One Game, Three More Computers: Sea Dragon Part 2

Today I am looking at one game on 3 more computers. I am looking at the game Sea Dragon on DOS, the Commodore 64, and the TRS-80 Model 1. These games combined with the versions from the last video will show you all of the versions available, which one will be your favorite? Which one is my favorite?

#DOSGames #Commodore64 #TRS80Model1

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Time Stamps
0:00 Intro
2:01 Game Play DOS
3:37 Game Play TRS80 Model 1/3
5:02 Game Play Commodore 64
7:12 Grading The DOS Version
11:07 Grading The TRS80 Model 1/2
15:20 Grading The Commodore 64
19:43 Retro Rewind
20:15 And The Winner Is…

[retrotechnerd]

Hmm funny how both Tandy versions came out on top.

[IrishCarney]

"Waters, Waters, and Waters" 🤣. And as a fellow TRS-80 fanboy I got to say I'm glad the two TRS-80 versions made it to the finals to duel it out. And while I was a CoCo kid myself and appreciate the music in the CoCo version's intro screen, I have to admit that the OG Model I version has a lot of charm, plus seems to run more smoothly. I've always had a soft spot for semi-graphics style games, partly because the crisp text for the score, life, and other counter labels is so satisfying amid the various graphics.

[IrishCarney]

16:30 "a radar sound" - you meant sonar

[IsaacKuo]

The TRS-80 version is the one I have the most nostalgia for, thanks to TRS-80 Model III school computers. I can't speak of subtleties in the other versions, but the TRS-80 version teaches you a keen sense of navigation when faced with forced scrolling.

See, the forced scrolling speed is equal to your reverse movement speed. That means you can't backtrack no matter what - and the screen edge forcing you forward can kill you! That very first vertical tunnel ... if you had been doing the intuitive thing of hanging back ... sorry, you're dead.

The point is - you have to move forward when you get the chance, even though this means less of a chance to react to what's ahead and less time to shoot mines and stuff.

It's just a really mentally engaging game design.

[IrishCarney]

You'd think the C64 version could at least manage a "spinning propeller" animation like the DOS version did. It only takes two sprites flipping back and forth

[RacerX-]

For sure the C64 version for its smoother scrolling and slightly better sound. It was pretty common in the 82-84 era for there to be half hearted ports to the C64. Adventure international is no stranger to that... The TRS-80 version was available in our High School so I thought it was pretty decent for a TRS-80 game given the limitation of the TRS-80 line with basically black and white and no bitmapped graphics.

[sinjinhawke]

That's interesting as I actually enjoy the Atari version. I think it looks great, has a lot of depth (deep booms) to the audio and I like the sluggishness as moving through water should be sluggish (at least my expectation is it should be). Though I do like the retro look and feel of the TRS80 version.

[IrishCarney]

I do think you gave the sound in the DOS version a bit of short shrift. In particular the sound effect of refilling the air supply is pretty neat. [EDIT: I got confused and mistook setting off the superbomb for refilling your air, because the dial on the air supply meter moved, drawing my eye]