StingerNPT gets ultra mega props for those games he just mentioned. I played every one of those games. In particular, I loved Turrican 1 and 2.

Ah, the hazy rose-tinted recollection of the years before reaching double figures: climbing trees, running about, waiting ten minutes for the data to be loaded from the C64's tapes, as my sisters played their eighties music (such as The Bangles). Sometimes when loading the tapes you would be treated to some awesome 8-bit music, and maybe some artwork. Some games even had minigames to play as you waited, such as a space invaders clone.

Other C64 games worth mentioning are:

The Shoot 'Em Up Construction Kit - a very powerful tool at the time. The user had complete control over the graphics, sounds, level design, enemies, attack patterns, and so on. I spent so much time creating sprites and animations. Looking back, this game would have been partially responsible for the concept art career path I've undertaken.

Rollaround - a brutally unforgiving puzzle game, where you had to navigate your mysterious ball over a serious of perilous platforms. The aim was to roll over a certain number of coloured squares. When you rolled over a square, if you attempted to go back over the same square, it would collapse. There were also enemies patrolling, and the level design made things challenging.

Creatures 1 and 2 - these games were brilliant. Few other titles could match the visuals of these games at the time. You played as a little fire-breathing furry critter, trying to rescue other furry critters from evil demons. After completing a series of platforming levels, you would be faced with a 'torture screen.' These were elaborate setups the demons had devised in order to dispose of one of the critters. It was fun even to lose, as you would be treated to an amusing and gory animation of the creatures getting killed (such as getting joyously hacked to bits by a grinning, chainsaw wielding demon).

I take that to mean you drew your avatar? Bloody hell.

Creatures, how could I forget that one. The little fuzzy wuzzies were glorious. I particularly liked the sequel because it was based around the torture screens!

You are spot on about the loading music and games, it was quality stuff. The loading games sometimes seemed better that the game itself.

The Last Ninja 2 on C64. I remember actually using my feet on the keyboard whilst using the joystick on the final boss stage. There was simply too many inputs needed all at the same time in order to defeat him and those bloody candles kept going out! As for that fan that blew you off the ledge, don't even go there. This guy makes it look all too easy. BAH!

Did... Did you just find possibly one of my most favourite games ever, i.e. Future Cop LAPD.

How did I allow myself to forget such an awesome game?!?

Aww Mad. That music killed my ears.

Bu... but that music, it IS good!

Yeeeeaah... Let's say that.

Elite and Dungeon Master, lost many hours to both of those games during my schooling.

Any games by the Bitmap Brothers on the Amiga/ST.

A few more old games I have remembered:

Ghost 'N' Goblins - Sideways scrolling shooter, with stunning music.

New Zealand Story - Platform action with again excellent music and ultra-cute characters.

Knightmare - Not a stunning game but complemented the ITV Series of the same name (one of my childhood favourites, anyone remember this?).

Paperboy - Played this at Blackpool and Skegness arcades and then latterly on my home computer, YA!

Operation Wolf - Stunning shooter, which like paperboy played at the arcades first. This was enhanced by a gun bolted onto the arcade machine.

Elivira: Mistress Of The Dark - This was a later game I had (I think for my Amiga, not C64). A quality adventure game, with nice artwork graphics.

Try to remember more soon...