Sidewinder II

Sidewinder II - the 1988 vertical shoot ‘em up for Commodore 64 from Mastertronic.

Pilot a high-speed fighter through waves of alien craft and ground defenses,
dodging fire and collecting power-ups across scrolling battle zones.

Core loop
- fly upward through enemy-filled stages
- shoot aerial and ground targets
- collect weapon upgrades and survive to next wave

Systems and items
- power-ups - enhance fire rate or spread
- fuel gauge - constant drain requiring pickups
- smart bombs - clear screen of enemies in emergencies

Level design and feel
Continuous vertical scrolling with dense enemy patterns and narrow safe zones.
Each stage ends with tougher formations or boss encounters.

Why it is notable
- sequel to the budget hit “Sidewinder” from Mastertronic
- improved graphics and smoother scrolling on the C64
- notable for balanced difficulty and arcade pacing

Tips
- conserve smart bombs for sudden ambushes
- prioritize fuel pickups over weapon upgrades
- stay slightly off-center to dodge incoming fire

At a glance
Year - 1988
Developer - Mastertronic
Design and programming - Colin Dooley
Graphics - Chris Harvey
Music - David Whittaker
Publisher - Mastertronic
Genre - Vertical shooter
Players - 1
Controls - Joystick in port 2