Citadel 1986 Demo

Old school platformers tend to have a certain charm about them, even decades after their release. Although the gameplay mechanics are basic as they can get, it’s always tons of fun to jump around and avoid traps, even if the graphics engine features only eight different colors. Obviously, they usually have a more pronounced effect on those who were around to experience the 8-bit era in its glory.

Citadel 1986 is a retro platformer designed to come as close to the classic video games on the Commodore 64 as possible. Granted, the graphics are a tad better, but the gameplay and the mechanics are pretty much the same. Hence, it’s all about making the jumps at the right time, avoiding the enemies that patrol on fixed paths, and collecting a certain number of keys.

These keys are required to open the door further into the citadel, and you need multiple keys to do so. As you might suspect, you really have to search for them throughout the levels, because they are quite well hidden. Enemies appear in higher numbers the further you manage to reach, and their behavior changes as well, although most are pretty easy to figure out and avoid.

An interesting thing about the game is the fact that everything takes place on the same map, which is slowly scrolling as you explore the citadel. Obviously, you never see too much of it at the same time, but it’s a nice touch nevertheless. The level design as a whole is pretty nice, especially when it comes to the wacky enemies you encounter along the way.

Speaking of which, the graphics are obviously retro as well, which means that you should expect something akin to the old C64 platformers. The backgrounds are pretty detailed, too, even if they get rather repetitive after a while. Lastly, the soundtrack is nothing out of the ordinary, but the music and the sound effects go pretty well together.

When it’s all said and done, Citadel 1986 should be pretty high on your list of priorities if you are a retro platformer fan. Almost everything about the game is designed properly, and the gameplay is quite challenging as well.