No savestate or checkpoint, as usual in c64 Platform (or arcade) games :D. There are 8 stages+boss each map, 5 maps, but last map is a bit different more stages and the castle is a labirint (you need to find the right path to reach the final boss). Try harder, is not so complicated complete it ;) if you want to complete it before the review release i can tell you in pvt message a secret cheat.