To be on Top

Around the turn of the eighties into the nineties, Rainbow Arts was one of Germany's leading publishers, with a catalogue noticeably broader in genre than companies of its size usually managed. To be on Top, released for the Commodore 64 in 1988, illustrates that — a game built around the music business and career progression rather than shooting or jumping.

The player guides a rise from an unknown start toward chart positions. That means decisions about what to invest in, how often to perform, when to record, and how to spend limited money and time. A musical theme is particularly rewarding on the Commodore 64, whose SID sound chip was among the best found in any eighties home computer, giving games about music something real to work with.

Career simulations and management games were more popular in Germany than almost anywhere else and formed a tradition of their own, to which this title belongs. Play revolves around watching numbers and planning ahead, so the pace is calmer than arcade fare and a session covers a longer arc.

A modern player should expect foreign-language menus and a first few rounds that feel confusing until the rules click. Push through the opening and you get a genuinely interesting look at how economic games worked on eight-bit hardware. On OldGame.cz you can launch To be on Top straight in the browser, so trying it costs nothing.