C64 Game Memories - Revisited 30+ Years later : A View to a Kill

A View to a Kill, the James Bond film had its release on the C64 in the same year, 1985 by Domark. To be frank, like most movie tie-ins it is average at best sadly, these games were often quickly rushed out to take advantage of the movies hype.

Domark was known for being a very quirky software house anyway, but just look at the packaging for this and the bright red cassette tape it came on!

The game involved 3 set pieces recreated from the movie which had to be individually loaded in, starting with the chase after Mayday driving around the streets of Paris. At least I think that's what it was because the big square thing in the screenshot is the eiffel tower and for some reason every street looks like red bricks in the 3d view! The playability of this is next to zero, with horrific controls (worse than the lastv8 even)

The second level is you trying to help a trapped bond girl Stacey Sutton in a burning city hall, this is probably the most playable of the levels and most fun even if it is basically find item/ find key to next room etc.

The last level is just bland, you run around a cave trying to stop Zorins bomb detonating. Controls are again awkward and the sprite animation is not great.

Graphics in this game are distinctly average overall. You are treated to a half decent rendition of the bond theme and the Duran Duran track of the film but the C64 was capable of far better and this just gave added reason to think this was rushed out to the masses.

All in all a complete waste of a license, and it also bombed in reviews at the time.