In their latest video, the C64 Appreciation Society breaks down Defender of the Crown, the influential strategy game from Cinemaware, ported to the Commodore 64 in 1987. The focus is squarely on gameplay, design choices, and how well the title holds up nearly four decades after its original Amiga release.
Set in 1149 England, Defender of the Crown casts you as a Saxon lord with one job: crush the Normans, unite the land, and, preferably, look good doing it in pixel chainmail. The king is dead, the throne is vacant, and every turn counts. The game mixes turn-based empire building with bold action segments—think catapults, jousting, and sword fights. Because when diplomacy fails, hitting someone with a lance usually works.
The C64 port of Defender of the Crown trims some of the Amiga version’s flair but keeps the core intact. Strategy fans will find plenty to chew on, especially when it comes to army building and choosing which territories to risk or reinforce. The video doesn’t just explain the mechanics—it shows why the experience still engages, even with 8-bit limitations. The tension between resource management and impulsive decisions is part of what makes Defender of the Crown so memorable.
If you’ve never played it, or you remember it more for its cinematic title screen than the actual gameplay, this review makes a strong case for firing up the C64 again. Or at least loading a .d64 file without feeling guilty.
