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The C64 Is the Best Commodore 64 Emulator Out There
And I’ve tried them all
Anyone who truly loves technology can likely trace their passion back to one key piece of hardware, one defining gadget that sparked their curiosity, excitement, and the motivation to learn more. Hands down, for me, that inspirational machine was the Commodore 64 personal computer. As a lucky fifth grader, I spent as much of my spare time as my parents allowed programming in basic, hand coding Machine Language programs from Compute! Magazine, downloading and playing games from Bulletin Board Systems, and ultimately getting into a considerable amount of hot water (for a seventh grader) complete with a visit from the FBI. That’s a story for another time.
I’ve dabbled in emulating the Commodore 64 on the PC, the Mac, and the Raspberry Pi throughout the years. Ultimately, however, I found the experience to be underwhelming for one key reason: The unique keyboard is nearly as important to the grand Commodore 64 experience as the games played on it. It is for that reason that I am overjoyed that Retro Games created the C64, a $129.99 emulation device inside of a fully functional replica of the original Commodore 64 design. This baby takes me back.
Right out of the box, the C64 brought a nerdy smile to my face, like I was reuniting with an old friend who I hadn’t seen since junior high. Upon pulling the machine out of the box, I noticed that it was lighter than I remembered, perhaps a bit hollow as well. Was I really judging this machine for weighing less than the original? This is modern technology, and let’s be real: The computer inside is a fraction of the size of the original’s motherboard and components. You are forgiven, old friend. You turn the computer on with a simple power button and not the power switch found on the original. It’s a bit less satisfying and one of the few indications that some of these components are of lesser quality. However, none of this is to say that the C64 feels “cheap,” just that there are some concessions made on the C64, and thankfully they aren’t deal-breakers.
