C64 Archon: The Light and the Dark

You can play C64 Archon: The Light and the Dark game online without installing any software. You only need a modern browser to enjoy this Commodore 64 retro classic game.

Archon: The Light and the Dark game data

C64 game name: Archon: The Light and the Dark | Release date: 1983 | Publisher: Electronic Arts | Game media type: prg | Language: en
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About Commodore 64 Archon: The Light and the Dark

Archon: The Light and the Dark is a strategic board game that combines elements of chess with action-based combat. The goal is to either occupy five power points on the board, eliminate all opposing pieces, or imprison all but one of the opponent’s remaining pieces. Achieving any of these goals results in a win.

The game board resembles a chessboard, but when a piece lands on the same space as an opposing piece, they enter a full-screen ‘combat arena’ where players control the combatants in real-time. The outcome of the battles is not guaranteed, as a stronger piece may not always defeat a weaker one. Each piece has unique abilities, including movement, lifespan, and weapon types, which vary by range, speed, rate of firing, and power.

A piece’s powers are influenced by the color of the square the battle takes place on, giving each player an advantage on squares of their own color. Some squares on the board oscillate between light and dark, making them challenging to hold. The three middle power points are on oscillating squares.

Some pieces have special abilities, such as the phoenix turning into a ball of fire or the shapeshifter assuming the shape and abilities of the opposing piece. Each side also has a spellcaster piece, the sorceress for the dark side and the wizard for the light side, who can cast seven different spells once per game.

The computer opponent adapts over time to help players defeat it. The game is typically won by either destroying all opposing pieces or occupying all five power points. Less commonly, a side may win by imprisoning the opponent’s last remaining piece. If each side has one piece left and both are destroyed in combat, the game ends in a tie.

C64 Archon Game Instructions Manual

In order to play Archon: The Light and the Dark online, click on the start button located below the Commodore 64 emulator window.