Sam’s Journey is a new 2D side scrolling action game for the Commodore 64. You may be thinking, great, another Super Mario Bros style game that doesn’t live up to the hype. You would be wrong. Sam’s Journey pushes the Commodore 64 to its limits, and then some, with great graphics, amazing animation, and overall simply a game that should not run on the Commodore 64. Nintendo needed Memory Mapping Controllers (MMC) to achieve this level of graphics on their Nintendo Entertainment System. This is a stock Commodore 64, a computer released in early 1982.

Along the journey Sam will acquire six different suits, each with unique abilities, cross three worlds (represented by their own world maps), run/jump/swim/climb through 27 levels, and fight through a total of 2,000+ screens of action. Sam’s Journey is a huge Commodore 64 game in case you didn’t realize that from the description.

Continuing the trend of offering a digital download for retro games, Knights of Bytes – the developers of Sam’s Journey, have made sure to follow suit. The real fun is for the people buying the physical copy. There are a few “feelies” included in the box. Another great trend that I hope more retro gaming developers take part in.

In the box fans will get:

Sam’s Journey cartridge (PAL version only)
2 5 ¼ inch discs (NTSC or PAL)
Printed map of Sam’s world
Seven cards featuring original artwork
A treasure chest like the ones in the game
A handful of diamonds from the game (fits nicely in the treasure chest)
Printed game manual
A Holographic sticker of authenticity

This is not just a cash run release as you can see from the list of “feelies” included. When other retro publishers are barely including a cartridge with a basic label, Knights of Bytes are going all out and making Sam’s Journey stand out, as if it needed help in that department.

If you are in the market for a new 2D platformer for your Commodore 64 then you are in luck. Please support companies supporting your choices in gaming, that way we get more great stuff.

Grab your copy of Sam’s Journey from the Knights of Bytes website and tell them RETRO Magazine sent you.