Llamasoft is one of the oldest software houses still in existence today. Known for their high-octane arcade action titles, in their days supporting the 8-bit systems they released games for almost every major format before progressing to consoles. Inspired by Atari and Williams arcade classics, main programmer Jeff Minter has become a gaming icon and his most recent release, TxK for the PS Vita has been widely hailed as being one of his best works to-date.
In 1996, Jeff made a clear statement that all of his old titles could be distributed for use with emulators as he felt that they had no commercial value anymore. As such, we are pleased to announce a selection of these titles here. You must have a suitable emulator installed to be able to run these image files properly.
For some of the Commodore 64 files, these are in .TAP format which emulates the C64 tape unit. As such, these games take longer to load than Disk or Tape image files and some games can take up to 5 minutes to load, but they are “true” versions of the game and are indentical in every way to the originals! We will be bringing you a wide range of Jeff Minter’s games here on different platforms and will be uploading more over time…
Llamasoft Downloads – Updated 30th March 2016
Abductor – Vic 20
Ancipital – Commodore 64
Another Jeff Minter classic – psychedellic fun! This game is in .TAP format so make sure your emulator can handle it.
Andes Attack – Vic 20
A defender-inspired shooter for the Vic 20.
Attack Of The Mutant Camels – Atari / Commodore 64 / Vic 20
Jeff Minter’s classic side-scrolling shoot-em-up that pits you and your lone spacecraft against giant spitting camels with shades of Defender. A deserving classic! Just click on the appropriate button to download the right version of this game.
Batalyx – Commodore 64
Another Jeff Minter classic and probably his most elaborate game. Batalyx is in fact SIX games in one, and you can swap between games at any time. Amongst the sub-games is a new version of Attack Of The Mutant Camels, a Psychedelia variant, a “dance mat” type game with a camel (!) and three others. Presented here as a TAP file.
Centipede – ZX81
One of Jeff Minter’s earliest games is a home version of the classic arcade game Centipede. Despite the crude black and white graphics and no sound, Jeff has managed to capture the original’s playability brilliantly.
City Bomb – Spectrum
One of Jeff Minter’s earliest games is a simple affair. Your plane is flying over a city and you have to drop bombs to destroy all of the buildings to allow you to land safely. Simple, but fun!
Colourspace – Atari
Colourspace is Jeff Minter’s “light synthesiser” for the Atari and is generally considered to be far superior to the Commodore 64 version of Psychedelia thanks to the Atari’s larger colour palette.
Deflex V – Vic 20
Gridrunner – Commodore 64 / Spectrum / Vic 20
The first in the Gridrunner series to hit the C64, and Jeff Minter once again takes one of his personal favourites – Centipede – and ads a hairy touch! Pretty good conversion to the Spectrum as well!
Gridrunner 2 – Atari
Better known on the Commodore 64 as Matrix, this is the sequel to Gridrunner, and Jeff Minter once again takes an old favourite game format, in this case Centipede, and adds his own unique style to it, enhancing it well beyond the realms of the original. Simply superb. One thing to note with this version is that it is the American version of the game which, for some strange reason, was renamed “Attack Of The Mutant Camels” but is infact a totally different game!
Headbangers Heaven – Spectrum
Definitely a strange one. You take on the role of a heavy metal fan and you have to collect bags of money and deposit them safely. You have to catch hammers with your head (!), while losing a life if you are hit on the body. Weird!!
Hell Gate – Commodore 16 / Commodore 64 / Vic 20
Another smash hit from the mind of Jeff Minter! A fast paced shoot-em-up where you control no less than FOUR ships for frenentic action! Just click on the appropriate button to download the right version of this game.
Hover Bovver – Atari / Commodore 64
Jeff Minter’s interpretation of the classic Painter arcade game, but with an animalistic twist! Just click on the appropriate button to download the right version of this game.
Iridis Alpha – Commodore 64
A fast-paced side scrolling shoot-em-up. This game is in .TAP format so make sure your emulator can handle it.
Laser Zone – Commodore 16 / Commodore 64 / Spectrum / Vic 20
A fast paced shoot-em-up where you control two independent spacecraft – one on the x-axis, the other on the y-axis – and you have to master control of both to destroy the never ending wave of attacks.Just click on the appropriate button to download the right version of this game.
Mama Llama – Commodore 64
Another helping of weird shoot-em-up action from Jeff Minter. Don’t ask us what you are supposed to do with this one though – we honestly haven’t got a clue!
Matrix – Commodore 16 / Commodore 64 / Spectrum
The sequel to Gridrunner, Jeff Minter once again takes an old favourite game format, in this case Centipede, and adds his own unique style to it, enhancing it well beyond the realms of the original. Simply superb. Just click on the appropriate button to download the right version of this game.
Metagalactic Llamas Battle At The Edge Of Time – Commodore 64 / Spectrum / Vic 20
Probably one of the longest titles for a game in history, this is one of my personal favourites! A good conversion from the Vic 20, this puts you in control of a laser-spitting llama trying to defend the earth from invading giant spiders. Your lasers reflect off the top of the screen and bounce back hitting any stray spiders, but you can also raise and lower this barrier giving you full control of your weapon. A classic!
Psychedelia – Commodore 16 / Commodore 64 / MSX / Spectrum / Vic 20
Not a game but a “light synthesiser” – a fun visual effects program that lets you play with patterns of colours and lights on screen. Best way to describe this is as a virtual kaleidoscope! The Spectrum version of this is surprisingly good with some impressive colour effects that you wouldn’t think were possible with Sinclair’s 8-bit wonder! Just click on the appropriate button to download the right version of this game.
Return Of The Mutant Camels – Commodore 64
Another in Jeff Minter’s legendary camel series. A fast paced shoot-em-up and well worth playing!
Revenge Of The Mutant Camels – Commodore 64
More mayhem with giant camels on the rampage! If it moves, shoot it before it shoots you!
Rox-64 – Commodore 64
A shoot-em-up that pays tribute to the classic arcade game Missile Command. What makes this game rather different is that it harks back to the old days before magazine coverdisks and cassettes – this game was originally available as a type-in listing in Commodore User!! Those were the days…!
Vic 20 and Spectrum ports of Rox-64.
Sheep In Space – Commodore 64
Another fast paced, side-scrolling shoot-em-up from the mind of Jeff Minter, with more than a hint of Defender thrown in… Good fun and in Minter’s typically weird style.
Superdeflex – Spectrum
Strangely, a game from Llamasoft that ISN’T a shoot-em-up! An old title for the Spectrum.
Traxx – Spectrum
Traxx is based on the old game, “Painter”. Use your craft to fly over a grid, colouring in the grid as you pass over it, while avoiding all manner of nasties!
Voidrunner – Commodore 16 / Commodore 64 / MSX / Spectrum
Another fast-paced frantic shoot-em-up for the C64 and Commodore’s under-rated 8-bit machine, the C16. Voidrunner, as with many of Jeff Minter’s games, is influenced by Centipede, but adds a new twist with some of the levels being inverted so you are firing down from the top of the screen. Good graphics, and the C16 is far superior to the C64 version, making excellent use of the 121-colour palette of the C-16. This game is a must for any shoot-em-up fan.