Moonfall

Moonfall is a space combat and trading sim released in 1991 by 21st Century Entertainment, originally for the Commodore 64. The game was then ported to Amiga and Atari ST.

The game was designed by Jukka Tapanimäki, who also developed the Commodore 64 version. The game is a space trading and combat simulation that attempted to carve its own niche in a genre dominated by heavyweights like Elite and Mercenary.

At its heart, Moonfall drops the player into a futuristic setting where exploration, trade, and survival are the central themes. Unlike Elite, which emphasized open-world freedom and procedurally generated galaxies, Moonfall was more structured, offering a mission-based progression that gradually unfolded the universe and its dangers. The game also introduced narrative and character interaction elements more in line with Mercenary, adding a sense of purpose and context to the player's journey.

The original Commodore 64 version was an impressive technical effort, with stunning visuals and mechanics that managed to capture the spirit of the game. The color of the sky changes gradually during the day, mountains and bases have a lot of variety and shapes, enemy ships are interesting and animated perfectly. Navigation took place on planetary surfaces and in orbit, using a combination of top-down and first-person views that felt immersive and advanced for the time. Combat sequences were fast and dynamic, though not as refined or deep as Elite’s complex dogfights.

The Amiga conversion stood out for its colorful, detailed graphics and smooth interface, benefiting from the machine’s superior audiovisual capabilities. The pixel art created by Mike Williams is much more detailed than the original graphics, the font and the GUI elements have a nice 3D shiny effect.

While Moonfall didn’t quite reach the legendary status of Elite, it offered a unique blend of storytelling, exploration, and strategy. It was more approachable than its competitors, with a gentler learning curve and a more guided experience. The game’s design encouraged replayability, thanks to its non-linear structure and varied missions.

Moonfall may not be the most remembered space sim of its era, but for players on the Amiga, ST, or C64 looking for an atmospheric alternative to Elite's cold, vast emptiness or Mercenary's abstract puzzles, it offered a compelling and enjoyable journey across the stars.