Spectrum Computing

A bit of positivity after the inevitable worst games thread, inevitably a good games thread. And yeah, we all have our favourites we'll never change our opinion on, so I wanted to give this a twist rather than just being a straight "tell us your favourite game" thing.

I'm going to list the 26 letters of the alphabet (plus a numeric range), and you're only allowed to pick one classic* game beginning with that letter as the best game there. Quote-reply so we can get all 27 positions filled up. I'm starting by reserving C for Chaos...

A
B
C Chaos by Games Workshop
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
# <-- numeric

Reason: I kept my ZX Spectrum for quite a while after its commercial demise, mainly because I had the YS covertape with Chaos on it, and it may as well have been welded into my Datacorder at the time. Two mates from college and I would regularly play it. It's quite simply my favourite game of all time on any format, it's never been bettered. (Yeah, the sequel Lords Of Chaos was alright, but the simplicity of Chaos is its beauty.) For the uninitiated, Chaos is very much a board game with the admin being done by the computer. I'm not massively into all of that fantasy stuff like yer Dungeons And Dragons, so for this to appeal to me is unusual. One of my friends described it as a living breathing Chess game.


* Classic being the 1982-1993 era, when games were released commercially and seen in high street stores, so no homebrew in this one.

Common prefixes like "the" and "a" are ignored, so "The New Zealand Story" effectively begins with N, if you see what I mean.

Ooh some potential controversy here. I'm going to jump in and grab M, I'd like to grab R too but don't want to be greedy.

PeteProdge wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 10:44 am A
B
C Chaos by Games Workshop
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M Manic Miner
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
# <-- numeric

Common prefixes like "the" and "a" are ignored, so "The New Zealand Story" effectively begins with N, if you see what I mean.

Reason: I've said it all before about being tremendous fun and filled with quirky humour. Manic Miner is a game that, for many, defines the Spectrum. It's possibly the only game that was ported to other machines with more advanced graphical abilities yet still chose to replicate the look of the Spectrum, that speaks volumes.

Diving in with B.... Batty .... Bubble Bobble (or Bomb Munchies...cheap plug)

MatGubbins wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 11:35 am Diving in with B.... Batty .... Bubble Bobble (or Bomb Munchies...cheap plug)

You're only allowed one!

MatGubbins wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 11:35 amDiving in with B.... Batty .... Bubble Bobble (or Bomb Munchies...cheap plug)

Other options are Bruce Lee and Buzzsaw...

PeteProdge wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 10:44 amI'm starting by reserving C for Chaos...

Other options are Commando and Castlevania...

R-Tape wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 10:53 amManic Miner is a game that, for many, defines the Spectrum.

Other options are Myth, Metal Man Reloaded, and Maritrini Freelance Monster Slayer...

Perhaps it would be easier to consider only classic games here, and compile later a separate list for modern games?

Einar Saukas wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 12:20 pm Perhaps it would be easier to consider only classic games here, and compile later a separate list for modern games?

Ah, so 1982-1993 is the 'classic' era, and post-1993 being 'modern', I'm guessing?

Einar Saukas wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 12:18 pm Other options are Myth, Metal Man Reloaded, and Maritrini Freelance Monster Slayer...

Nope :-p

# - 180

PeteProdge wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 12:24 pm

Einar Saukas wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 12:20 pm Perhaps it would be easier to consider only classic games here, and compile later a separate list for modern games?

Ah, so 1982-1993 is the 'classic' era, and post-1993 being 'modern', I'm guessing?

I've just amended this thread to be only the 'classic' era.

As it stands...

A
B
C Chaos by Games Workshop
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M Manic Miner by Bug-Byte
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
# 180 by Mastetronic

PeteProdge wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 12:32 pmI've just amended this thread to be only the 'classic' era.

In this case, I bet nobody will disagree about Fairlight, Great Escape, Into the Eagle's Nest, Lords of Midnight, R-Type, Saboteur 2, Target Renegade, Uridium, Where Time Stood Still, and Zynaps!

Knight Lore

PeteProdge wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 12:35 pm As it stands...

A
B
C Chaos by Games Workshop
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M Manic Miner by Bug-Byte
N
O
P
Q
R R-Type by Electric Dreams
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
# 180 by Mastetronic

As it's been mentioned I'm going to grab it and give a reason (I think that's Pete's intention for the thread)

R-Type
Reason: It’s an arcade conversion that massively surpasses expectations, when it would have been challenging enough just to produce something humdrum. An inspired coder taking some very bold (or plain risky) design decisions and a talented graphical artist combine resulting in this outstanding firework display of a shooter.

R-Tape wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 1:59 pm

PeteProdge wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 12:35 pm As it stands...

A
B
C Chaos by Games Workshop
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K Knight Lore by Ultimate
L
M Manic Miner by Bug-Byte
N
O
P
Q
R R-Type by Electric Dreams
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
# 180 by Mastetronic

Ok, let's make things in a correct way...

Knight Lore. Is there any reason to explain it?

It's probably one of the best Spectrum games ever (ok ok, that's my opinion!), great adventure, atmospheric, original, ...

Surely A has to be Atic Atac?

Just updated...

A Atic Atac by Ultimate
B
C Chaos by Games Workshop
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K Knight Lore by Ultimate
L
M Manic Miner by Bug-Byte
N
O
P
Q
R R-Type by Electric Dreams
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
# 180 by Mastetronic

L-Laser Squad

Rorthron wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 2:19 pmSurely A has to be Atic Atac?

Other options are Arkanoid, Amaurote, Alien Highway, and Abadia del Crimen...

Einar Saukas wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 3:39 pm

Rorthron wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 2:19 pmSurely A has to be Atic Atac?

Other options are Arkanoid, Amaurote, Alien Highway, and Abadia del Crimen...

Avalon, Alien 8, Ant Attack, ... really difficult to choose one!

I think everyone agree with J: Jet Set Willy.

Yep, and 'H' for 'Head Over Heels'.

Ant Attack was technically good, but Atic Atac is the better game.

F for Fairlight.

Gotta get a Joffa one in and H and C are done, so Green Beret. It's was certainly better than Ghosts'n'Goblins.

T for Tomahawk?