Videogame Review, Mr. Do’s Castle for the Commodore 64 (w/ Atari 7800 Joystick)

Videogame Review, Mr. Do’s Castle for the Commodore 64 (w/ Atari 7800 Joystick)

The difference between a C64 version and an Atari 5200 version of Mr. Do’s Castle is like the comparison on Bowser to Mario.  In particular, the 5200 version is sort of a combination of graphics from the Atari 5200 and the Atari 2600, the second console being the most popular; due to the nature of surprises there’s a likelihood that fans of the Atari 2600 may want something like their old, favorite system, and the Atari 5200 version of Mr. Do’s Castle will make people like them smile if they can handle the controls (although I doubt it).  My Commodore 64 plays Mr. Do’s Castle in a totally different fashion.  Flags are fluttering on top of the castle, each flag with an emblem for Mr. Do’s purpose of getting another life for fighting unicorns with a hammer.  Don’t worry.  There’s no blood, sweat, and tears to this game.  Everything in the program reminds me of a spelling game where you have to spell someone’s name in order to proceed on ridiculous-looking enemies.  Unicorns in this C64 version are funny, silly, bright, and cheerful despite the fact each one is coming after Mr. Do for trying to spell his name from hitting keys and cherry blocks.  No Atari 2600 graphics can be seen here: no blobs, no unidentifiable objects.  You see, the Atari 5200 version has its strength from relating to gamers who are familiar of both the Atari 2600 graphics and the Atari 5200 graphics.  Maybe players will want to go after the 5200 version more out of nostalgia in terms of graphics even if I’m sure they’re going to like the Atari 5200 joystick less; that’s because the old concept of joysticks used to be “push or pull” rather than “concentrate your efforts”, and so the 5200 joystick (because it requires concentration rather than just pushing or pulling) isn’t as adequate for an old-fashioned gamer compared to the Atari 2600 joystick.  The Atari 2600 joystick is a classic known to gamers today although the Atari 7800 joystick has a following also.  My gold Atari 7800 joystick controls Mr. Do’s Castle very well since movements are quick, easy features to the chaos hitting Mr. Do’s castle where unicorns can be as stubborn as goats while being approached with a manageable hammer.  Do you like My Little Pony?  If you do you’re going to love the bright moods exhibited by the unicorns lingering in herds or straying like cats.  I’ve tried doing bad moves with my Atari 7800 joystick on purpose- I’ve tilted here, I’ve tilted there, I’ve hit firing buttons with pointing fingers and precision thumbs, but, alas, my attempt at failing has failed due to the game’s success at providing Mr. Do with the right steps in gameplay for which unicorns may pardon him at times and give in to his special “blinking door” move.  We have to gather 3 keys before the unicorns can be romped and spell out Mr. Do’s name.  Really, I can rotate my 7800 joystick in every way possible and not get into negative problems on control.  Parker Brothers did their best for both the C64 version and the Atari 5200 version of Mr. Do’s Castle although my belief is that analog (like what’s in the 5200 joystick) has to be applied when the boot fits, and that digital (like what’s in the 7800 joystick) has to be applied when, once again, the boot fits.  A game can be a boot.  Analog is nice for games that require precision in movements like River Raid and Super Breakout during the digital controller’s use for maximum, immediate movements apparent in games like Asteroids and Mr. Do’s Castle: the game I’m reviewing here.  A lot of games don’t really matter as far as type between analog or digital such as Pac-Man, Q*bert, Frogger, and the like, during my gameplay with Mr. Do’s Castle for the Atari 7800 joystick, made from gold contacts by Best Electronics located in California with their own website.  Right now I’m dealing with Best Electronics to get an Atari 5200 motherboard fixed and hope to be getting back at Blue Print soon.  Don’t worry though.  A lot of games on the Atari 5200 work really good with its analog joystick.  I just note exceptions, including Mr. Do!’s Castle (that game’s in fact the only exception I’ve come across thus far).  But the C64 version has beautiful graphics and alluring, conflicted music.  Ladders are detailed where the bridges meet the keys into a spelling bee for lives.  Mr. Do himself looks great on both versions even if there’s a difference between the crinkle-look of the C64 version and the doll-like appearance of the Atari 5200 version.  Unicorns?  Well, I believe Mr. Do’s Castle failed as an arcade machine.  When I first played the game I had no idea what was going on or what the unicorns and Mr. Do were doing.  Mr. Do, doing, get it!?  The program is a bright, excellent game which fits the home market better since the instructions included with the home- or computer-console packages explain the whole ordeal.  As such the Commodore 64 version is a complete and total surprise on graphics while the Atari 5200 version is a complete and total surprise on controls.  So what’s the best version?  It all depends on a nostalgic gamer’s habits.  

     

https://youtu.be/ObVnujMfQXs