Dick Tracy

Dick Tracy - the 1990 action adventure for Commodore 64 from Titus
Software.

Play as detective Dick Tracy on a citywide hunt for Big Boy Caprice and
his gang, solving crimes through car chases, shootouts, and clue
gathering.

Core loop
- patrol city streets in your squad car to track suspects
- exit the car to enter buildings, collect clues, and arrest criminals
- interrogate witnesses to link evidence and identify the culprit
- defeat armed gangsters in side-scrolling combat scenes

Systems and items
- top-down driving - navigate between crime scenes while avoiding
pedestrians and rival cars
- action stages - side-view gunfights and arrests inside buildings
- notebook system - manage clues and suspects logically
- limited ammo - careful aim rewarded during encounters

Level design and feel
Alternates between open-city exploration and interior shootouts. The
C64 version blends smooth driving sequences with slower investigation
phases, capturing the noir feel of Tracy’s 1930s comic world.

Why it is notable
- adaptation of the 1990 Warren Beatty film and classic comic strip
- hybrid of action and detective gameplay rarely seen on 8-bit systems
- notable for its large city map and multiple case paths

Tips
- take notes on clue details—linking them correctly solves cases
- avoid excessive car damage; repairs cost valuable time
- conserve ammo by using melee attacks in early fights

At a glance
Year - 1990
Developer - Titus Software
Design and programming - Eric Caen - Hervé Caen
Graphics - Philippe Dessoly
Music - Frédéric Motte
Publisher - Titus Software
Genre - Action adventure
Players - 1
Controls - Joystick in port 2 - keyboard for notebook and options