Forbidden Forest - C64 games could be scary!

[Rowsdower70]

One of the games we would frequently play with my buddies with Forbidden Forest, and to this day I consider it a remarkable game.

The C-64 with its legendary SID chip could produce some amazing music, and one of the keys of Forbidden Forest was its creepy musical score (written by the programmer Paul Norman).   This, along with the ambient graphics (good but not great, however extremely effective) made for a very tense and enjoyable experience.

The graphics had a nice parallax scrolling effect, the monsters were all very creepy (with their own theme music), and the gameplay was solid (although maybe a bit frustrating at times with aiming).

I remember completing the game by beating the Demogorgon was very satisfying

This game had a sequel, but I found it to be sub-par compared to the original. 

Any other fans of this game? Edited December 22, 2016 by Rowsdower70

[RickR]

I love this game. I'm gonna try a game tonight.

[Atari 5200 Guy]

Never played it but I believe Lance at Video 61 has this for the Atari 8-bits.  I might just have to pick it up sometime next year.

[RickR]

I remember trying it for Atari, but it isn't as good.  I'll have to try it again though just to make sure. 

[RickR]

I found the manual here:  http://www.gamesdatabase.org/Media/SYSTEM/Commodore_64/manual/Formated/Forbidden_Forest_-_1983_-_Cosmi_Corporation.pdf

I'm going to need it. 

[RickR]

OK, I just tried the C64 version, and Rowsdower70 is right on.  The music is incredible.  Graphics are pretty unique.  It's really hard to aim...but also makes you want to come back again to try to master it. 

 

I made it to the frog level. 

 

I'll try the Atari version next. 

[RickR]

OK, and just as I remember it...the Atari version is HORRIBLE.  The parallax scrolling is gone.  Blood when you die is gone.  The aiming is even harder.  And the music is....well....at least they kind of tried, 

[RickR]

PS - Emulation notes --
 

For C64, I use "VICE", which is really really really good.  It emulates all of the Commodore machines, automatically fast-loads and types the load command, has a quick button press to switch joysticks.  Just an excellent emulator.

 

For Atari, I use MESS, which I really like, but it's kind of a pain to set up.  Altirra is also good. 

 

(My real machines are put away -- grandmas is using our extra room during the holidays).

[Rowsdower70]

I think I'll set up VICE and try running some games like this one.   I used to be able to kill the Demogorgon, and I remember the Dragon being the trickiest. 

[TeddyGermany]

The Atari 8Bit misses two levels, the music is not as ingenious and it is harder to play.

 

Another scary game is Haunted House on VCS. The horror is completly in your head, when you try to escape the ghost in a dark room with closed doors.

[Rowsdower70]

http://www.ataricave.com/F/ForbiddenForest.htm

 

Breakdown on differences between C64 original and the far weaker A8 conversion, detailed there.

 

I must say it's refreshing to hear people being so honest about how much weaker A8 conversions sadly were at times, instead of reading the kind of biased rubbish i used to read in Retro Gamer Magazine towards the end of my subscription, how A8 was holding it's own agains't the C64 towards the end.

 

Utter piffle as it never got the sequel and the original was given to someone struggling to learn Atari code, to convert:

 

Full interview with Vance Kozik here:

 

http://www.google.co.uk/url?q=http://www.nesworld.com/kozik.php&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwjM66Prv5XRAhVCeFAKHfLyBGwQFggXMAE&usg=AFQjCNG33Rz8ox36VgT1fbK4KhDXXgw1_w

 

Interestingly he also talks of Lynx Crystal Mines and NES Hell Raiser in interview and that pretty much cements fact that as NES version was so far from finished, Lynx version despite being advertised, was never started.

Following a few links from that first article, I found this gem.   This could easily have been a movie theme:

http://www.monroeworld.com/forbiddenforest/media/forest.mp3

[RickR]

You every play C64 "The Last Ninja"?  I just tried it, but am totally blown away by the load screen music on the tape version.  Man, that SID chip could really do magic.  Incredible. 

[RickR]

Oh my

[TeddyGermany]

Caverns of Khafka for C64 and A8 are completely different games. On C64 the level scrolls very groggy and the controls are sloppy. Sometimes your sprite falls flat and you loose a life without having a clue why. But the music is awesome and creates a superbe atmosphere. So you stay tuned.

 

On A8 the cavern is build on one screen and the controls should be more accurate. But i also haven't seen that version until now.