Spectrum Computing

48K was considered too small by the end of the Spectrum’s original lifespan, with many games being 128K only. So why go backwards? Make the most of the extra memory and AY capabilities! In fact, seeing as I’d imagine most people play via emulation, make the game files larger. Build it around the +3 ...

They were the budget label of Software Projects and used the same cover illustrator (Roger Tissyman), although the covers for these felt a bit more rushed than the likes of Jet Set Willy! Still, probably good for a collection as all the covers followed a format. I haven’t played that many games by t...

Oh if you’re collecting Encore titles (great idea!) then I don’t know if this also counts, it was a cash in, sorry commemorative re-release of Frank Bruno’s Boxing for his fight against Mike Tyson. I think the only difference was the cover, but still called Frank Bruno’s World Championship Boxing ht...

It was originally released on the compilation Best of Elite Vol 2, which might explain why it’s down in the DB as originally published by Hit Pak (which was Elite’s brand for some of their early compilations like 6 Pack Vol 1 and Vol 2) https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/zxdb/sinclair/entries/0011212/B...

But back to the Speccy, and a mate insisted that he got a lot of Ocean games because his dad worked at the place where they printed the inlays. Even that remark made me think "oh how VERY convenient, yeah riiight". And the games he got were on blank cassettes with none of Ocean's custom l...

It's pretty much a lift of the NES game Punch Out! A popular game on that platform but I've never enjoyed it in any incarnation. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/14/Baldbull.png/220px-Baldbull.png It was indeed Punch Out!, but it was the Arcade version of Super Punch Out(which came...

Good find, I never knew that Slicks was converted to the Spectrum! It’s a weird one, the Supersports Challenge (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/12148/ZX-Spectrum/Supersports_Challenge) compilation was reviewed in 1993, but only in YS (was it the only Speccy mag at this time?) . The compilation...

It looks like this thread has inspired Rev Stu to collate various speedruns of Speccy games: https://wosland.podgamer.com/the-need-for-speed/ Some interesting games in there. I also think you have to look at the games with some sort of “game style” context when it came to “completing” them. Games t...

[quote=PeteProdge post_id=135823 time=<a href="tel:1706441517">1706441517</a> user_id=70] I'm looking for something that's the opposite of Ultimate Play The Game. In my mind, I think I can point to The Power House and TyneSoft as notorious proprietors of dismal digital garbage. Well this ...

I've heard stories. Here's one about Fantasy Software . And another one about Martech-connected developers Emerald Software . Interesting going back to that thread, because it made me think of another contender, which might be controversial. Software Projects Yes, they released the absolute classic...

I think it’s maybe too easy to go with something like The Power House or Tynesoft, because even at the time you knew the majority of their output was utter rubbish. I never bought a game by either of those publishers and my only real experience of Tynesoft was in the really terrible Dixons +2 games ...

Anything that’s 3D Isometric feels quite iconic, it’s also a style that’s used in modern games or imagery to kind of replicate an 8-bit or 16-bit era. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/list?group_id=11004 Some off the top of my head that you don’t have Alien 8 https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/SCRtoImag...

It’s a nice reminder of the great games he made, especially after he passed away last year.

I always had a real soft spot for Molar Maul, quite a unique game!

Nightmare Rally is a really under appreciated original game, especially from the Ocean era when it was churning out lots of licensed junk. He also clearly used the engine for Enduro Racer and Out Run and it’s easily his best original game that isn’t a conversion of some description, so that’s why it...

Yeah, the Spectrum really had some awful golf games. But then in all honesty, it wasn’t until Leaderboard that golf games got kind of decent. But I think the Spectrum just struggles with a “behind the player” view, like the eventual PGA Tour games or Links (which I think came from Bruce Carver who d...

Nope! Confuzion originally came out in 1985 by Incentive, then a 1987 rerelease was by Alternative. Apparently there were other rereleases - from EDOS, Ricochet and Spain's System 4. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/zxdb/sinclair/entries/0001048/Confuzion(AlternativeSoftware).jpg Ah, ok, but that’s ...

This download will be great fun over the Xmas holidays!

Not that I think anyone would vote for it, but I think Confuzion was re-released on the Summit label, not the Alternative one.

4-way scrolling: Gunfrite and Nightshade have door frames, but no actual physical doors.. I’m not sure if that counts.

Moonlight Madness, the pseudo sequel to Booty, is a flip screen game that uses doors.

@PeteProdge based on that compilation above, another topic what would be a “Best Of” compilation? Take the top 4 or 5 results from the polls and make the ultimate “Best of” compilation, as voted by readers of Spectrum Computing!!

I have never heard of Cosmos but I must have all the others on some Covertape. This list is so good I could probably made a top 10 out of it :D Sinclair User had a couple of great cover tapes which were essentially an anthology of Costa Panayi’s work, including Collision Course. This is also one of...

I also just noticed Typhoon has the Ocean name in the menu and main screen, it’s almost like at that point the Imagine label was seen as for games that weren’t good enough for the Ocean label.

Has to be Target Renegade. Imagine does seem like a strange label, focused on Konami arcade conversions at the start, but then also weirdly MOVIE is in there which probably should have been on the Ocean label like it’s sequel Phantom Club and the likes of Nightmare Rally. Another weird one is Victor...

Alchemist is probably the best game from a technical perspective, but despite being known for churning out rubbish like Pedro, there’s some decent games in there. I went for Jumping Jack, because it’s such a great pick up and play game (despite my reflexes being nowhere near as good as when I was a ...

Lol, I just remembered another one, although I’m not sure if it counts…

One Man and His Droid (1985) and One Man and His Droid 2 (2001) which is 16 years and easily beats GTA!!!