SIDERAXIS [C64]

What it is

SIDERAXIS is a turn-based sci-fi tactics game for the Commodore 64, distributed as a disk image. You explore a silent lunar station where a rogue security AI has turned the crew into armed sentries. Your goal is to fight through 25 handcrafted sectors across nine decks, reach the Bridge, and destroy the Station Core.

From the developer

In the developer’s own words, from zapakitul.itch.io.

THE STATION HAS GONE SILENT.

Turn-based sci-fi tactics for the Commodore 64. 25 sectors. Nine decks. One rogue Station Core.

A remote station orbiting the Moon has stopped responding. You arrive to find its security AI in control and the crew turned into armed sentries.

Fight your way from the docking bays through medical wards, research labs, reactor decks and overgrown hydroponics. Search the side rooms for supplies, reach the Bridge and terminate the hostile signal.

Think before you move. Turning to aim is free. Moving, firing and waiting advance the fight. A sentry with a clear firing lane can shoot on that same turn.

25 handcrafted sectors across nine decks. Compact supply rooms give way to scrolling arenas, locked bulkheads, pits and dangerous crossings.

Make every round count. Collect ammo and medkits, upgrade your pistol and recover keys from defeated sentries. A door you unlock stays unlocked.

Cover changes the fight. Break crates for supplies, cut off a firing lane with a door and choose your next crossing carefully. Shots can destroy loose pickups too.

Take down the Station Core. The final enemy fires spreading volleys and repositions between attacks. Find a safe angle, then make your shot.

Native C64 character graphics and sound effects. Isometric rooms, distinct deck palettes, arrival transmissions and a final mission-complete screen.

Face first, move second. Press a direction to turn; press it again to move one tile. Fire along the direction you face.

Action C64 keyboard Face / move W / A / S / D Fire SPACE Use a door or lift E Gear I or F1 Wait one turn Period (.) Pause / back RUN/STOP

Joystick: port 2. Use the stick to face or move and Fire to shoot. Fire + Up uses doors and lifts; Fire + Down opens gear; Fire + Right pauses. Fire confirms menu choices.

The C64 edition uses a sideraxis.D64 disk image. Mount it in drive 8 in VICE, then load:

LOAD"SIDERAXIS",8,1 RUN Keep the disk mounted: rooms load as you explore. PAL and NTSC have been tested in VICE.

Save when you choose. Select Save and Main Menu to write your progress. Continue resumes from the same writable disk. Death or victory clears that checkpoint.

A Bearded Giant Games production.

Check out our other projects on beardedgiantgames.com

Editor takes

JunoThe Puzzle Purist

“The turn-to-aim, move, and fire rules are spelled out clearly, and the 'a door you unlock stays unlocked' promise makes the puzzle logic feel fair, though the sentry firing-lane tactics will reward careful reading.”

TheoThe Number Cruncher

“Upgrading the pistol, collecting ammo and medkits, and recovering keys from sentries sets up a readable resource loop across 25 sectors, though the listing doesn't show how the upgrades scale.”

KaiThe Speedrunner

“Turning costs nothing while moving, firing and waiting each advance the fight, so the pacing feels deliberate and the C64 keyboard and joystick controls look crisp on paper.”

How to play

Move one tile at a time with the keyboard or joystick; turning to aim is free, while moving, firing, and waiting advance the turn. Fire along the direction you face, and use doors, lifts, and your gear inventory to manage the fight. Recover keys, ammo, and medkits from defeated sentries to keep progressing.

Tips

Turn to aim without spending a turn, so line up shots before committing to movement.
Watch sentry firing lanes: a sentry with a clear line can shoot on the same turn you enter it.
Use doors to cut off firing lanes and control how enemies approach.
Break crates for supplies, but remember that shots can also destroy loose pickups.
Search side rooms and recover keys from defeated sentries to unlock new areas.

Questions

Is SIDERAXIS free?

No, it costs $3.99 USD or more on itch.io.

Which platforms does it run on?

It is a Commodore 64 disk image, playable on Windows, macOS, and Linux through the VICE emulator.

How do I load the game?

Mount the sideraxis.D64 disk image in drive 8 in VICE, then type LOAD"SIDERAXIS",8,1 and RUN.

Can I save my progress?

Yes. Select Save and Main Menu to write your progress, then Continue resumes from the same writable disk. Death or victory clears that checkpoint.

Does it work on both PAL and NTSC systems?

Yes, both PAL and NTSC have been tested in VICE.

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