Dick Tracy (Commodore 64)

Dick Tracy is a particularly notorious game in the Commodore 64 library. Released in an incomplete state with work done by a first-time programmer caught in a looming deadline, it received a very cold reception from press and players alike, including an 11% rating from Commodore Format, their lowest ever for a full-price release.

As for the gameplay, it can be best described as "press right and fire to win" without much action or depth, even compared to the game's releases for other computer systems (which were themselves also released in an unfinished state, though the C64 version was worse in this regard; an Apple IIGS version was scrapped entirely).

Unused Graphics#

There are many sprites that are loaded in memory which refer to states and enemies that, while seen in other versions, aren't used here.

Enemies#

From $4900 are the sprites for the surrendering boss at the end of the stage (which, incidentally, shares the same design as one of the common enemies in the game, with a different palette). Notably, there's a sprite for the lower half of the body that is different from what is seen, which is taken from the cop character instead. Furthermore, there's a variant of this boss facing right at $5500, but it never gets seen either.

Notably, this unused lower body does not align, as it is aligned to the right rather than to the center like the top half is, so its position was adjusted.

Unused	Mockup	Used

Furthermore, at $4980, is an unused, different surrendering boss sprite which borrows the design of a different common enemy. A mirrored version is also present, at $5580.

From $4A00 (facing left) / $5600 (facing right) are sprites of a window gangster enemy. These enemies were supposed to appear in some early levels, shooting at the player from above.

From $4BC0 (facing left) / $57C0 (facing right) are proper dying sprites for the common enemies.

From $4D40 (facing left) / $5940 (facing right) are more sprites for a dynamite stick-throwing enemy...

...and at $4E40 (facing left) / $5A40 (facing right) are sprites for the dynamite sticks itselves.

Dick Tracy#

Starting from $B080 (facing right) / $FC80 (facing left) are sprites of Dick Tracy reloading a gun.

Immediately after, at $B100 (facing right) / $FD00 (facing left), are sprites for him jumping.

Right afterwards, at $B140 (facing right) / $FD40 (facing left), are sprites for him getting damage.

Then, at $B180 (facing right) / $FD80 (facing left), are sprites for him punching. For whatever reason, a sprite of him holding a gun is used instead.

At $D000 (facing right) / $B400 (facing left) are sprites for Tracy holding a rifle diagonally.

At $D100 (facing right) / $B500 (facing left) are sprites for him shooting it upwards.

At $D340 (facing right) / $B740 (facing left) are sprites for him kicking.

At $D3C0 (facing right) / $B800 (facing left) are sprites for him shooting a gun upwards.

...and at $D500 (facing right) / $B900 (facing left) are sprites for him preparing to kick.

At $D600 (facing right) / $BA00 (facing left) are more sprites for Tracy holding a rifle diagonally.

Finally, at $DF80 (facing right) / $FB80 (facing left) is another set of Tracy holding a rifle diagonally.

References#