Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Adventure) – A Lost Treasure on the Commodore 64

Many retro gamers fondly remember the action-platformer version of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade on the Commodore 64. But few know that a graphic adventure adaptation—based on the SCUMM engine used in the 16-bit versions—was once in development for the C64. This showcase dives into a remarkable, unfinished project that aimed to bring that experience to life on an 8-bit legend.

Project Overview

• Developer: Brick Bambi (Thorsten Harth)
• Graphics & Code: Thorsten Harth
• Music & Sound: Joachim Wijnhoven, Roland Hermans
• Status: Cancelled, but a detailed demo was released

In 2012, Thorsten Harth set out to recreate the SCUMM-based adventure for the Commodore 64—a technically ambitious and creatively daring endeavor. After years of development and several preview videos, the project was sadly abandoned around 2018 due to time constraints and personal commitments.

Visuals & Audio

• The game utilized bitmap and character graphics, pushing the C64’s limits with impressive visual fidelity.
• Music was composed by Joachim Wijnhoven, including a rendition of the iconic “Raiders March” for the title and ending screens.
• Sound effects were crafted with care, featuring ambient details like library footsteps, waterfalls, and collapsing bookcases.

Due to memory constraints, music and sound effects were designed to play separately, not simultaneously – a clever workaround for the hardware limitations.

Gameplay & Content

The demo aimed to cover the entire first chapter of the game:

• Barnett College
• Henry Jones’ House
• Venice
• Library
• Catacombs
• Schloss Brunwald

Though incomplete, the demo includes rich interactions, detailed environments, and a faithful recreation of the original adventure’s spirit. It’s a testament to what could have been.

While the project was never completed, it proved that such a conversion was possible—even on the humble C64. With a Monkey Island conversion currently underway, perhaps one day this Indiana Jones adventure will be revived by another passionate developer.