Tom

Tom is a platform action game that takes you inside the treacherous Tomb of Pharaoh Manilo. You control Tom, a small explorer seeking fabulous wealth across six massive pyramids. Your goal is to collect 54 keys scattered throughout each level while avoiding enemies, spikes, and deadly falls. The game features multi-directional scrolling, which was rare for home computer platformers in 1984. Tom can run, jump, duck, and fire a magic spray that consumes energy with each use. Each level requires you to find and collect nine boxes before you can escape. Falling from great height is instantly fatal, as is touching any enemy or trap. You begin with five lives, and every 10,000 points earns an extra life. Before starting, you can adjust the number of players, difficulty level, and even select which pyramid to begin exploring.

VIC-20

Released in 1984 by Kingsoft, Tom on the VIC-20 represents the original version from which the C16 and C64 ports were derived. Udo Gertz programmed this 16KB cassette release, leveraging the VIC chip with software scrolling and sprite-based graphics. Unlike later ports, the VIC-20 version features a single enormous tomb of 178 screens connected by doors that require keys to unlock. These doors serve as checkpoints, saving progress between each section. The game supports dual movement speeds: walk normally or hold SHIFT to run. Controls require holding the fire button for normal walking, which takes practice to master. Contemporary players praised the technical achievement of 8-way scrolling in just 16KB of RAM, though the music was considered basic. The VIC-20 version later appeared on compilation cassettes alongside C16 releases. While controls feel dated today, Tom on VIC-20 remains a technical showcase for Commodore's first home computer.