Moonlit-Balloon-C64/C128

MOONLIT BALLOON

A night flight over twelve strange lands - on a real Commodore 64.                                

Climb into your striped balloon, float over moonlit villages, jungles, pyramids and pagodas, and stop the bandits shooting at you from the ground. Drop sacks from above, dodge arrows, stones and shells, watch out for birds dropping eggs - and take down a giant boss every three levels.

This is a download game for the Commodore 64 (PRG + D64 disk image). It is not a browser game.

FEATURES

- 12 levels per mode, each with its own colours, scenery and enemies

- 3 modes: EASY, NORMAL and ULTRA - pick one right on the title screen

- When you finish level 12, the game moves on to the next mode automatically (Easy > Normal > Ultra)

- A boss fight every 3 levels (levels 3, 6, 9 and 12), each boss looks different and explodes in style

- Bandits with arrows, stones and heavy shells - plus birds that drop eggs

- Hidden key in every level: collect it for bonus points and an extra life

- Smooth balloon physics: hold UP to rise, let go to sink slowly, glide left and right

- Real C64 hardware sprites, multicolour character graphics and a SID chiptune soundtrack with sound effects

- Written in 6502 machine code. The game starts instantly: press any key or fire

CONTROLS

Keyboard: W = rise (hold it), S = sink faster, A / D = move left / right, SPACE = drop a sack

Joystick (port 2): up = rise, down = sink, left / right = move, fire = drop a sack

Title screen: press 1, 2 or 3 to start Easy, Normal or Ultra at once.

Any other key or fire starts the highlighted mode (Normal by default). Joystick up/down changes the highlight.

HOW TO PLAY IT

You need the free VICE emulator (https://vice-emu.sourceforge.io) or a real C64 setup.

1. VICE: start x64sc (PAL), then drag moonlit_balloon.prg or moonlit_balloon.d64 into the window.

Or use File > Smart attach disk/tape. For the D64 type: LOAD"*",8,1 then RUN

2. Real C64: copy the files to an SD2IEC, Ultimate or similar device, or write the D64 to a disk. Load it with LOAD"*",8,1 and RUN.

Made for a standard PAL Commodore 64.

WHAT IS IN THE DOWNLOAD

- moonlit_balloon.prg (the game)

- moonlit_balloon.d64 (the same game on a disk image)

- source code (6502 assembly + build tools)

- screenshots and cover

CREDITS

Game, code, graphics and music: TANSOFT

TIP FOR A QUICK START

Hold W to lift off, tap A or D to steer over a bandit, and press SPACE to drop a sack. Keep moving - they aim for you!