GoKawiilRetro coder finds hidden exploit in 1985 C64 game Mercenary
An analysis of the Commodore 64 game Mercenary by Paul Woakes reveals a previously undocumented exploit: standing on a specific invisible patch of grass near the starting location and pressing E lifts the player directly into the Colony Craft's hangar, which normally hovers far overhead with no ground-level access. Pressing E again returns the player to the craft's deck, bypassing the game's usual movement and altitude logic. The discovery was made through a byte-accurate reconstruction of the game's original rendering and control code.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The find shows how deeply enthusiasts continue to dissect decades-old software, uncovering behaviors the original developers likely never intended or documented. Such byte-level archaeology can inform preservation efforts and give historians insight into how limited 1980s hardware handled complex world logic through shortcuts and reused input triggers. It also illustrates how retro games can still yield new discoveries even 40 years after release.
- A hidden exploit lets players reach the Colony Craft from the ground at game start via an invisible grass tile.
- The bug relies on the game reusing the E key logic for lifts across different objects.
- The discovery came from a detailed, byte-accurate reconstruction of Mercenary's original 1985 code.
TheC64 Mini Console — If exploring Targ's 233 buildings in Mercenary stirred some C64 nostalgia, TheC64 Mini lets you relive that era with a plug-and-play console loaded with classic Commodore 64 vibes. It's a fun way to explore retro open-world games and appreciate the clever coding tricks like the one behind this exploit bug.
See TheC64 Mini Console on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: gamesexplained.com, 2026-09-26
Published there as: “C64 MERCENARY (1985): a novel exploit bug at the start of the game”
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