Reviews

Incredible you wont see this all time top 5 ZX videogame at the top of the official WOS list.

Yes, it has its flaws (the start of movement when you push key, scroll...) but they are "lovingly integrated" making a totally immersive experience.

Further, it's a "personal computer" game, not a conversion, imitation or whatever. Playability benefits the most and adds to the experience.

In brief, lots of strengths to shape an unforgetable title, with overwhelming personality, crushing presence.

A perfect illustration for the 8 bits world

At first glance it may seem unfair to give such a high score. In fact, I was about to give him 5 points but I thought it was unfairly and artificially inflating his score.

Vampire's Empire surely pointed much higher, but it was a failure. Why? just look at its original artwork, mapping... and compare with frustrating playability and several specific but cumulative problems.

Else, a rough look at its gameplay and mechanics reveals more, much more. Not enough care was taken to polish the final product. Something akin a prototipe or demo.
Some frames of the graphics at the spritesheets are horribly deformed, while most of them are more than good.
Gameplay suffers the most from a few design decisions.
On the other hand, map is professional, huge like a few maps, typical of the great titles.
Very original game solutions like separating the definite weapon of Van Helsing, the light ray and its behaviour like an AI controlled independent character.

Overall, a clearly lost opportunity, but a raw gem worth of study to get inspiration.

So great piece of software and so few remembering it nowadays.

Yes, famous for the unusual size of hero [actually there is a 2nd hero character that adds tons of originality], but... the atmosphere, is like Ridley Scott's Alien. What title could achieve that kind of feeling back in the days?
It's like a survival horror (think about the likes of Resident Evil).

Everything else is much more than correct, an almost perfectly polished videogame.

Jetpac(1983)-Ultimate Play The Game
MY PERSONAL RATING:8 out of 10

Well, I'll try to elaborate:
Although my initial feeling (and rating) is that Jet Pac deserves 4 out of 5 points, you have to take into account the [almost] revolutionary nature of this excellent piece of software in ...1983!!!
And if that's not enough, the code fits in a 16Kb Spectrum!!!

The most playable of the 8 or so games pack that came with Spectrum + in 1985.

Plenty of remakes based on it through the years that make a well deserved homage.

A true example of what can be achieved with programming skills, talent and know-how

Funny, good looking and tested to the tiranny of time

Back in its days, it was excellent for the newcomers, an instant fav for my sister and cousins.

Well, I think there´s much more to say about this title than simply revolution, technically special, or the likes.

A videogame remembered so fondly, remaked, attempted to be cloned...those speaks volumes

So many users, coders... were so impressed (I don´t count myself at that time, my experience was with Alien 8) and with a solid reason. Back then so many games were plain and dull, then came Ultimate and changed the scene forever.

A true pity because this title has very much room for improvement. Like the previous reviewer said, it felt flat.

All in all, a great idea, moderately well crystallized in a popular game just in its epoch.

Above average, but with an insufficient level to become as great as it probably deserves.

out of 10 points I'd give 6.5 or so.

I have decided to write exactly the same for two games that I consider strongly related even though they are very different:

Scuba Dive and Match Point
An excellent example about "less is more"

At a time when the machine's limits were still being discovered, the quality was not overwhelming but more than enough for the intended gameplay.


Simplicity, absolute simplicity but with elegance.

a good lesson for many nowadays games, not only ZX related.

Did I talk about gameplay? Well that's what matters. Also high addiction.

No need to have stunning graphics.
Only the level for you to be able to identify the course of the action.

More than decent, time- tested and simulating very well.

I have decided to write exactly the same for two games that I consider strongly related even though they are very different:

Scuba Dive and Match Point
An excellent example about "less is more"

At a time when the machine's limits were still being discovered, the quality was not overwhelming but more than enough for the intended gameplay.


Simplicity, absolute simplicity but with elegance.

a good lesson for many nowadays games, not only ZX related.

Did I talk about gameplay? Well that's what matters. Also high addiction.

No need to have stunning graphics.
Only the level for you to be able to identify the course of the action.

More than decent, time- tested and simulating very well.

Bubble Bobble from Taito, the typical japanese arcade, plays very well.

It 's a lovely conversion, maintaining the good points of the arcade machine.

I was in big doubt either its rating was more 3 than 4. But it deserves very high consideration nonetheless. I would give it like 7.5 / 8 out of 10 or so.

Just give it a try, because there is not much more great conversions from Japan in Spectrum.

Bubble Bobble rocks and feels very close to its original, having in mind the limitations.

I specifically recognize this title to bring me deep memories. It was along with Manic Miner the first software I could see and play in the Speccy.

Excellent, it deserves no less.

Graphics are almost at the highest level.

Interaction with in game sound, use of colours, difficulty management ... everything fits correctly.

The use of humour also gives it a great boost.


I remember that my uncle showed us Manic Miner and this one, but the first one more times. I liked both of them but Manic Miner got me tired sooner and I developed more love for Atic Atac.

On the one hand Manic Miner posed an amazing challenge, with a very high quality, in-game music and increasing difficulty. But you had to start from scratch every time you died.
On the other hand with Atic Atac you had the choice to explore with more freedom, and that detail tipped the balance to Atic Atac.

Details in both titles were exceptionally well achieved, giving it a true experience (I only remember these two games although there were more; these 2 are just the ones that amazed me) for a 9 years old.

And here you got it, Atic Atac / Manic Miner , 2 reviews for the price of one.

Well, for today we'll have the best and the worst.

Let's start with the last:
I just saw what this "dragonfire" is about and what I can say is that it seems ideal to take as a model to start with any 'gamemaker' (of wich you have so many options to choose from), but as a game itself, it is a disaster.

But, yes, it has a cool name. Really.

turn for the best:


What can be said that it has not already been said of the probably more time-proof game in the history of the humble grey machine?

Well I'll try to elaborate the most weird factory defect that comes to my head:
The loading screen is almost the best in history... and that breaks the not-so-written-or-verified rule that the best the game, the worst the loading screen.

Fairlight, What a great achievement for the 8 bits history
You wont see more than 4 pieces of software better. But Not in the ZX, in fact I'm speaking about every other machine

INTERNATIONAL KARATE + !!
Just the best Martial Arts game along with Exploding Fist.

You must add Yie Ar Kung Fu, almost at par with them and there you go...lovely armchair oriental fighter. Charming .

Japanese programmers always exceeded in arcades.
Well, in fact in every aspect of engineering and art. And what better than videogames to fusion both disciplines.

Still, few japanese ventured into the ZX world. Probably it was ported in Europe for the Spectrum and C64 or something but nonetheless Stop the Express made its way into a great deal of platforms for the time it was (MSX was the main port I think)

For 1983 this is one of the best efforts at bring fun and colour to the humble Speccy.

But not only that, it's a 16 Kb game!

Loving memories but also plenty of action and addictive factor.

Great example of how a simple scheme can be a perfect fit if looking for a good Arcade/Adventure implementation.

In fact, action fits almost the whole screen size.
Last but not least, play as one of the most wonderful characters ever existed!!
Pity there are no more Spectrum titles dedicated to Bruce Lee. Well, there is a clone: El Zorro.

More Japanese conversions!!!
This brings excellent memories.

We can safely say, one of the best shoot'em ups ever made, at the same time one of the best conversions from arcade machines.

This is a great game, if only for its unusual graphics engine in that pixels are doubled in width and height, making in fact a X 4 factor in its size

pyracurse
interesting spin of the great escape concept
more than decent Filmation II clone
And the control/colaboration factor is great. Nightshade made better,,

Probably the best artial marts game ever
.
It was able to put a true Milestone not only in the genre, but in the whole Softpedia.

"Exploding Fist" as we called it, was a favorite of the time (1985,86, even 87...).
Two simultaneous players!

Nowadays you can play it very well in emulators.

Even there's not much to envy Tekken or whatever!

Altough it's a modern game; no doubt is one of the greatest classics.
Relatively simple (as good shoot em ups) but with charm and unforgetable clean graphical presentation

Very addictive and funny

Just imagine a game of billiards but simpler.

Be fast but don't lose precision.

Perfect for friends

Behind this Weird name there is one of the most original creations of the last times.

It's addictive and very well presented

Another modern (well, it looks like it's fifteen years old now) game well presented, simple and minimalistic.

Also, its size fits into a 16Kb machine.

Kudos for the creators.

Wizard warz ...there are so many wrong things with this little piece of software.
Back in the day I even didn't know it.

But I have to say to have good elements badly fitted.

Otherwise, it would be an excellent one.

... how good would this be that it was the second best option for me and a neighbor ... after playing basketball
... of course we played together in 2 - player Mode. Fun and laughs


unforgetable evenings

Indeed, Sandy White re used old code for the game behind this simple name.


Another interesting fact was that he didn't know about assemblers programs, so he assembled manually

More zombies. .. this is yet another of those recent games that benefit from the systematization of some techniques (cross compilers, a multitude of graphical tools, etc.) to create a good, optimized and quality game in a short time and without suffering and torture typical of the past.




It is evident that in its day it would have had a very good reception but it is not fair to put in it less merit: it is a game more than correct.

Your average JSW mod.
In fact, it looks like it's slightly better than the majority of its cousins.

Interconnected rooms, a little of imagination here and there...

Looks like it's from 2000! That makes it older than a great deal of titles

Zoids seemed like a good idea at first, but they weren't able to materialize it properly. You can spend a few minutes trying to figure out what's going on, but soon you give up.

...as they said before... Do not bother to shoot, just select weapon.










Ideal for the office as there is no need to pound on the keyboard
repeatedly

Wheelie is a funny and curious game. Made at a time when the limits of the machine were not being discovered, but simply discovering what it could and could not be done.




Personally, I don't see it as revolutionary as others say it is, even despite being from a time when there was a lot to discover. But it certainly deserves a mention. Especially since its author is none other than Skool Daze ' s.



And those are already great words. It says it all.
Just to serve as a springboard (like the ones you have to negotiate with the motorcycle to propel yourself and jump on those buses, hedgehogs ...) for Skool Daze it deserves to be remembered.

Now, this is an absolutely above average game. An incredible (*) adventure very well structured and very well technically implemented.


Not one but several heros starring it.
Kudos to its programmers and interesting as few games achieved to be in the year it was published. Great work for the final years of the machine in all its merchandising abilities

(*)--> In all the sense of the word. It takes you to a strange world full of creatures typical of past times.

I'm so glad to hear again about excellent classics like Alien 8 and Firelord.
In fact the programmer of the latter created this forgotten gem. A more than correct arcade adventure with a style close (to say the least) to Atic Atac

The story of this game is very unusual and weird.
The programming team of "Commando" went out one night and ended up at the pub of the local mob boss, who recognized them when he saw them.
The boss was angry about his non-working copy of Commando, so he ordered his minions to kidnap them and bring them into the office so that they themselves would try to load the game successfully.
However they were not able, probably due to a deterioration in the cassette tape. Further enraged, the mafia boss then decided to have the programming team locked in the office until they were able to run the game by coding directly from keyboard!
For 3 days and 3 nights they were painstakingly coding and typing with no help other than the boss' Spectrum, an old cassette player with some spare tapes, and some notebooks. Finally, they finished this unexpected version of the game as best as they could and, satisfied with the effort, the boss allowed them to return.
So this game could be considered good, polished, bug-free and sophisticated given the exceptional and dire circumstances in which it was created.

In fact, Monty is one of the most recognizable 8-bit characters out there. His games are always good, not the best of the best but they are exceedingly good.
I don't know which is the best of the series but this one is very representative of what I say: it is average.
And yes, impossamole is like a game based on Rick Dangerous 'engine' but I don't know what came first

reading about Cauldron II, I have remembered those games where you play something with dreadful non-stop bouncing. Really, they are difficult



this one in particular seemed like a moderately good idea in principle but is poorly implemented . In the technical aspect but also in other more subjective such as addiction or gameplay


Finally, the appearance in the scenery of those statues commemorating genocidal terrorists, ends up ruining it.

1.75/5
I want, however, to remember one that was well implemented ,Impossaball

Vixen is certainly a cool name, but not a good game.
Funny how every Martech game are one failure after another. Looks like Rex is the only one to be saved.


Did they another try with Samantha Fox? Well, that explains so many things

Gunfright, along with Nightshade were two great technical achievements. Indeed Nightshade was the first game to implement this way of displaying graphics (*)


If you read my reviews of Pyracurse (spectrum20.org/reviews/8849) and Where Time Stood Still (spectrum20.org/reviews/9497) you will see that I regard them worse that Nightshade. In fact, they are actually better but I leverage the pioneering factor to let Nightshade sports a better qualification.

In any case, what a pity not to take advantage of this advance to enrich the game mechanics and improve gameplay. Still, an enormous advancement and a true ancestor of current ways of displaying action and scenes.

* A very similar although slightly more primitive form can be found in Ant Attack