25 GAMES that DEFINED the ZX SPECTRUM 128K (1986-1988)

In the 80s, most games were made so they could run on both the 48k and the 128k, and the only 128k support would be AY music or all-in-one-load if it was a multiload game on the 48k. Such games do not define the 128k model. There weren't many games made exclusively for the 128k before in the 90s, but all the 90s games were also made for PC, Amiga and Atari ST, so here it is a bit up the hill for the ZX Spectrum 128k to have the best version and a game that defines it.
However, some 1986-1988 games exist where the ZX Spectrum 128k has the best 8 bit version or some exclusive games, and these are the ones to see in this video.
There were also some great conversions of arcade games, but as these games had their origin in the arcade machines, they can not define the ZX Spectrum, they define the arcade games from that era. So games like Renegade, Yie-Ar Kung-Fu, Rod-Land, Saint Dragon etc. is not included in this video.
A video with 50 GAMES that DEFINED the ZX SPECTRUM 48/128K (1982-1991) can be seen here: • 50 GAMES that DEFINED ...
And a video with 25 GAMES that DEFINED the ZX SPECTRUM 16K (1982-1985) can be seen here: • 25 GAMES that DEFINED ...
00:00 Intro screen
00:03 1986 - International Match Day: A launch title for the 128k. Improved version of Match Day, with countries instead of fictive teams, and with extras like cutscenes after scoring.
01:03 1986 - Daley Thompson's Supertest: Day: A launch title for the 128k. In 48k and other 8 bit versions the game has 8 disciplines, while ZX 128k has 12 disciplines.
02:03 1986 - Three Weeks in Paradise: ZX 128k version has a bigger island, more locations and more items to be found.
03:03 1986 - Fairlight: ZX 128k version has intro, additional rooms and a Game Over picture.
04:03 1986 - Spellbound: Extended ZX 128k version with more screens and more graphics.
05:03 1986 - Knight Tyme: Released first for ZX 128k in extended version with more screens and more graphics.
06:03 1986 - Technician Ted: The Megamix: Extended version of Technician Ted with more screens.
07:03 1986 - Sweevo's Whirled: Extended version of Sweevo's World with more screens.
08:03 1986 - They Call Me Trooper: ZX 128k exclusively game. The first 128k only game, released in December 1986 to coincide with the ZX Spectrum +2.
09:03 1986 - Rasputin: ZX 128k version is the only 8 bit version with a talking Rasputin head and speech between screens.
10:03 1986 - Gladiator: ZX 128k version has improved controls, the appearance of enemies has been changed, new battle scenes have been added.
11:03 1986 - Starglider: ZX 128k version has more missions.
12:03 1986 - Desert Rats: ZX 128k version has more missions.
13:03 1987 - Little Computer People: Not made for 48k.
14:03 1987 - Stormbringer: Extended ZX 128k version with more screens and more graphics.
15:03 1987 - Amaurote: ZX 128k version has an intro, the 48k version has not, and C64 and CPC versions was made as 2D games.
16:03 1987 - Tau Ceti - The Special Edition: ZX 128k version has better graphics inside buildings, additional libraries with information about the planets, and a tutorial explaining the rules of the game.
17:03 1987 - Shadows of Mordor: This is the third J.R.R. Tolkien adventure game, and the 48k version is text only, while ZX 128k version has pictures while playing.
18:03 1987 - Investigations: ZX 128k exclusively game.
19:03 1987 - The Kingdom of Krell: ZX 128k exclusively game.
20:03 1988 - La Abadia del Crimen: Not made for 48k.
21:03 1988 - Diablo!: ZX Spectrum exclusively game, where 48k is text only and 128k has pictures.
22:03 1988 - Dragonia: ZX 128k exclusively game.
23:03 1988 - The Muncher: Only made for ZX 128k and C64.
24:03 1988 - Where Time Stood Still: Not made for 48k, and later converted to 16 bit systems.
This is the channel with the biggest ZX SPECTRUM support and 1000s of videos. We have spot on all the latest news in GAMES, DEMOS, AY CHIPTUNES, BEEPER CHIPTUNES, PIXEL ART etc. etc. We also feature new re-releases of modified games and retro gaming of classic games and much, much more!
2017 - Best games: • ZX Spectrum: THE BEST ...
2018 - Best games and demos: • ZX Spectrum: THE BEST ...
2018 - Best modified re-releases: • ZX Spectrum: The Best ...
2019 - Best games and demos: • ZX Spectrum: THE BEST ...
2019 - Best modified re-releases: • ZX Spectrum: The Best ...
2020 - Best games and demos: • ZX Spectrum: THE BEST ...
2020 - Best modified re-releases: • ZX Spectrum: The Best ...
2021 - Best games and demos: • ZX Spectrum: THE BEST ...
2021 - Best modified re-releases: • ZX Spectrum: The Best ...
2022 - Best games and demos: • ZX Spectrum: The BEST ...
2022 - Best modified re-releases: • ZX Spectrum: The Best ...

[@MZX-RG]

50 GAMES that DEFINED the ZX SPECTRUM 48/128 (1982-1991): kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJOrdpWXra6msJI 25 GAMES that DEFINED the ZX SPECTRUM 16K (1982-1985): kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYqVpZVvr8ppfKs ZX SPECTRUM 16K: THE 20 BEST ARCADE GAMES (1982-1984): kzbin.info/www/bejne/bH3Mq2xpgc-kfNE ZX SPECTRUM 48/128K Top 10 ARCADE Games: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYGwZ2VumaiMfpI ZX SPECTRUM PLAYER'S GUIDE 2004-2019 - 100 Awesome Modern Games: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ama3nmZmg794qMk The EVOLUTION of ZX SPECTRUM GAMES: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKbJnGudn7eWjNU 25 Modern ZX SPECTRUM Games that PUSH THE LIMITS: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoaoZayYpL5ons0 5 THINGS that DEFINED the ZX SPECTRUM: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2SXfI2pj7WShZo 10 ZX Spectrum Games that was AHEAD OF THEIR TIME: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGWyZKFvf7N5mLM The BIGGEST SPRITES in ZX SPECTRUM Games: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3uYio18itGrq7M Real ZX Spectrum MEGA SETUP in action: 3 x TVs at once, MP3 / MOD player, VIDEO player, DUAL AY etc. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i17bqGiJeMyUhsU Hit Charts 1/5 : YOUR SINCLAIR Official All-Time Top 100 Games: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXncYqiqedCLqas Hit Charts 2/5 : YOUR SINCLAIR Readers' Top 100 Games: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6iZoqqfe6uKn9E Hit Charts 3/5 : YOUR SINCLAIR 2004 Special Issue Top 30: kzbin.info/www/bejne/en2lk6Ola9afg80 Hit Charts 4/5 : CRASH MAGAZINE Top 100 Spectrum Games: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZi3XoOjnMmsq80 Hit Charts 5/5 : SINCLAIR USER Top 50 Spectrum Software Classics: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4G2iJmFqNyKr7s 2017 - Best games: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZq8YWCojr2LgaM 2018 - Best games and demos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmeplJ59hrmFf6s 2018 - Best mods/recracks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gobPaaamjcmgeKM 2019 - Best games and demos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKCZoGCva85knLc 2019 - Best mods/recracks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKHZhpqsfZV7hrM 2020 - Best games and demos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3rShouEqclph6M 2020 - Best mods/recracks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4ethqtvi72nf9E 2021 - Best games and demos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bX22fHWMoq95l7c 2021 - Best mods/recracks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqqxYqScq86Ui80

[@PedroFerreira-sx2gd]

Great video. Abadia del Crime is probably the most technical 128k game , altought the Gameplay is quite strange, hard and cryptic , but deserves to BE in the Spectrum hall of fame

[@GandaMelgao]

To me it was 'The Pawn', a text adventure. In fact, one of the reasons I bought the 128k, was to be able to play that game. Great video, and great selection of games. Thank you 😊

[@pcuser80]

I liked the little bug in Matchday. I can not recall how to do it anymore. But when you do a certain thing every player was cheering on the playfield.

[@pedrotimoteo329]

Great list. I'd have added Renegade -- the shoulder throw move, IMO, makes the game a lot more fun, and it has an extra level as well.

[@MZX-RG]

Renegade is an absolute classic for the 128k, but the problem here is that it is an arcade game, and therefore it can not define the Spectrum, it defines the arcade games from that era.

[@The-Man-On-The-Mountain]

I didn't know Amaurote. IDK WTF is going on but it's absolutely impressive. Thr animations and the frame rate are amazing.

[@Daz555Daz]

Great video as always.

[@MZX-RG]

Thank you very much 👍

[@paulmcbride9139]

I used to love Barry McGuigans Boxing on my 48k Spectrum, and was always to curious to see recordings or descriptions of how the 128k version differed. Do you have any footage of the 128k version?

[@MZX-RG]

Except for AY sound, there were no extras in the 128k version.

[@paulmcbride9139]

Thank you!

[@IsaacKuo]

Interesting lack of RPGs. I can understand why few (if any?) RPGs were ported to the 48K ... most RPGs were developed for floppies so there wouldn't be a way to cram that into a 48K single loader. But the extra space of 128K could have made at least some earlier single sided floppy RPGs doable. In any case, I'm glad to see at least one old school board style wargame (Desert Rats). Also, The Muncher looks like a very fun idea! Sort of a zoomed in Rampage. The pixel art and animation is really charming.

[@MZX-RG]

Worth mentioning is that the ZX Spectrum 128k took revenge in the modern era with 3 absolutely fantastic RPG games, that should be checked out by all fans of this genre: Los Amores De Brunilda 2013 : kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpuZZZp5eLuWmsk The Order of Sleeping Dragon 2019: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXyck3qobJtnkNU Wanderers - Chained in the Dark 2014: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmjYnGCMf9iCgqc

[@IsaacKuo]

@@MZX-RG I guess it depends on what you call an "RPG" or not. The Legend of Zelda was clearly not an RPG, but a lot of games took elements from both Zelda and RPGs to become "action RPGs". And JRPGs took some inspiration from early RPGs like Wizardry and Ultima III, but they sort of went off in their own direction. By the time we get into the more modern era, JRPGs and action RPGs all take inspiration from each other, and the old school RPGs just sort of went away (Ultima went sideways into pioneering the MMO, of course). Anyway, since we're talking the 1986-1988 timeframe, RPGs were turn based, like Ultima, Bard's Tale, Phantasie, Wizardry, Bard's Tale. They drew inspiration either directly or indirectly from D&D - thus an emphasis on character stats and leveling up. OTOH, the highly popular Dungeon Master innovated real time point-and-click action. Even so, when D&D finally did enter the computer RPG arena, it was initially with the older style of computer RPG - turn based, with square based movement. But when they did finally clone Dungeon Master with Eye of the Beholder, that was a truly massive hit. My point is - when I note the lack of RPGs on the ZX Spectrum, I'm talking about ports or clones from other systems. The big RPGs mostly started on the Apple ][, even if the C64 ports sold more copies. Ports really made a lot of sense for RPGs, since most of the tough development effort was already done.

[@matt.willoughby]

​@@IsaacKuothere must have been a tsr or SSI game on there? There def was on amstrad and c64

[@dav1dbone]

What's the issue with Daley Thompson's Super Test, on the tug of war there is a competitor called Gus, he's unbeatable, even on emulator slowed down?

[@gurujoe75]

Incredible genre and from the coder's point of view also technologically wide range. And all pulled by the CPU without any special support on the graphics or audio HW side.

[@FaxiiChannel]

Sono i giochi piu' belli della storia gia' il suono AY era entrato di prepotenza e si sente 😊 il gioco Super Test me lo diedero con il mio primo Zx 128k venti minuti di caricamento era il bello

[@dc110770]

Loading games, that sound! Waiting 5-10mins for it to load, hoping it wouldn’t crash. At the end of it all a colourful mess! Ahh the good old days.

[@yozza4978]

Lol yeah.."for the love of god nobody touch anything while it's loading incase it crashes"

[@barrydown1938]

The games were very clever,but the console was so fragile.Broken the keys for the cassette and then I didn't lay the keyboard down on a table the power socket broke the soldering off the board that was that.

[@tofik5939]

👍👍

[@Petsoft01]

тот случай, когда все в эти игры были и играл 100%, пройдены до конца 0%

[@deterdamel7380]

Well, I don't' miss these games.. they seems to be pretty lame. I remember the very stupid sound capabilities of my Spectrum.

[@xflossx]

srry but to me there is only one good game starglider but i got my speccy when the plus 2 a came out but played space harrier cyclone heroquest robocop midnight resistance renegade bombjack bubble bobble rainbow islands op wolf batman deathwish rtype super scramble simulator star wars vendeta ninja remix shadow dancer target renegade barbarian chase hqdan dare jetpac enduro racer rambo pang switchblade uridium god this game pissed me of and way of the exploding fist but no one seems to mention these its all manic miner which i hate and skool dayz or jack the nipper which is just anoying its like dizzy one of the first games i got as it was sold at the paper shop i went to on boxing day to get my star wars stickers and yes never filled the album needed 20 more but dizzy was ok but just anoying it passed the time but just lost intrest sorr wall for text LOLOLOLOL