Episode 536: Below the Root (Patreon)

What's this, an episode about a home computer game from the early 1980s with nary a Brit in sight? Yes, this week Diamond Feit hosts an episode requested by patron Ben Hamilton who asked us to cover Spinnaker Software and their adventure game adaptation of Below the Root.

Diamond is joined by Jared Petty as they both grew up with the Commodore 64 in their homes and Spinnaker made a point of producing a variety of edutainment titles for that platform. Some of their games were intended to just get kids used to the idea of pressing keys on a keyboard—an uncommon skill 40 years for youngsters—while Below the Root proved to be a much more ambitious, carefully designed platformer with an inventory to manage, spells to cast, and plenty of living things (not just people) to talk to.

Art by Amanda Pruitt Neipris, edits by Greg Leahy. Music in this episode:

• 14:03 - Commando (C64): Main Theme
• 28:00 - Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (C64): Towne/Intro
• 35:42 - Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (OST): Main Title
• 44:51 - Ninja Gaiden (NES): Devilish Influence (6-4)
• 56:21 - I Adore Commodore (LP): Sargon Chess
• 1:07:11 - Below the Root (C64): Title Theme
• 1:17:15 - Faxanadu: World of Branch
• 1:25:38 - Treasure Island (C64): Title Theme
• Closing - The Commodores: "Sail On"