

Zapped to the Past
zappedtothepast
The Commodore 64 had lots of games. Not all of them are good. In Zapped to the Past, we cast a retrospective eye over those games reviewed in each issue of Zzap!64 magazine. Hosted by two lifelong C64 fans, we throw off those rose tinted specs and see if those games are still worth playing today.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 12, 2023 • 2h 6min
Zapped to the Past Presents - Battle of the Pilots Episode 4
In episode four of Battle of the Pilots, Adrian and Graham from the Zapped to the Past podcast reach into the massive back catalogue of TV shows from over the last 50 years and pluck out a couple of pilot episodes for a head to head battle. For episode four, we have chosen two short lived 80s Sci-Fi action shows - the shape shifting shenanigans of Manimal vs the techno toned AI cop of Automan… Let battle commence!

Jun 5, 2023 • 51min
Zapped to the Past - Ask The Podcast 4 Special
Ask The Podcast 4 is where we answer another round of questions from our amazing Patreon subscribers. If you wish to join us, you can at patreon.com/zappedtothepast for little more than a pint of beer! It's a bute, a real winner!
Find us here:
https://zappedtothepast.com/
Please visit the website of David Hearne Writer - our amazing show sponsor:
https://www.davidhearnewriter.com/
If you would like to help us out and join our Patreon, find it here:
https://www.patreon.com/zappedtothepast
If you want to buy a Coffee for Zapped to the Past, go here:
https://ko-fi.com/zappedtothepast
Need our links in one place - you can do that too:
https://linktr.ee/zappedtothepast

May 29, 2023 • 2h 4min
Zapped to the Past Episode 110 - 1988 Golden Breadbin Awards
1988 is finally over! As we have swam through the dog eggs on your behalf we look back over the year and the games from the issues of Zzap from January to December 1988, selecting some of the titles we have played for our prestigious Zapped to the Past Golden Breadbin awards. Which game will be heralded as having the ‘Best Visuals’ or win the ‘Best Audio’ or the ‘Worst Game?’ There is only one way to find out!
The running order of the awards:
Introduction + Review of 1988
Best Visuals Award
Crapcade Conversion Award
Worst Game (Sunday Best) Award
Best Audio Award
Craziest Concept Award
Licenced Catastrophe Award
Best Game Award
Patreon Awards
Other things... Awards
Look ahead to 1989
Find us here:
https://zappedtothepast.com/
Please visit the website of David Hearne Writer - our amazing show sponsor:
https://www.davidhearnewriter.com/
If you would like to help us out and join our Patreon, find it here:
https://www.patreon.com/zappedtothepast
If you want to buy a Coffee for Zapped to the Past, go here:
https://ko-fi.com/zappedtothepast
Need our links in one place - you can do that too:
https://linktr.ee/zappedtothepast
https://online.pubhtml5.com/oowg/grrx/#p=1

May 22, 2023 • 2h 8min
Zapped to the Past Episode 109 December 1988
In the month of December 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode one-hundred-and-nine of Zapped to the Past, we conclude our look at some of those games, including the saucy Savage, the jumpy Joe Blade II and the naff Nato Assault Course and wonder… exactly how many Japanese acrobats could you balance on your shoulders?
Games covered in this episode:
Fifth Gear
Around the World in 80 Days
Joe Blade II
Savage
Super Dragon Slayer
Nato Assault Course
Cheap Skate
Find us here:
https://zappedtothepast.com/
Please visit the website of David Hearne Writer - our amazing show sponsor:
https://www.davidhearnewriter.com/
If you would like to help us out and join our Patreon, find it here:
https://www.patreon.com/zappedtothepast
If you want to buy a Coffee for Zapped to the Past, go here:
https://ko-fi.com/zappedtothepast
Need our links in one place - you can do that too:
https://linktr.ee/zappedtothepast
https://online.pubhtml5.com/oowg/grrx/#p=1
Additional links mentioned in the Podcast:
https://www.gamesdatabase.org/Media/SYSTEM/Commodore_64//Manual/formated/Bubble_Ghost_-_1988_-_Accolade.pdf
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/30148793/final-assault-manual-pdf-virtual-apple

May 15, 2023 • 2h 18min
Zapped to the Past Episode 108 December 1988
In the month of December 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode one-hundred-and-eight of Zapped to the Past, we continue our look at some of those games, including the pedantic Pro Skateboard Simulator, the bolshy Battle Island and the bilious Bubble Ghost and wonder… are the decks of U.S. battleships often disguised as guitar necks?
Games covered in this episode:
Pro Skateboard Simulator
Peter Beardsley’s International Football
Battle Island
Pro Ski Simulator
1943
Final Assault
Bubble Ghost
Find us here:
https://zappedtothepast.com/
Please visit the website of David Hearne Writer - our amazing show sponsor:
https://www.davidhearnewriter.com/
If you would like to help us out and join our Patreon, find it here:
https://www.patreon.com/zappedtothepast
If you want to buy a Coffee for Zapped to the Past, go here:
https://ko-fi.com/zappedtothepast
Need our links in one place - you can do that too:
https://linktr.ee/zappedtothepast
https://online.pubhtml5.com/oowg/grrx/#p=1
Additional links mentioned in the Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmuKJKEIZok
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNz0N6-WQOo

May 8, 2023 • 2h 23min
Zapped to the Past Episode 107 December 1988
In the month of December 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode one-hundred-and-seven of Zapped to the Past, we continue our look at some of those games, including the shooty Slayer, the shoddy Street Gang, and the horrible Hopper Copper, and wonder why police stations would be equipped with space hoppers as a last transport resort?
Games covered in this episode:
Slayer
Hopper Copper
The Pepsi Challenge Mad Mix Game
Captain Blood
Street Gang
Overlander
Psi-Droid
Find us here:
https://zappedtothepast.com/
Please visit the website of David Hearne Writer - our amazing show sponsor:
https://www.davidhearnewriter.com/
If you would like to help us out and join our Patreon, find it here:
https://www.patreon.com/zappedtothepast
If you want to buy a Coffee for Zapped to the Past, go here:
https://ko-fi.com/zappedtothepast
Need our links in one place - you can do that too:
https://linktr.ee/zappedtothepast
https://online.pubhtml5.com/oowg/grrx/#p=1
Additional links mentioned in the Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BsUOZ6l9Z0&ab_channel=electrozaps
https://www.gamesdatabase.org/Media/SYSTEM/Commodore_64//Manual/formated/Captain_Blood_-_1988_-_Mindscape.pdf
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s92bUBeFNs_6W_Ga-pv8ITxr-n0JswMo/view?usp=share_link

May 1, 2023 • 2h 5min
Zapped to the Past Episode 106 December 1988
In the month of December 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode one-hundred-and-six of Zapped to the Past, we start our look at some of those games, including the booming Bombuzal, the purple crabbed Pulse Warrior, and the powerless Power Pyramids, and wonder why anyone would buy four Pyramids from someone who couldn’t even turn them on!?
Games covered in this episode:
Bombuzal
Power Pyramids
Scorpion
Pulse Warrior
The Race Against Time
The Games - Summer Edition
Purple Heart
Find us here:
https://zappedtothepast.com/
Please visit the website of David Hearne Writer - our amazing show sponsor:
https://www.davidhearnewriter.com/
If you would like to help us out and join our Patreon, find it here:
https://www.patreon.com/zappedtothepast
If you want to buy a Coffee for Zapped to the Past, go here:
https://ko-fi.com/zappedtothepast
Need our links in one place - you can do that too:
https://linktr.ee/zappedtothepast
https://online.pubhtml5.com/oowg/grrx/#p=1
Additional links mentioned in the Podcast:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Avenue_(teletext_soap)
http://newmailbox.co.uk/parkavenue/
https://www.lmg-entertainments.co.uk/entertainer/steve-tandy/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToNvjTrNlL8
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CivvyStreet
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Be_Cool
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersense
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqN9vY3ECZc
https://eofftvreview.wordpress.com/2020/12/23/billys-christmas-angels-1988/

Apr 24, 2023 • 2h 38min
Zapped to the Past Episode 105 November 1988
In the month of November 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode one-hundred-and-five of Zapped to the Past, we conclude our look at some of those games, including the crushing Cybernoid 2, the pathetic Pink Panther, and the scattershot Soldier of Fortune, and wonder how much bird seed would you need to keep the Caliph alive?
Games covered in this episode:
Cybernoid 2
Pink Panther
Soldier of Fortune
Street Sports Soccer
Emlyn Hughes International Soccer
Barbarian
Mission Genocide
Sinbad and the Throne of the Falcon
Find us here:
https://zappedtothepast.com/
Please visit the website of David Hearne Writer - our amazing show sponsor:
https://www.davidhearnewriter.com/
If you would like to help us out and join our Patreon, find it here:
https://www.patreon.com/zappedtothepast
If you want to buy a Coffee for Zapped to the Past, go here:
https://ko-fi.com/zappedtothepast
Need our links in one place - you can do that too:
https://linktr.ee/zappedtothepast
https://online.pubhtml5.com/oowg/grrx/#p=1
Additional links mentioned in the Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj3l1swuy8w
https://www.dublincity.ie/library/blog/we-need-talk-about-norman
https://www.reddit.com/r/britishproblems/comments/p7x5zm/fireman_sam_its_about_time_norman_is_held/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-H0cgE9_ns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgJ-Q_snIhU&ab_channel=badwolfmultimedia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XoMYUGAQMw&ab_channel=OliverHawker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_ojgKSvu1U&ab_channel=DaveBrubeck-Topic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZvatzKVM2g&ab_channel=Shout%21Factory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucrJ1KFDSLU&ab_channel=VibrantMediaHub

Apr 17, 2023 • 2h 48min
Zapped to the Past Episode 104 November 1988
In the month of November 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode one-hundred-and-four of Zapped to the Past, we start our look at some of those games, including the amazing Armalyte, the barren Battle Stations, and the furry Foxx Fights Back, and wonder who thought a blend of ice hockey, netball and crown green bowls was a good idea?
Games covered in this episode:
Armalyte
Vectorball
4x4 Off Road Racing
Intensity
Red Storm Rising
Battle Stations
Supercup Football
Foxx Fights Back
Find us here:
https://zappedtothepast.com/
Please visit the website of David Hearne Writer - our amazing show sponsor:
https://www.davidhearnewriter.com/
If you would like to help us out and join our Patreon, find it here:
https://www.patreon.com/zappedtothepast
If you want to buy a Coffee for Zapped to the Past, go here:
https://ko-fi.com/zappedtothepast
Need our links in one place - you can do that too:
https://linktr.ee/zappedtothepast
https://online.pubhtml5.com/oowg/grrx/#p=1
Additional links mentioned in the Podcast:
https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/armalyte-v1
https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/armalyte-2
http://www.psytronik.net/newsite/index.php/c64/29-armalyte
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyaDFTRQHU4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh6-L98l6eE
https://www.markknopfler.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLVgEC4dMz4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLVgEC4dMz4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rawv0NjH64E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iesps9w4HFw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-3ra8Jsmjk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSSpPkMlb98
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9usE58DQWY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcNZAqUsYnE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRg_erYFers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWzrcb8qZg8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_D3VFfhvs4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYuUAGXN0KM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK2U5ziV_Z8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt71d5LIV5M
https://www.digitpress.com/library/manuals/c64/red_storm_rising.pdf

Apr 10, 2023 • 1h 17min
Zapped to the Past Goes Back to the Past Special!
In this first of a series of special episodes of Zapped to the Past, we go back to our past and pick up some of those games we never looked at from the first few issues of Zzap! 64, including the bouncy Up ‘n Down, the giant Frak and the trippy Master of the Lamps.
Games covered in this episode:
Rock ‘n Bolt
Software Star
Mama Llama
Jack Attack
Frak
Up ‘n Down
Master of the Lamps
Caverns of Sillahc
Find us here:
https://zappedtothepast.com/
Please visit the website of David Hearne Writer - our amazing show sponsor:
https://www.davidhearnewriter.com/
If you would like to help us out and join our Patreon, find it here:
https://www.patreon.com/zappedtothepast
If you want to buy a Coffee for Zapped to the Past, go here:
https://ko-fi.com/zappedtothepast
Need our links in one place - you can do that too:
https://linktr.ee/zappedtothepast