Boom - Special Edition
A downloadable shooter for Windows and Linux
The sky over Blue Moon is on fire. Alarm sirens shatter the silence of the night. The evil creatures that lurked in the shadows are now forced into the open. You are already in the cockpit – no tutorials, no second chances. The enemy armada stretches across the stars, turning entire sectors into graveyards. They’ve got more fighters, more weapons, more power – and huge, grotesque overlords, made of metal and flesh. You’ve got … well, let’s just say your warranty doesn’t cover this. Every enemy wave is faster, tighter, deadlier. Snatch precious power-ups, find those upgrades that transform survival into domination… and let those beasts regret showing up. The odds are ridiculous, the danger is real–and that’s exactly why you’ll keep coming back. Survive, adapt, and maybe make it till the end … before the fire consumes everything.
Boom Special Edition is a remastered, enhanced version of BOOM - a 1993 homage to Katakis. It nearly fell into oblivion – through a twist of bad luck, it almost got crossed out of history. The delta between the original and this new edition is a true game changer: Up to 50 times faster loading thanks to cartridge adaptation, and three new difficulty levels. Now, everyone can make BOOM match their personal skill. Find out if you got what it takes …
Features:
- Traditional side scrolling Katakis style shooter
- Exciting weapon systems unseen in other C64 shooters
- 14 life threatenigng boss fights
- Unique two player modes (for example, swap control every few seconds - or 2nd player controls extra weapon)
- Digitalized music and sound effects (boom!)
Special Edition Features:
- Complete overhaul of the game engine with a plethora of technical fixes
- More accessible and more balanced gameplay in this carefully crafted special edition
- Additional introductory level graphics
- Quicker loading process with the ability to skip passive sequences
- Cartridge adaptation
For PAL Commodore 64 systems.
Purchase
In order to download this shooter you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $5.99 USD. You will get access to the following files:
Comments
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There’s just something about Boom fast-paced action, colorful presentation, and that unmistakable Commodore vibe that makes it endlessly enjoyable. It’s definitely not an easy game - it can be quite challenging - but that’s exactly what makes it so rewarding. Players who enjoy a tough, skill-based experience will find themselves coming back again and again thanks to its addictive gameplay loop.
I actually own the collector’s edition, and it’s a really nice piece to have - great packaging, a bit of nostalgia, and it just feels special to hold something physical. That said, I’d still absolutely recommend the download version to anyone curious. It’s a very cheap alternative, super easy to get running, and you still get the full experience without missing out on what makes the game fun.
Whether you’re revisiting it or trying it for the first time, it’s definitely worth your time.
A very good shoot'em up. I added it to my video along with other games released in March.
Love the remake of Boom & one of the very best shoot em ups on the C64, The game feels so much balanced now than the previous no bugs at all, thank you so much Malte you have done an incredible job on such an amazing game, special thanks to Frank and Andre Hugenroth
This game need more polish
I am curious abort the backstory of the Special Addition?
Great shooter! Here’s some gameplay from my MiSTer (SID 6581 as recommended).
Awesome game!
Love the game! Bought the digital version to try the game while waiting for the physical version I ordered.
But the game is either really difficult even in the easy mode or I'm just rubbish at these kind of games!
I'm confused...platforms Windows, Linux.
It doesn't run on a real C64?
Hi. It's a 'C64 Binary' image, so you get a .CRT file (EasyFlash Format). It should run on devices attached to a real CBM64 such as: EFIII, KungFU Flash, Ultimate 1541 II+. I run it on my EFIII Cartridge on my 1984 PAL CBM64.
That sounds great and i will buy the game now. Thank you for your reply.
Since there was no comment here about it NOT working or working with TheC64 or other emulators, i thought it would work, so i purchased it, it locked up on the first screen.
Edit: game works good in PAL mode on TheC64! Problem solved!
It works fine with Vice and Denise because that’s how we reviewed it for Zzap. I’m not sure any of us have TheC64 etc to try it. If we do find issues we do report them to the devs.
The game runs great on TheC64 once switched from NTSC to PAL. Once a match was played and it returned to option screen the settings do not work, to start a new game. Once i quit the game and restarted it, it works fine again. Im glad i got the game now, very nice game play.
Make sure you have your emulator in PAL mode otherwise it freezes. PAL mode works with no problems on c64.emu.
Yes that solved the problem! thank you so much. The game is working very well in PAL mode, couple of small things still happened, after finishing a game and losing all ships it goes back to main menu and nothing works but the music playing, leaving the game and restarting the game and it works fine again, but it runs really well besides this, thanks again.
I shall be purchasing this when I get paid on the 9th. Looking forward to it!
I’d like to take a moment to speak up for Boom. I’m probably a textbook example of someone who truly admires shoot-’em-ups but simply isn’t very good at playing them. In Katakis I fail before even reaching the first boss, and in Metal Dust I’m lucky if I make it past the first big asteroid. Joystick acrobatics just aren’t my strength. I usually prefer strategy, exploration, or puzzle-solving without time pressure — in other words, the exact opposite of what classic shoot-’em-ups tend to demand. And yet, I supported Boom by buying it. What has been achieved here is genuinely impressive.
I personally went for the boxed edition. Unboxing it was a joy. The package is beautifully designed, the manual presents itself as a stylish “Pilot’s Guide,” there’s an SD card, strictly confidential bonus material (which I probably shouldn’t elaborate on), a poster, a photo of the coders — which, by the way, I took myself at DoReCo — and of course the cartridge containing the heavily enhanced version of the game. I plugged it in right away. Even though the game’s origins go back many years, everything feels surprisingly fresh. Great music, no loading times, and the right atmosphere from the very first second.
That said, all of this is just the lovely packaging around it. What really matters is the game itself — and that’s exactly the same experience you get with the download version.
As a non-expert in this genre, I naturally chose “Easy” mode — and off the mission goes. On my very first attempt, I reached the end of the first level and even defeated the boss. Oh yeah! A small personal victory. I didn’t get far into level two on my first try, but still.
The game is extremely well balanced. On “Easy,” even players like me can progress quite far without using trainers or cheats. It remains challenging, but never frustrating. That allows me to explore the levels, appreciate the graphics, enjoy the soundtrack, and really take in all the action happening on screen.
So I can wholeheartedly recommend this game. If you’re a true joystick virtuoso, you can tackle “Insane.” That enables the original version, which is truly insane to master. Everyone else can choose “Easy,” “Medium,” or “Hard.” That way, anyone can support and enjoy this project with a clear conscience, regardless of their individual skill level in this genre. The extensive modifications of the original game were absolutely the right call. It makes the game playable for guys like me. And the true joystick acrobats can still choose the "insane" level and save the universe this way.
Well, you just convinced me to buy the game next payday!