Let’s dive into a review of the C64 Mini, including its design, functionality, and the included games:
Design and Build Quality:
- Aesthetic: The C64 Mini captures the iconic look of the original Commodore 64 with a modern twist. It’s compact, making it perfect for desk space or display, and it’s built with a solid feel that harkens back to the ’80s but with contemporary materials. The inclusion of USB ports, HDMI output, and standard controller ports modernizes the experience while keeping the retro feel intact.
- Controller: The C64 Mini comes with a USB joystick modelled on the Competition Pro but with some extra buttons to access the menus and fucntions of the C64 mini including the virtual keyboard. It feels a little bit spongy but generally works well enough. Other USB controllers can be used including the gamepad that comes with the Amiga Mini. Onine reports would indicate that there is a stand alone micro switched version of the USB Competition Pro that is much more responsive and also durable as the stick has a metal shaft.
Performance:
- Emulation: The emulation quality is generally praised. It accurately replicates the C64’s 8-bit sound and graphics, providing that unique Commodore experience. However, some users have noted that certain games might run slightly faster or smoother than on the original hardware due to modern hardware’s performance.
Game Library:
- Selection: The C64 Mini comes with 64 games pre-installed, aiming to give a broad overview of what made the C64 legendary. Here are some highlights:
- Paradroid: A cult classic for its unique merge of action and strategy, where you infiltrate robots to take over enemy droids.
- International Karate +: Known for its fluid animation and multiplayer fun, though gameplay might feel simplistic by today’s standards.
- California Games: This one captures the era’s fascination with sports and arcade-style gameplay, offering mini-games that feel like a trip back to the ’80s.
- Impossible Mission: Loved for its blend of platforming with puzzle elements, though its unforgiving difficulty can be a challenge.
- The Last Ninja: Appreciated for its depth in gameplay, story, and graphics for its time, though controls might feel clunky to modern gamers.
- Summer Games II: Another entry in the sports genre, which was a staple for the C64.
- Uridium: A vertical shooter that’s often praised for its soundtrack and challenge.
- Gameplay Experience: While these games are emblematic of the C64’s era, they showcase the machine’s versatility. However, modern gamers might find the gameplay mechanics, graphics, and controls less intuitive or engaging compared to contemporary games.
User Experience:
- Interface: The C64 Mini’s user interface is user-friendly, with modern navigation ease. Loading games is straightforward, and there’s an option to experience the original BASIC programming environment, which is a nice touch for nostalgia.
- Expandability: Further games can be added via USB memory sticks and there are also various third party mods available (Pandory etc) that can break out the console for use as a more general emulation platform.
Conclusion:
- Value for Money: Priced competitively, especially with discounts or bundles, the C64 Mini offers a fantastic dive into the retro gaming scene for both veterans and newcomers. It serves not just as a gaming device but as a piece of computing history.
- Nostalgia vs. Modern Gaming: For those looking for nostalgia, the C64 Mini is a treasure trove. However, for gamers used to today’s standards, it might serve more as an educational tool or a curiosity than a primary gaming console.
- Community and Support: The device has sparked a resurgence in interest for C64 games, with an active community around it, which can be both educational and entertaining for those diving into retro gaming.
Overall, the C64 Mini and its games offer a blend of nostalgia, educational value about computing history, and a touch of retro gaming charm, though it might not captivate everyone in the same way modern gaming does.
