Picked up a copy of the latest Zzap 64 2021 Annual last week so thought I share a little look at what’s inside. Let’s start with the awesome front cover artwork by Oliver Frey, the exact same artist from the original Zzap! 64 magazines of the 80’s.
Front cover of the 2021 Zzap! 64 Annual.
Flipping over to the back cover we find a very interesting advert that appears to herald the return of MicroProse simulation games. MicroProse was a big player in the Commodore market (especially on the Amiga) and produced some of my favourite C64 games such as Silent Service, Gunship and Pirates!
Sadly, but not at all surprising, these new games will be coming to Windows PC’s and not the C64 or Amiga. Even so I’m still looking forward to seeing what MicroProse produces. To be honest that’s probably what they are banking on too otherwise why else would they pay for such a prominent advert in a book about 40 year old computers!
Interesting advert on the back!
Below is a little peek at the contents page giving you an idea of exactly what’s inside the annual.
Zzap! 64 2020 Annual Contents Page
A few of the many contributors this year include Andrew Braybrook, Stuart Collier, Perifratic and Trevor Storey.
Zzap! 64 2020 Annual Contents Page
Most of the Zzap! 64 magazine regular features like Zzap! Rrap and the White Wizard can be found within the annual and are given plenty of space to shine. There are also dozens and dozens of game reviews covering pretty much every new game that has been released over the last 12 months for the C64.
Another example of the amazing Artwork of Oliver Frey.
The hardback A4 annual has 120 full colour pages all packed with interesting articles, reviews and artwork.
Here’s a tiny selection of random pages from the annual to give you an idea of what it contains.
Rounding off
There’s certainly enough content in this annual to keep any C64 fan quiet for a very long time. I reckon it makes a superb collectors item; chronicling the last twelve months of the C64 scene. I’ve bought every one of this new run of annuals since it started back in 2019 and I sincerely hope they continue being produced for a long time to come too.
The Zzap 64 2021 Annual is available directly from the Fusion Retro Books website for £15. You can save 15% by using the code ‘LYONSDENBLOG’ at the checkout making it even more of a bargain!
