Attack of the Mutant Camels Classic
Commodore 64 · Shoot 'em Up
Defender
Certified classic
| System | Commodore 64 |
|---|---|
| Released | 1983 (originally 1981) |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up |
| Developer | WMS Industries |
| Publisher | Digital Eclipse |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 7 |
Developed by WMS Industries and published by Digital Eclipse, Defender arrived on the Commodore 64 in 1983 as a shoot 'em up. This C64 release is a port or adaptation of a game that first appeared in 1981.
It came out in the C64's second year on the market. Other notable C64 releases from 1983 include Attack of the Mutant Camels, Aztec Challenge and International Soccer. Among the 157 C64 shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #7 by legacy score.
Pick it if…
- you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
- you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
- you want to experience one of the C64's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
What playing Defender is like
Shoot 'em ups (shmups) put you in a ship facing waves of enemies and bullets. Runs are short and intense, and the goal is to survive, collect power-ups and push your high score.
Tip for newcomers: Focus on your ship's small hitbox rather than the flood of bullets, and learn which power-ups suit each stage. Most shmups are designed to be replayed many times.
Defender walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Defender.
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Playing C64 games today
C64 games loaded from cassette or floppy disk, and many reward patience and practice. The THEC64 reissues make original-style play easy on modern TVs, and Rec0m88 supports the C64 if you own your games.
Defender FAQ
When did Defender come out on the C64?
Defender was released for the Commodore 64 in 1983; the original game dates back to 1981.
Who made Defender?
It was developed by WMS Industries and published by Digital Eclipse.
How long does Defender take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Defender typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about Defender on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.