puzzles to avoid.  It was re-released by Mastertronic (IC 0132) with the name Pipeline 2.  The ZX Spectrum conversion by Taskset did not get a Mastertronic re-release, but the Amstrad conversion (which had been re-badged as an Amsoft release) did get a re-release by Mastertronic (IA 0132.)

Did You Know?

Pipeline 2 was the final release number to use the Mastertronic grid type pyramid on the front of its cover.  The next release chronologically, Proof of Destruction (original Commodore 16 version, 2C 0133) had the Mastertronic logo alone across the bottom with the format in a coloured bar across the top.

Ice Palace (Creative Sparks)

This game tried to be a different style of arcade adventure at the time, with the need to collect seven pieces of the Ice Crown, hidden in the palace, and that would when collected destroy the Ice Queen.  The rooms are viewed from above in a hexagonal grid and so working out what room has which object, and avoiding enemies which you can kill with your fire stick.  It got praise for being easy to get into and fast paced, and does need perseverance.  When Mastertronic relaunched the MAD range with its MADC prefix, this re-release was the first game (MADC 1) complete with new loading screen – and it is still unknown whether it was to be just for Creative Sparks re-releases.  No other format conversions were carried out.

Countdown to Meltdown (Creative Sparks)

For its time of release in late 1985, Countdown to Meltdown proved to be a sizeable challenge screens, as you command a series of robot androids to move around a nuclear plant as the core begins to overheat.  Different rooms contain different objects which may be useful or dangerous, and as your android can only carry so much, you need to map this one out.  This became the second of the MADC series on re-release (MADC 2) which again came with a new loading screen, and no other format conversions were produced.

Ghettoblaster (Virgin Games)

The original Ghettoblaster, programmed by Mark Harrison and Tony Gibson, was quite an innovative game for its time.  You are Rockin Rodney, and must collect a number of demo tapes from the locations in Funky Town, so that you can get a record deal with Interdisc and be able to make said record.  It had different tunes for each tape collected and avoiding enemies such as Psycho Killer and Jumping Jack Flash.  Whilst not immediately apparent, Street Beat (IC 0203) is a re-release of Ghettoblaster, but with completely different music and the record label being change to Significance.  The game does play the same way though and if you had mastered the original you would do well here too.

Did You Know?

Significance was the software label that was to release the game based on the band Sigue Sigue Sputnik and programmed by Mark Harrison and Tony Gibson.  That game would have nods to both Jammin’ (by Taskset, but by the same programming team) and elements based on Ocean’s licence of Frankie Goes to Hollywood.  The game never got beyond the playable demo stage and there is an excellent article on the game over at Games That Weren’t.

* * *

As you can see, even without the re-release labels, there were many original games which Mastertronic re-released and if you had paid full price earlier, you may have been a bit gutted to see them at budget price sometime later, although in several cases this meant that the game was more available for the masses, which was not a bad thing.  Next time we will look at the ZX Spectrum and how a considerable number of releases had the same fate there too.

* * *

Thank you for visiting our site and reading this article. The Mastertronic Collectors Archive is run on a voluntary basis, we do have site costs we need to cover. If you are able to help with these, please visit our page on ko-fi at https://ko-fi.com/mastertroniccollectorsarchive – every penny you can spare helps and will allow us to invest in the site and our YouTube channel. The page also has exclusive behind-the-scenes material, so even if you’re not able to donate please give us a follow to enjoy extra free content!