In this episode of Future Retro Fusion, we’re diving into the capabilities of the newly assembled RAD REU cartridge for the Commodore 64. This beast of a device boasts a staggering 16GB of RAM and pairs up with a Raspberry Pi to stream music, load Koala video demos, and enable instant-access gameplay—all without touching a floppy.
Right out of the gate, the RAD REU impresses by streaming audio directly from the Pi. While the Commodore 64 was never known for multitasking, this modern hardware mod allows music to play while navigating the cartridge’s expansive menu system. Once inside the REU functions, demos and audio players are instantly loaded into memory, showcasing just how fast 16 megabytes can be filled and deployed.
The cartridge doesn’t just load files quickly—it transforms the user experience. Music files play directly from memory with little to no lag. Koala video demos, normally slow and disk-bound, become fluid visual showcases. One segment even launches a 3D globe demo without delay, all rendered and preloaded in RAM instead of painfully drawn frame by frame from disk.
Of course, RAD REU also supports save-state style gameplay. Classic titles like Last Ninja and Wonder Boy in Monsterland fire up immediately, allowing players to skip disk loads and jump right into the action. Multi-load games still have limitations—only the first level might function for now—but the groundwork is clearly in place for future compatibility.
Near the end of the video, there’s a teaser for something even bigger: RAD Doom. While not demoed yet, it’s safe to say expectations are high.
This test run of the RAD REU proves it’s more than just an expansion—it’s a time-warping upgrade that lets your Commodore 64 behave like a machine far ahead of its era. For retro computing fans who want instant loading, real-time demos, and more RAM than the C64 ever dreamed of, this cartridge might be your next obsession.
