THEC64 Mini - Black Edition... it's arrived!

In initial thoughts

In good time for Hallowe'en 2025, THEC64 Mini - Black Edition has arrived. It contains 25 post-commercial Commodore C64 games for you to enjoy (okay, one is essentailly a re-release that has been remastered in the version included). So why this new version? And isn't it just more of the same, but in a more darker colour? And as it's gone black, will you be going back?

There has been a lot of care over this relaunch. The packaging, a matte finish with spot gloss, really makes the box art pop. And unboxing is its usual treat: Retro Games Ltd (RGL) know how to package its products, giving a warm, fuzzy feeling on opening. It states proudly that this is the world's best selling mini home computer... I don't know about that. Maybe the Raspberry Pi has something to say about this, but I think what is meant is that it's done very well (I suspect RGL's best selling product to date), better than all other reimagined mini computers (RGL would know as they have cornered the market here), and it might even have done as well or better than some of those mini consoles too, from bigger companies starting with N, for instance. Now, I think THEC64 Mini is more akin to a mini console, but it does allow an external keyboard, and you can therefore write BASIC and even Assembly/Machine code on the system, but out of the box it is just a console.

The purely cosmetic keyboard is now super shiney, the power light is bright, and the power input is USB C (unlike previous editions). Like other products from RGL, no power adapter is included, however you do have a joystick and all of the cables to get you going, assuming that you have access to a HDMI television set or monitor that is. The model number, despite these changes, is still RGL001. But the big question that everyone wants to know is what about the joystick? Is it still crap?

The answer on the joystick question is a resounding NO. Not only is it fully microswitched, it's also pretty striking too, and feels much nicer to use than the early, non-microswitched efforts bundled with the original Minis (and actually, I didn't mind the old more fragile 'sticks, but this new one is much better). It won't fall apart after one game (or even event) of Daley Thompson's Decathlon for sure.

It's not just the exterior that's darkened either, the UI has been reskinned and it's all rather foreboding if I'm honest, though the bright music from all other THEC64 variants remains, and is now kind of a mismatch to the interface. I'd have liked some dank and eerie SID music to accompany the new personality of it, but I guess that would mean extra licensing and more work.

System updates

Checking the system information, we're now on firmware version 1.7, or thec64-black-1.7.0-inertia to be precise. So, without extensive testing, I'm assuming it'll do everything that's included with firmware 1.6, including Mouse the FourPlayer Adapter support, though on this variant of the console, you'll obviously require a USB hub in order to use more than two joysticks and a pen drive. This is my initial impression though, so if I'm wrong on this, I will provide an update later.

The games

The 25 games are really some of the best released, not just post-1990 releases, but best ever. Joe Gunn, one of my most favourite platform games, is still a delight to play (hint, use the onscreen keyboard to start the game with F1 for unlimited lives, though the save states kind of negate this now I guess). A list of all 25 games included may be viewed on the website linked above, so I won't mention all of them here, but I will give you a brief overview of the six best as I see it.

Conclusion

The joystick is good, the unit itself is rather dashing, there's a new UI and new firmware, and the games are excellent. What's not to like?

Well, in purely numeric terms, you may pick up a regular THEC64 Mini at not very much money, and this Black Edition is more than the original launch price of the beige original. But if you buy all of the 25 titles on the carousel, you'd probably be paying as much or more. A Pig Quest by itself would set you back €8.99. So, there is value in this. In procuring your unit you are also supporting these developers as each is no doubt paid a commission for each unit sold. So, unless you already own all of these games (and if you do, you likely already have a C64 solution that you're comfortable with using), then this is pretty good value. But here's a small complaint, some of the games start after the lush introduction sequences, so keeping A Pig Quest in mind, there is no "Piggy 18" before the title screen, which is a shame. This has something to do with how the games are loaded from the carousel, I suspect.

Looking at this new THEC64 Mini from afar, it's not a leap to imagine it as THEC16 Mini, though I think one issue with making such a device might be the lack of quality games from the Commodore 16s commercial life, and despite selling a million units or more, it was very much an entry level system. Don't get me wrong, I like the C16 and Plus/4 computers, but very clearly there are way more titles available for the C64, and way more good games too. Anyway, that aside, here are what I reckon to be the six best games included with this new edition.

Six of the best

It’s a difficult choice, is this; the team who chose the games for THEC64 Mini BE have done very well indeed. How do I get this down to six? With some controversy, no doubt.

Joe Gunn: Gold Edition

Joe Gunn has taken hours of my life. Graphically, it harks back to a simpler time, unlike Sam’s Journey, for instance, which shows the best of the C64’s VIC-II chip, Joe Gunn looks like it could have been released in 1986 or so. Look beyond the aesthetics and you have a very deep platform adventure game with some teasing puzzles along the way. Undoubtedly inspired by the famous Indiana Jones movies (the good ones, from the 1980s), this epic sports superb chip music and great gameplay. And with the save slots on THEC64 Mini, I might actually complete it this time.

Hunter's Moon Remastered

Hunter’s Moon Remastered is very much a reminder of our past, originally released in 1987 to a broad critical acclaim, and even now managing a healthy score on online outlets like https://lemon64.com. This is something of a psychedelic space-based blast fest; not quite as off the wall as some Jeff Minter games, but out there enough. On board the ship Hunter, you find yourself lost in a strange and unexplored part of the Galaxy; Hives are constantly renewed, regardless of how much fire power you use to obliterate them, and the way back home often requires a quick trigger and skilful navigation.

It's Magic 2

Perhaps not the most obvious side-scrolling platform game to be included here, but if you don’t like it, then write your own review, won't ya!

It’s Magic 2 stars Tom Cat, a cute, yellow and white upright feline who must navigate Dream Islands, a beautifully pixelated game world; collect diamonds and other goodies, and remove the roaming [and rather cute] creatures by bouncing on their heads to take them out, or avoid them altogether if you’re trying for a speed run.

Collect all diamonds to exit each level. It’s an excellent platform game with great presentation and music.

Runn 'N' Gunn

Carleton Handley’s Runn 'N' Gunn, another from the Thalamus stable, is an explorer-type scrolling shoot-em up in which you play as one of two interchangeable characters: Runn or Gunn (ah, now the title makes sense).

Runn is more agile and can do "double jumps", whilst Gunn has a more powerful arsenal; find keycards to further open up the game world in this slickly executed piece of entertainment software, containing well animated roamers and some ear-catching SID tunes.

p0 snake

It’s always nice to hear digitised speech from the SID chip, and p0 snake has some great samples along with bright and rather jolly music.

This is actually a “one button” game; and only the fire button needs apply. You control an ever hungry snake around a static screen tasked to consume food pellets. Moving clockwise by default (and to move anti-clockwise, you press the fire button), you must guide your never still snake around each level; for every food pellet consumed, your body grows, thus limiting the space left on each level. This is a really fun version of the classic Snake adding puzzle elements, and has excellent and progressive learning curve. I love it.

Knight 'N' Grail

Wide Pixel Games have come up with some really immersive C64 software, and this is definitely one of them. At first, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s a Ghosts n’ Goblins clone; let’s be clear, it is far more than this.

It seems a plodding and slow-paced game at first, with moody and atmospheric music in the background, which comes and goes so as not to be too repetitive. Unlock this sprawling game world, find different projectiles (some of which are harmless against some of your malevolent foes lurking in the game world), and save the Princess cursed to be a Dragon by finding the Grail. It’s well designed, eerie and sometimes tense, with some excellent graphics, and 200 screens to explore. Go ahead, adventurer. Be the hero you know you were born to be!