
84.2K
Downloads
105
Episodes
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

5 hours ago
Zapped to the Past Episode 94 July 1988
5 hours ago
5 hours ago
In the month of July 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode ninety-four of Zapped to the Past, we conclude our look at some of those games, including the woeful Wizard Warz, the ropey Roadwars, and the trippy Thrust 2, and wonder if you will give generously to those suffering from Low Polyism?
Games covered in this episode:
- The Great Giana Sisters
- Trigger Happy
- Wizard Warz
- Deluxe Monopoly
- Tangent
- Skate Crazy
- Thrust II
- Roadwars
Find us here:
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
Additional links mentioned in the Podcast:
https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games80/the-making-of-the-great-giana-sisters/
https://pdfslide.net/documents/wizard-warz-ml1-manual-pc.html?page=1
https://www.digitpress.com/library/manuals/c64/monopoly.txt
https://retrogames.biz/games/c64/skate-crazy/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlzFRNCb0xI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vazw6cfrw9s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUqwlAsGXBI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3vFPkuovsU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gti22zo6sm0&ab_channel=PsychedelicFursVEVO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUi_S6YWjZw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA9NNq_6N-w&ab_channel=georgemichaelVEVO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6Agwu_5J14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0P1eNlCQIU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIkOVe0MF1k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjhfH5P5ZEM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TimBgWOCv0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-qK5MNSwoE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0_WRqoOx2Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg0lyIYHMMs&ab_channel=LondonRecordings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xef60FAN6Vk&ab_channel=PopWillEatItselfVEVO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDDJPbWq22E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbXsbGSoIWk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGH_16SICL0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA2V7fIzoOY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6qBh6pij3Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTDoDDjsxTg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POWsFzSFLCE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpxhRS6k3rg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2atWm2ZabJw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j7E7pvLxmI

Monday Jan 23, 2023
Zapped to the Past Episode 93 June 1988
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Monday Jan 23, 2023
In the month of June 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode ninety-three of Zapped to the Past, we conclude our look at some of those games, including the naughty Northstar, the misfire of Microleague Wrestling, and the gloopy Gutz, and wonder what a man-frog was doing solving crimes in Hawaii…
Games covered in this episode:
- Draconus
- Microleague Wrestling
- Road Warrior
- Gutz
- Venom Strikes Back
- Gothik
- Northstar
- Target Renegade
Find us here:
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
Additional links mentioned in the Podcast:
https://archive.org/details/c64man_gothik/page/n1/mode/2up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDwmvJOW4xA&ab_channel=Zeusdaz-TheUnemulatedRetroGameChannel

Monday Jan 16, 2023
Zapped to the Past Episode 92 June 1988
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Monday Jan 16, 2023
In the month of June 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode ninety-two of Zapped to the Past, we continue our look at some of those games, including the not inspired by Aliens at all, guv’nor, Alien Syndrome, the expansive but empty Echelon, and the weird Wheelies, and wonder just how many kicks to a shin would it take to take down a turn of the century French fighter?
Games covered in this episode:
- Alien Syndrome
- Bob Winner
- Scout
- Gryzor
- Wheelies
- Pandora
- Echelon
Find us here:
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
Additional links mentioned in the Podcast:
https://db.hfsplay.fr/files/2020/07/16/Manual_EqiWeJv.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6zYf33Yi9E&ab_channel=MatthewR
https://archive.org/details/Commodore64Manuals/Echelon%20%28USA%29%20%28Maps%29/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/Commodore64Manuals/Echelon%20%28USA%29%20%28Side%20A%29/mode/2up

Monday Jan 09, 2023
Zapped to the Past Presents - Battle of the Pilots Episode 3
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Monday Jan 09, 2023
In episode three 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 three, we have chosen two mid 70s mostly British cult sci-fi shows - the darkly dystopian Blake’s 7 vs the brightly nihilistic Space 1999… let battle commence!

Sunday Dec 25, 2022
Zapped to the Past - Ask The Podcast 3 Special
Sunday Dec 25, 2022
Sunday Dec 25, 2022
Here’s the third of our ‘Ask the Podcast’ specials where we tackle some of the questions asked by our Patrons in our exclusive Discord Channel. If you wish to pose us your own questions then you can do so by signing up to our Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/zappedtothepast
We did say that we were not going to release anything over the Christmas break, but we thought this might make a nice present for you all. So, enjoy this bumper lot of questions whilst sitting in a post Christmas lunch fug of purest brown.
Find us here:
Please visit the website of David Hearne Writer - another of our amazing show sponsors:

Monday Dec 19, 2022
Zapped to the Past Episode 91 June 1988
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Monday Dec 19, 2022
In the month of June 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode ninety-one of Zapped to the Past, we start our look at some of those games, including the torturous Three Stooges, the vexing Vampire Empire, and the tittersome Train Robbers, and wonder why would robots be built with smell receptors…?
Games covered in this episode:
- Impossible Mission 2
- Lee Enfield in the Tournament of Death
- The Three Stooges
- Train Robbers
- Vampire’s Empire
- Subterranea
- Oh No!
Find us here:
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
Additional links mentioned in the Podcast:
https://www.c64tapes.com/magazines/view/7c7722b8-62e2-11ea-af7e-a93e38613b08
http://www.c64sets.com/set.html?id=18
http://www.c64sets.com/set.html?id=21
https://www.discogs.com/release/2157858-DJ-Food-Raiding-The-20th-Century-Words-Music-Expansion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg_UFb1rEGc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyTC_fzy1eo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRc8a_ju4Zw

Monday Dec 12, 2022
Zapped to the Past Episode 90 May 1988
Monday Dec 12, 2022
Monday Dec 12, 2022
In the month of May 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode ninety of Zapped to the Past, we conclude our look at some of those games, including the heroic Herobotix, the repetitive Rimrunner and the superfluous Stealth Mission, and wonder why would anyone let Ted Rogers lend a hand in designing their game…?
Games covered in this episode:
- Stealth Mission
- Blood Valley
- Impact
- Troll
- Power at Sea
- Rimrunner
- TerraMex
- Herobotix
Find us here:
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
Additional links mentioned in the Podcast:
https://www.flightsimbooks.com/jfs2/chapter8.php
https://gamebooks.org/Series/124/Show
https://www.mocagh.org/miscgame/bloodvalley-manual.pdf
http://www.c64sets.com/set.html?id=95
https://archive.org/details/powerseausa
https://www.dancarlin.com/hardcore-history-series/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9KrObInUrI&ab_channel=petsasjim1
https://www.mobygames.com/game/herobotix/cover-art/gameCoverId,659547/

Monday Dec 05, 2022
Zapped to the Past Episode 89 May 1988
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Monday Dec 05, 2022
In the month of May 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode eighty-nine of Zapped to the Past, we continue our look at some of those games, including the platformy Pac-Land, the turgid Top Fuel Challenge and the calamitous Championship Sprint, and wonder what started the great Gravy Wars of 1992…?
Games covered in this episode:
- Pac-Land
- Tanium
- Wolfman
- Corporation
- The Halls of the Things
- Championship Sprint
- Top Fuel Challenge
- Prowler
Find us here:
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
Additional links mentioned in the Podcast:
https://www.mocagh.org/miscgame/wolfman-manual.pdf
https://archive.org/details/Commodore64Manuals/Corporation%2C%20The%20%28USA%29/page/n1/mode/2up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITV_Telethon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XFWUTdvCTY&ab_channel=CE
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumbledown
https://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/halls-of-the-things/cover-art

Monday Nov 28, 2022
Zapped to the Past Episode 88 May 1988
Monday Nov 28, 2022
Monday Nov 28, 2022
In the month of May 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode eighty-eight of Zapped to the Past, we continue our look at some of those games, including the sublime Samurai Warrior, the grimy GunSmoke and the crafty Card Sharks and wonder who thought the NR button on old stereos was a good idea…?
Games covered in this episode:
- Samurai Warrior: The Battles of Usagi Yojimbo
- Gunsmoke
- UCM
- Geebee Air Rally
- Card Sharks
- Rockford
- ATF
- Rolling Thunder
Find us here:
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
Additional links mentioned in the Podcast:
https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games80/the-making-of-samurai-warrior-the-battles-of-usagi-yojimbo/
https://archive.org/details/Gee_Bee_Air_Rally_1987_Activision
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ02nAt1G6U&ab_channel=garret
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ2fKyGFk-U&ab_channel=Metaldog38%27sHomeOfMetal

Monday Nov 21, 2022
Zapped to the Past Episode 87 May 1988
Monday Nov 21, 2022
Monday Nov 21, 2022
In the month of May 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode eighty-seven of Zapped to the Past, we start our look at some of those games, including the cataclysmic The Chernobyl Syndrome, the shoddy Sabotage, and the festering Frightmare, and wonder how do you keep score in a game of Jai Alai…
Games covered in this episode:
- Cybernoid
- Time Fighter
- Frightmare
- The Chernobyl Syndrome
- The Revenge of Doh (Arkanoid 2)
- Sabotage
- Bedlam
- Professional BMX Simulator
Find us here:
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
Additional links mentioned in the Podcast:
https://www.gamesdatabase.org/Media/SYSTEM/Microsoft_DOS/manual/Formated/Frightmare.pdf
https://www.c64copyprotection.com/chernobyl-manual-code/
https://www.c64copyprotection.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Chernobyl.pdf
https://www.avclub.com/in-a-1987-video-game-chernobyl-s-nuclear-reactor-was-n-1838124865
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Nuclear_Event_Scale
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHyjXEuyqX4
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._Pepper_Knew_My_Father
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdrav2VVkGY&ab_channel=MireilleQuesnel
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/nov/17/derek-b-obituary
https://www.whosampled.com/sample/331133/Derek-B-Bad-Young-Brother-Beastie-Boys-Rhymin-%26-Stealin/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUMXQgy0sas&ab_channel=fritz51315
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE5GGMhmo-M&ab_channel=HeartVEVO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlQfSlbeNas&ab_channel=KimWildeVEVO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXEN57rFnIM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu1-wx7Wao0&ab_channel=LetThereBeRock31
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1lvnbTZE-Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVXgPH0XiaE&ab_channel=LiSSONPRODUCTION
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYweHGwASKU&ab_channel=GloriaEstefanVEVO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIt3OGra3Lo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qghRdMpoVOE&ab_channel=whitneyhoustonVEVO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEFZ2hHn40w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKdQPDZ63DA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfKIq1Pmc8Q&ab_channel=BruceHornsbyVEVO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTUlg__sVYo&ab_channel=DepecheMode
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIYeNkFNavQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6hLGXBsk6o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4ZWD_0VRK8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJWsDpA909c&ab_channel=TheArkive