Archon returning to PC after 26 years

By Oli Welsh Published 9 October, 2009

Plus iPhone sequel to chess-like classic.

Vintage computer game Archon is being remade for PC, 26 years after it originally appeared on 8-bit home computers, early IBM PCs and Macs as Archon: The Light and the Dark.

The combination of chess-like strategy and one-on-one action has already made its comeback on iPhone courtesy of developer React Games.

The new version will feature four-player multiplayer for the first time, characters that level up, power-ups, new board layouts, 8-bit and modern versions, achievements and online multiplayer and leaderboards.

In addition, React is working on a second iPhone Archon game, a single-player spin-off called Archon: Conquest. It has four campaigns and 60 quests, and supports Ngmoco's Plus+, giving it awards and a leaderboard. It's already been submitted to the App Store so should be released soon.

More on both at the Archon Classic site.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (12) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • GordonCaladan #1 2 years ago

    Amazing news. Played this to death back in the day. Can't believe it's been 26 years. This was quite a revolutionary, innovative game back then.

  • ShinMegami08 #2 2 years ago

    Loved Archon. Cant believe 26 years have already passed...

  • mingster #3 2 years ago

    i remember playing this as well.

  • Boom #4 2 years ago

    Oh dear...I'm old. Remember this from first year uni on a C64. Fun game.

  • Meho #5 2 years ago

    Oh wow... Fun times!!!

  • madgerald Verified Studio Head of PR & Marketing, Colossal Games LTD #6 2 years ago

    A true classic this; had it on my Atari 800XL and C64 - published by Ariolasoft (snigger) as I remember.

  • KDR_11k #7 2 years ago

    I've seen Archon Classic on the WiiWare release list too so there are probably console versions coming.

  • JACK_BURTON #8 2 years ago

    Great news....Archon is one of my all time fav games! ;o)

  • mr_boogedy #9 2 years ago

    Awesome. Though I'm sceptical as to whether they can create a well-realised modernization of the game... Still, awesome.

  • ctankep #10 2 years ago

    Interest definitely piqued! Archon 1 / and 2 were some of my favourite games from the Apple ][e era, an' remember many afternoons idled away pitting Unicorn vs. Banshee etc ..! Had some really sweet game design in th' way that you could still beat uber units like th' Dragon with an' underling like th' little guy with a club if you knew how to use your terrain, an' bait th' other player into running up against bushes.

    Amazing stuff from Freefall entertainment, they actually tried to revive th' game as Archon 2000 released on PC about a decade ago including modem play however as with this new one, th' graphics enhancements seemed to have detracted from th' game as with much of th' numerous classic remakes around that time ..

    -

    Personally I'd probably be happier if they kept th' semi-abstract / simplistic chess-like style of th' original an' just ported it to iPhone with some connectivity. Th' problem with remaking graphics a la Gauntlet Legends is that it usually comes off as a bit 'naff without keeping enough stylistic cues. Another idea could be to incorporate a card collecting type of mini-game to acquire units with their abilities to form your army. In th' immortal words of Robocop: i'd buy that for a dollar..!


    -- Chuan
    Edited by 2 at 11/10/09 @ 03:28

  • thesonglessbird #11 2 years ago

    Oh wow, I loved Archon. My uncle gave me a copied tape of it for the C64 back in the day. Classic.

  • IP #12 2 years ago

    "Personally I'd probably be happier if they kept th' semi-abstract / simplistic chess-like style of th' original an' just ported it to iPhone with some connectivity."

    Minus the connectivity (as far as I recall), that's already on the App Store. The point of this news feature is that the company's just released a second, new version of Archon for iPhone and iPod touch for 59p. The original's still available for £1.79 or in a free 'lite' version (fewer pieces and other limitations).