Thalamus Collection 1: What’s On the Cart?

Thalamus Collection 1 for Evercade brings together 11 games from one of the most renowned developers for 8-bit microcomputers. On their original release, Thalamus titles were well-known and respected for their excellent audio-visual presentation and solid, challenging and compelling gameplay. Now, they’re commonly agreed to be some of the very best titles that were ever developed for 8-bit home computers. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at the games on this collection.

Hunter’s Moon Remastered

Originally released in 1987 and rereleased in 2018 as an expanded “Remastered” edition, Hunter’s Moon is one of Thalamus’ most famous games. In this multidirectional shoot ’em up, you must blast your way through an alien hive to recover the Starcells that will allow you to jump a little closer to home, one star system at a time.

The original release of Hunter’s Moon was already a vast, challenging game, but the Remastered edition on Evercade adds a variety of new features, such as a full animated introduction sequence and a randomised mode that makes each playthrough a new experience. Can you make it home to Hunter’s Moon?

Armalyte: Competition Edition

While scrolling shoot ’em ups are primarily associated with games consoles and arcade machines, Armalyte: Competition Edition for Evercade shows how 8-bit micros are more than capable of standing up to the greats of the genre. Battle your way through 9 stages, collecting a variety of power-ups along the way to turn your ship from an underpowered fighter into a multidirectional death-dealing machine of doom.

Drawing inspiration from genre classics while making an effort to carve out its own distinct identity, Armalyte: Competition Edition is a well-presented, technically demanding shoot ’em up sure to give your itchy trigger finger a good workout.

Creatures

Consistently held up by C64 enthusiasts as one of the best platformers on the system, Creatures for Evercade is a cutesy adventure with a darkly humorous twist. As Clyde Radcliffe the hung-over Fuzzy Wuzzy, it’s your job to battle against the demons who are trying to take over your lands — and to rescue your fellow Fuzzy Wuzzies from a range of increasingly devious torture devices!

The levels alternate between scrolling platformer stages and single-screen “torture chamber” puzzles, where you’ll have to figure out the mechanics that are putting your friends in danger, then do something to sabotage the situation. You’ll need skill, timing and quick wits to save your people!

Hawkeye

Developed by the Dutch collective The Boys Without Brains, who started life as a demoscene group and are still active today as business software development consultants, Hawkeye is a run-and-gun platformer in which your aim is simple: collect the puzzle pieces in each stage.

Unfortunately, there are a wide variety of foes standing in your way, each with their own distinctive behaviours to contend with. Fortunately, Hawkeye never leaves home without four weapons strapped to his back: a pistol with infinite ammo, and a machine gun, laser cannon and rocket launcher for when things get a bit too real.

Snare

 

In Snare for Evercade, you’re taking part in the hottest new gameshow around: the quest to reach the centre of a mysterious maze, in which a wealthy aristocrat concealed his most valued treasure. You’ll pilot a ship through twisting, turning mazes and have to contend with varied environmental conditions to complete your mission.

Snare blends elements of action and puzzle games to create something altogether unique. You’ll need a good sense of direction and fast reactions to deal with the challenges that await you in the maze. Don’t get lost!

Retrograde

Retrograde is a game that acts as a spiritual successor to Cyberdyne Warrior, which you can play as part of TheC64 Collection 3 for Evercade. This time around, you’re attempting to fend off an alien invasion by blasting enemies to earn credits and upgrade your weapons, then plant “Planet Buster” bombs deep beneath the surface to blow your foes to kingdom come!

Combining elements of scrolling shoot ’em up with platform action games, Retrograde is a speedy, colourful all-action romp where the intensity never lets up. Be ready for some serious blasting!

Summer Camp

In Summer Camp for Evercade, Maximus Mouse has done the unthinkable: he’s lost Camp Wotadump’s precious flag! Now he needs to bound his way through several open-structure levels to find the items he needs to progress and redeem himself. But hazards abound in the great outdoors, so Maximus will need to improvise in order to defend himself against hostile wildlife and other perils!

Summer Camp is a cartoony platformer in the classic mould. Explore each stage thoroughly to find the items you need to progress, and make use of helpful items to assist you on your quest. But watch out, because not all of the items scattered around are entirely useful…

Heatseeker

In Heatseeker, you control the Leg and its ball-shaped Heat Probe in an attempt to bloom the Triphyllos of Nem flowers and save your planet. Several large scrolling levels await your exploration, and you’ll need to make use of both the Leg and the Ball’s capabilities to reach the all-important Flames of Zeal and drain their heat.

Heatseeker is a great example of the creativity and willingness to experiment found among the 8-bit microcomputer development community. While featuring recognisable elements of other exploration platformers, the unique control scheme and dual “protagonists” make it a game you won’t forget in a hurry.

Creatures II: Torture Trouble

Clyde Radcliffe and friends are back! Unfortunately, so are their demonic foes. In Creatures II: Torture Trouble for Evercade, Clyde Radcliffe must once again thwart the overly elaborate, dastardly and violent plans of the demons in order to save his people.

This time around, there’s plenty of variety as you’ll once again puzzle out the torture chambers, but also bounce rescued Fuzzy Wuzzies to safety, battle huge bosses and swim from island to island. Creatures II: Torture Trouble is regarded as one of the best games to ever be released for 8-bit home micros, and now you’ll be able to enjoy it on Evercade!

Winter Camp

In Winter Camp for Evercade, Maximus Mouse is back once again and he’s got a new job: protecting those enjoying their time in a winter wonderland from the deadly elements! You’ll follow Maximus’ quest to be the best Rescue Ranger there is from his initial training on the ice right up to thwarting a nefarious bird’s plans to drop an avalanche on the camp.

Winter Camp is a multi-genre game that combines elements of action, puzzle and platform games to create a game that keeps you well and truly on your toes from level to level. A good Rescue Ranger stays calm under all circumstances — are you up to the challenge?

Nobby the Aardvark

Nobby the Aardvark was Thalamus‘ last title for 8-bit micros before switching focus to 16-bit machines, and it’s one of their most technically proficient games. Primarily unfolding as a cartoonish platformer, Nobby the Aardvark also features a variety of other play styles, including navigating a hot air balloon around hazards, exploring top-down mazes and much more!

An ambitious and challenging game, Nobby the Aardvark is a prime example of why the Thalamus name has endured in the minds of classic computer gaming enthusiasts for so long: great presentation, excellent gameplay, and plenty of longevity as you work to master each level’s unique mechanics!

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Thalamus Collection 1 will be available for Evercade from July 2024. Find out more on the official cartridge page.