COMPUTE!’s Gazette – Volume 1 – Issue 1 – July, 2025
Andrew Fisher
The Commodore 64 homebrew scene is alive and kicking, and developer Luca Carminati of LC-Games is at the forefront, creating fantastic original games and faithful arcade conversions. In “Low-Carb Arcade Treats,” reviewer Andrew Fisher takes a look at some of LC-Games’ recent arcade-perfect releases for the C64.
These aren’t just quick ports; they are labors of love, packed with options and designed to run on both PAL and NTSC machines. You can even choose between 50 Hz or 60 Hz game speeds to more closely match the feel of the original arcade cabinets.
Space Invaders (2025)
One of the most recognized games of all time gets a stellar C64 conversion. The classic gameplay is all here: five rows of descending alien ships, four defensive bases, and a bonus UFO flying across the top. LC-Games has added some clever options, including multiple firing sound effects and three different color sets that replicate the look of the original arcade machine, from classic white-on-black to the later “multicolor” version achieved with colored gels over the screen.
Did you know? The only official Space Invaders release on the C64 during its commercial lifespan was a conversion of Taito’s sequel, Super Space Invaders, from British company Domark.
Lock ‘n’ Chase (2024)
Based on a 1981 Data East (DECO) arcade game, this title puts a unique spin on the maze genre. You control Lupin, a thief trying to steal all the coins from a series of vaults while being pursued by four police officers. Your only defense is the ability to temporarily close doors behind you to block them. This version is a faithful port, complete with four difficulty levels and the ability to save high scores to disk.
Did you know? The original Lock ‘n’ Chase arcade machine was part of the DECO Cassette System, where arcade operators could change games by loading them from a magnetic cassette tape into the cabinet’s memory. Over 40 games were released on this system, including BurgerTime.
Bagman Comes Back (2021)
This tough-as-nails platformer, originally licensed by Stern for the American market, has you playing a criminal stealing bags of gold from a mine. You must navigate treacherous shafts, avoid guards, and use pickaxes and minecarts to your advantage. The LC-Games version features smooth horizontal scrolling (rather than the screen-flipping of the original), three difficulty levels, and a sequel, Bagman Strikes Back.
Did you know? Bagman never received an official conversion to the C64, but Ocean Software released a well-known clone in 1984 called Gilligan’s Gold.
And More…
The review also highlights several other fantastic arcade-inspired titles from LC-Games that use procedural generation for endless variety, including Dig Dug Revival, Lady Pac and Random Pac (based on the Pac-Man series), and Tutankham Returns.
These titles show that the spirit of the arcade is still thriving on our favorite 8-bit machine, thanks to dedicated developers like Luca Carminati.
Read the full story and discover more about the world of retro computing in the first issue of COMPUTE!’s Gazette in 35 years!
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