Game Review: Moon Ship (Commodore 64)
5/10
Load your cannons, hoist the space sails and set off through the cosmos in this dark title "Moon Ship" for the Commodore 64! This 80s classic stars Chuff Cromback, a well-natured pirate who wakes up after a 400-year coma, dreaming of sailing his ship, The Woolworths Sail, into lunar orbit to unearth buried alien treasure from Earth's infrequently frequented Moon.
The game's level design masterfully captures the vast blackness of space, offering a faithful and immersive backdrop for Chuff's adventures. As you navigate the perils of the galaxy, you'll face off against The Brieguffs, a spongy group of alienoid tyrants who roam endless space, and tirelessly try to send you off course. The backstory doesn't quite provide enough justification for their efforts or existence but they are difficult adverseries regardless.
The journey is accompanied by a jolly, melodic soundtrack of Peruvian pan-pipes, enhancing the game's charm and clear connection to the game's central designer who is a Cusco native - a town several hundred kilometres east-ish of Peru's capital 'Lima'.
"Moon Ship" is a perfected mix of space exploration and pirate lore, often blending both genres together so well that you'd be forgiven for thinking they were ever distinct in the first place.