As classic games go, Stunt Car Racer is one of the stand-out titles on the Commodore 64, but it never really took advantage of the C128’s hardware… until now. A developer, known as cobbpg, has issued a Commodore 128 update of the game, which is notably faster than the game I would load from cassette.
Originally developed by Geoff Crammond, Stunt Car Racer promised a new take on car racing games on its release in 1989, and while it went some way to delivering that on the C64, it seemed to slow down in places, and suffered from poor control (although nothing as bad as the Hard Drivin’ port).
I have a number of frustrating memories of Stunt Car Racer on the Commodore 64, so it is good to see the game enjoying a reappraisal four decades later.
Hold on, what is a Commodore 128?
If you grew up in the UK through the 1980s, you inevitably knew about the C64, but the Commodore 128, Commodore’s final 8-bit system, was a rare beast. In fact, the only place I ever came across one beyond an electronics store was in Germany. A family I stayed with in 1990 owned a Commodore 128D, which basically looked like a PC, with a separate keyboard and a base unit with a built-in floppy drive.
The main C128 was visually more akin to the second wedge-shaped Commodore 64, and had the advantage of being able to switch to a C64 mode. This meant it could play almost every Commodore 64 game… which had the result that most developers didn’t bother to push the system’s more advanced hardware.
Stunt Car Racer on the C128 vs. the rest
Here’s how the C128 version compares with the impressive Plus/4 Stunt Car Racer port.
Here’s how the C128 version measures up with the C64 — again, the new version is that bit faster.
This all demonstrates perfectly what a great game Geoff Crammond developed. It was pushing the Commodore 64, and it’s a shame it didn’t get a dedicated C128 release. Of course, Crammond went on to work on some notable Formula One-based games, such as the (initially Amiga) PC-based Grand Prix games.
You can download Stunt Car Racer for the C128 from the Commodore 64 Scene Database.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
