The A-Z of the best Speccy games (classic: 1982-1993)

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PeteProdge
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The A-Z of the best Speccy games (classic: 1982-1993)

Post by PeteProdge »

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.
Last edited by PeteProdge on Wed Dec 13, 2017 12:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games

Post by R-Tape »

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.
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games

Post by MatGubbins »

Diving in with B.... Batty .... Bubble Bobble (or Bomb Munchies...cheap plug)
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games

Post by PeteProdge »

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!
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games

Post by Einar Saukas »

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...
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games

Post by Einar Saukas »

PeteProdge wrote: Wed Dec 13, 2017 10:44 amI'm starting by reserving C for Chaos...
Other options are Commando and Castlevania...
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games

Post by Einar Saukas »

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...
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games

Post by Einar Saukas »

Perhaps it would be easier to consider only classic games here, and compile later a separate list for modern games?
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games

Post by PeteProdge »

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?
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games

Post by R-Tape »

Einar Saukas wrote: Wed Dec 13, 2017 12:18 pm Other options are Myth, Metal Man Reloaded, and Maritrini Freelance Monster Slayer...
Nope :-p
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games

Post by HexTank »

# - 180
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games

Post by PeteProdge »

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.
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games (classic: 1982-1993)

Post by PeteProdge »

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
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games

Post by Einar Saukas »

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!
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games (classic: 1982-1993)

Post by Juan F. Ramirez »

Knight Lore
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games (classic: 1982-1993)

Post by R-Tape »

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.
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games (classic: 1982-1993)

Post by Juan F. Ramirez »

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, ...
Last edited by Juan F. Ramirez on Wed Dec 13, 2017 2:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games (classic: 1982-1993)

Post by Rorthron »

Surely A has to be Atic Atac?
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games (classic: 1982-1993)

Post by PeteProdge »

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
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games (classic: 1982-1993)

Post by Wall_Axe »

L-Laser Squad
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games (classic: 1982-1993)

Post by Einar Saukas »

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...
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games (classic: 1982-1993)

Post by Juan F. Ramirez »

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!
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games (classic: 1982-1993)

Post by Juan F. Ramirez »

I think everyone agree with J: Jet Set Willy.
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games (classic: 1982-1993)

Post by Joefish »

Yep, and 'H' for 'Head Over Heels'.
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Re: The A-Z of the best Speccy games (classic: 1982-1993)

Post by Joefish »

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?
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