50 GAMES that DEFINED the ZX SPECTRUM (1982-1991)

25 GAMES that DEFINED the ZX SPECTRUM 128K (1986-1988): • 25 GAMES that DEFINED ...
25 GAMES that DEFINED the ZX SPECTRUM 16K (1982-1985): • 25 GAMES that DEFINED ...
5 THINGS that DEFINED the ZX SPECTRUM: • 5 THINGS that DEFINED ...
ZX SPECTRUM 16K: THE 20 BEST ARCADE GAMES (1982-1984): • ZX Spectrum 16k: THE 2...
ZX SPECTRUM 48/128k Top 10 ARCADE Games: • ZX SPECTRUM: Top 10 AR...
ZX SPECTRUM PLAYER'S GUIDE 2004-2019 - 100 Awesome Modern Games: • ZX Spectrum -=[ PLAYER...
ZX Spectrum 16k: THE 20 BEST ARCADE GAMES (1982-1984): • ZX Spectrum 16k: THE 2...
The EVOLUTION of ZX SPECTRUM GAMES: • The EVOLUTION of ZX SP...
25 Modern ZX SPECTRUM Games that PUSH THE LIMITS: • ZX SPECTRUM: 25 Modern...
10 ZX Spectrum Games that was AHEAD OF THEIR TIME: • ZX SPECTRUM: 10 Games ...
The BIGGEST SPRITES in ZX SPECTRUM Games: • ZX Spectrum: The BIGGE...
Real ZX Spectrum MEGA SETUP in action: 3 x TVs at once, MP3 / MOD player, VIDEO player, DUAL AY etc. • ZX Spectrum MEGA SETUP...
Hit Charts 1/5 : YOUR SINCLAIR Official All-Time Top 100 Games: • ZX SPECTRUM Hit Charts...
Hit Charts 2/5 : YOUR SINCLAIR Readers' Top 100 Games: • ZX SPECTRUM Hit Charts...
Hit Charts 3/5 : YOUR SINCLAIR 2004 Special Issue Top 30: • ZX SPECTRUM Hit Charts...
Hit Charts 4/5 : CRASH MAGAZINE Top 100 Spectrum Games: • ZX SPECTRUM Hit Charts...
Hit Charts 5/5 : SINCLAIR USER Top 50 Spectrum Software Classics: • ZX SPECTRUM Hit Charts...
2017 - Best games: • ZX Spectrum: THE BEST ...
2018 - Best games and demos: • ZX Spectrum: THE BEST ...
2018 - Best mods/recracks: • ZX Spectrum: The Best ...
2019 - Best games and demos: • ZX Spectrum: THE BEST ...
2019 - Best mods/recracks: • ZX Spectrum: The Best ...
2020 - Best games and demos: • ZX Spectrum: THE BEST ...
2020 - Best mods/recracks: • ZX Spectrum: The Best ...
2021 - Best games and demos: • ZX Spectrum: THE BEST ...
2021 - Best mods/recracks: • ZX Spectrum: The Best ...
Huge playlist archive with lots of similar videos: • ZX Spectrum Compilatio...
The ZX Spectrum has so many fantastic, and very important releases, for the future development of video games in the library. 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 R-TYPE, COMMANDO, ENDURO RACER, SUPER HANG-ON, SUPER MONACO GP, SPY HUNTER, GREEN BERET, CHASE HQ, RAINBOW ISLANDS, RENEGADE etc. is not included in this video.
Games converted from other computer systems is also not included, because they define the other computer systems, and not the ZX Spectrum. So games like BRUCE LEE, ELITE, THE WAY OF THE EXPLODING FIST, INTERNATIONAL KARATE, URIDIUM, THRUST, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, BOULDER DASH, THE EIDOLON, RESCUE ON FRACTALUS etc. is also not included.
A huge description of the games included in the video is to find in two comments in the comments section!
The ZX SPECTRUM SCENE NEVER DIED and several hundred releases comes out every year. All available as digital downloads, but also many available to buy on cassette. We follow the scene intensely, has walkthroughs of new games, and make lots of other videos like this one (check the playlists), so SUBSCRIBE to get all the latest ZX news!
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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 for your pleasure download links are included in all our videos.
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[@MZX-RG]

0:04:00 1 - 1982 THE HOBBIT (Melbourne House): One of the first 48k games and a milestone for illustrated text adventures. The parser was very advanced for the time and used a subset of English called Inglish. The game is also in real time, insofar as a period of idleness causes the "WAIT" command to be automatically invoked and the possibility of events occurring as a result. There is no records of sales figures but the game was ported to almost all other computers and and a figure of 500,000 copies is possible, making it a candidate for the bestselling text adventure of all time. Because of the huge success the games “Lord of the Rings” and “Shadows of Mordor” was also published. 0:01:02 2 - 1982 HORACE GOES SKIING (Sinclair Research Ltd): In 1982-83 three Horace games for the 16k Spectrum was published (The other two was Hungry Horace and Horace and the Spiders). Horace Goes Skiing is the best known because it was included in a bunch of tapes that was sold with a lot of machines, and Horace is the closest the ZX Spectrum was to having a mascot like Nintendo has Mario and Sega has Sonic. 0:02:02 3 - 1982 FOOTBALL MANAGER (Addictive Games Ltd): This was the first manager game to also have graphics, and for the time being it was a pretty advanced manager game. The game was ported to most home computers during the 1980s and spawned several sequels: FM 1 World Cup Edition, FM 2, FM 2 Expansion kit, FM 3. 0:03:31 4 - 1983 CHEQUERED FLAG (Sinclair Research Ltd): This was the first car simulator game for a home computer, and the first racing game for the ZX Spectrum. The game is viewed in first-person perspective and was way ahead of its time. A really advanced, fast and impressive game for the time being. 0:04:52 5 - 1983 JETPAC (Ultimate): The first game made by Ultimate (Later Rareware/RARE) and fast paced arcade action was now available for a 16k home computer. Rebuild and refuel your spaceship before taking off to the next planet. The game got a sequel named Lunar Jetman. 0:05:54 6 - 1983 MANIC MINER (Bug-Byte): This is a milestone for platform games and it has been ported to nearly all other platforms. You have to guide Miner Willy through 20 screens to complete the game. It was also the first ZX Spectrum game to feature in game music. More games starring Miner Willy was released as Jet Set Willy I & II. 0:07:01 7 - 1983 ATIC ATAC (Ultimate): This is Ultimate’s first action-adventure game. You can choose from three different characters; a wizard, a serf, and a knight, and you have to find three parts of a key to escape from a mansion. Depending on which character you choose you can use different secret passages. This was an important pre-zelda release in this genre. 0:07:56 8 - 1983 DEATHCHASE (Micromega): This game maked fast paced 3D vehicular combat gameplay available for a 16k home computer. There is eight levels where you have to chase and destroy two other motorcycles in a forest. The game is clearly inspired by the Speeder-Bike section in “Return of the Jedi” that was a new movie at the time being. 0:08:57 9 - 1983 ANT ATTACK (Quicksilva Ltd): This is the first isometric game for the home computers, and it was also the first isometric game to feature free movement in the north, south, east, west directions and the possibilities to climb up and down. A sequel called Zombie Zombie was also released. 0:10:06 10 - 1984 CHUCKIE EGG (A’n’F Software): In this game you play as Hen House Harry who has to collect 12 eggs from each level while avoiding the ducklings. The game didn’t achieve the same hights of popularity as Manic Miner but is still a classic for the ZX Spectrum. A sequel was released in 1985. 0:11:31 11 - 1984 SABRE WULF (Ultimate): This is the first game in the Sabreman series from Ultimate. It is a maze game with 256 connected screens and you have to find four pieces of an amulet. Sabreman continued his quest in: Underwurlde, Knight Lore, Pentagram and in the many years later unofficial release of Mire Mare, that was never released back in the days. 0:12:31 12 - 1984 TRASHMAN (New Generation Software): Highly original game - You have to keep up with, and fill a garbage truck. The game really has two elements, you have to make precise navigation to stay off the grass in the gardens, and you have to avoid being hit by the cars on the road. The game is timed and if you take too long you will lose your job. The game also got a sequel: Travel with Trashman. 0:13:33 13 - 1984 KNIGHT LORE (Ultimate): This is Ultimate’s third game in the Sabreman series, and it was a milestone for video games. This game combined the 2D arcade action adventure games with the 3D isometric games and made the standard for these games for many years in the future. 0:14:31 14 - 1984 DEUS EX MACHINA (Automata UK Ltd): This is an unusual and experimental game by Mel Croucher. The player takes control and follow the life of a "defect", in the shape of a human body, that has formed inside the machine. It is taken through all stages of life, from cells to senility. The game is advertised as audio-visual entertainment. It contains no sound, but there is a cassette tape that needs to be played along with the game. 0:15:44 15 - 1984 3D STARSTRIKE (Realtime Games Software Ltd): This game is a clone of Atari’s Star Wars arcade game from 1983, and it showed that it was possible to make fast paced 3D games on the ZX Spectrum. The game plays extremely well and is much better than the official Star Wars games that was released later. 0:17:17 16 - 1984 WANTED: MONTY MOLE (Gremlin Graphics Software Ltd): This is the first game, in what became a huge platform series, starring Monty Mole. This series was also released for the C64 and Amstrad CPC, but the ZX Spectrum was the only machine that got all five releases. 0:18:33 17 - 1984 DALEY THOMPSON’S DECATHLON (Ocean Software Ltd): Back in the days an extremely popular sports game starring the British sports man Daley Thompson. The game became winner of the C&VG 1984 Golden Joystick Awards - Best Arcade Style Game. 0:19:53 18 - 1984 AUTOMANIA (1st Wally game) (Mikro-Gen Ltd): This was the first game with Wally Week, it is a platform game, while the others is arcade adventure games. It is also the only game in the series that is descent to look at, the rest of the games looks terrible because of color clash, but the series became popular. 0:21:22 19 - 1984 SKOOL DAZE (Microsphere): You play as the student Eric and you have to try to get the combination to the schools safe so you can steal your reports. This is a very early example of the sandbox genre where you have to be able to walk around and entertain yourself. There was also a sequel released - Back to Skool. 0:22:25 20 - 1984 THE LORDS OF MIDNIGHT (Beyond Software): Way ahead of its time and a top role playing game from the 80s. The game featured an innovative 3-D effect called landscaping to depict the lands of Midnight from a first-person perspective. The game is a strategy/role-playing game hybrid where you start with four characters but you can get further 28 characters, and it is possible to play the game in three different play modes. A sequel named Doomdark's Revenge was released. 0:23:36 21 - 1984 JET SET WILLY (Software Projects Ltd): This is the follow up to Manic Miner, and it is a flip screen game with 60 playable screens. This game also became extremely popular and a Jet Set Willy II game was released. 0:24:36 22 - 1985 SABOTEUR (Durell Software Ltd): This is a stealth action-adventure game, and while it might not have been the first game in the genre, it most certainly lifted the genre to new heights and is today a classic game. A sequel, Saboteur II was also released. 0:25:39 23 - 1985 BENNY HILL’S MADCAP CHASE (DK’Tronics Ltd): This was the first game in a series programmed by Don Priestley which all featured very large sprites and nice colorful graphics, and this is the only of the games that was not ported to other systems. The other games are: Popeye, The Trap Door, Through the Trap Door, Flunky, Gregory Loses His Clock. 0:26:46 24 - 1985 TAU CETI (CRL Group PLC): A groundbreaking game at the time for its extensive use of 3D graphics, shadow effects and its large gameworld set on a small planet with a realistic day and night cycle. A special edition was released for the 128k and a sequel named Academy was released in 1986. 0:27:55 25 - 1985 CHAOS, THE BATTLE OF WIZARDS (Games Workshop): Chaos is a fantasy strategy game written by Julian Gollop, who later became famous for X-Com. In it you are a wizard who battles it out against up to seven other wizards that can be both player and/or computer controlled. The last one alive wins. The game is turn based and each turn is divided in two parts. In the first you select and cast spells and movement is done in the second. The sequel Lords of Chaos was released in 1990. 0:29:25 26 - 1985 HIGHWAY ENCOUNTER (Vortex Software): In this isometric 3D action-strategy game, the player uses a Vorton droid to push a bomb to the end of the highway into an alien base. There are 30 screens, most of them filled with hazards trying to block (like barrels) or destroy (mines and aliens) your bomb. The perspective and guidance concept are not the game's only original features; there are 4 more bombs with you, representing your extra lives - pushing you forward on your mission. If these other Vortons are destroyed, one of your extra lives is lost without the player being able to use it. Alien Highway was released as a follow up to this game in 1986. Continued with 27-50 in other comment...

[@MZX-RG]

0:30:56 27 - 1985 STARQUAKE (Bubble Bus Software): As BLOB, the Bio-Logically Operated Being, you are sent into an unstable planet and charged with the task of preventing it from exploding. This involves collecting various items and taking them to the planet's core. The game is an arcade adventure viewed from the side, with 512 screens arranged in a 16x32 pattern. A teleport system exists, so once you find the codes you can get quick access to different parts of the game. 0:32:14 28 - 1985 GYRON (Firebird Software Ltd): This game comes in two parts, there's the Atrium, an easier and more linear maze which acts as an introduction to the game and the Necropolis, which is much more difficult. The object of Necropolis is to find the "Place of Wisdom" hidden somewhere deep within the maze. You control a craft called the "Hedroid". The first person to solve the puzzle in the Necropolis would win a Porsche 924 motor car or £12,500 cash. Since around 60 people did, a play-off was simultaneously organised in London, Spain and Denmark for a third challenge, specifically written for the event, Gyron Arena (Sequel released in 1986). The winner solved the puzzle in 18 minutes. 0:33:43 29 - 1985 FAIRLIGHT (The Edge): In this game you control an adventurer named Isvar who is exploring a castle displayed in an isometric view. Each object has its own physical properties and resultant characteristics in terms of how much else can be carried alongside it. Certain objects have special uses, and there is a puzzle element to the game to discover how some of these objects have to be used to solve the game. The game won the awards for best arcade adventure, best graphics and best music of the year according to the readers of Crash magazine, and it placed number one on the UK list. An expanded 128k version was released and Fairlight II was released in 1986. 0:35:02 30 - 1986 QUAZATRON (Hewson Consultants Ltd): Back in the days the C64 users had a very popular game called Paradroid and Hewson wanted to make a port for the ZX Spectrum, but instead of making a direct port they wanted to make better use of the Spectrum, so the coders changed it from 2D into isometric 3D, and the Spectrum users ended up with their very own special version, that is one of the best isometric games available for the system. A sequel, Magnetron was released in 1988. 0:36:02 31 - 1986 TURBO ESPRIT (Durell Software Ltd): This game was very detailed and advanced for its time, featuring car indicator lights, pedestrians, traffic lights, and a view of the car's interior controls. It also features the earliest example of a free-roaming city environment in a computer game. This game is the grandfather for games like Driver and the Grand Theft Auto series. 0:37:18 32 - 1986 THE GREAT ESCAPE (Ocean Software Ltd): This game featured realistic graphics and a scrolling isometric engine instead of flip screens. You control a POW in Germany in 1942 and the prisoner has a daily routine, along with all the other prisoners, which includes roll call, exercising, mealtimes and bedtime. A lot of new features in this game and a milestone for the genre. 0:38:42 33 - 1986 SAI COMBAT (Mirrorsoft Ltd): The Spectrum now gets its very own martial arts game featuring the Japanese style of Sai Karate AKA Kendo. The difference from standard karate is the presence of a large stick for each player. You can enter the tournament in single player mode and try to get black belt with all the Dans, or you can play against your friends. The game was also ported to the Amstrad CPC. 0:40:09 34 - 1986 DAN DARE (Virgin Games Ltd): An all time classic game, being the first in a series of three, based around the British cult comic strip character, where you have to defeat Mekon and save the earth. 0:41:24 35 - 1986 REBELSTAR (Firebird Software Ltd): Rebelstar is a turn-based, tactical squad combat game for one or two players, from the creator of the later X-COM series. There was also a prequel to this game named Rebelstar Raiders which was written in Basic, and a sequel Rebelstar 2 was also released. 0:42:57 36 - 1986 THE WAY OF THE TIGER (Gremlin Graphics Software Ltd): This is a huge 3 parts fighting game where you can choose to play in practice mode in any of the three parts (Unarmed combat, Pole fighting, Sword fighting) or try to beat the game in the quest mode. A super detailed game with lots of moves, and also ported to a lot of other computer systems. 0:44:26 37 - 1987 XECUTOR (ACE Software): This is a high quality vertical shoot em up that is made exclusively for the ZX Spectrum. There is lots of power ups to collect, boss fights, and there is also a 2-player co operative mode. 0:45:37 38 - 1987 NETHER EARTH (Argus Press Software Ltd): This is one of the earliest computer real-time strategy games and it offered a major improvement in gameplay and graphics to the genre. You have to build robots and conquer the enemy bases. Nether Earth is a pioneering game for the real-time strategy genre. 0:47:09 39 - 1987 HEAD OVER HEELS (Ocean Software Ltd): One of the last isometric hits for the 8 bit computers, and a very advanced and detailed game. You have to find your friend so you can team up and solve puzzles where you will need to be on top of each other, and the characters have different abilities that is needed for some of the puzzles. The game was later ported to the 16 bit machines. 0:48:37 40 - 1987 ZYNAPS (Hewson Consultants Ltd): One of the best shoot’em ups for the ZX Spectrum. Plenty of levels, plenty of power ups, plenty of colors, and running at a very playable 25 fps crammed into 48k of ram. 0:50:01 41 - 1987 EXOLON (Hewson Consultants Ltd): This is a run and gun game that was made for the Spectrum and also ported to the C64 and Amstrad CPC. It was later converted to Enterprise 128 and to the 16-bit Amiga and Atari ST platforms. The game became extremely popular for the ZX Spectrum and it has extra features on the 128k machines. 0:51:24 42 - 1987 RESCUE (Mastertronic): Aliens are attacking the research station. As the security chief you have to guide the scientists to the rescue ship, along with their experiments, when they each wake up and start running around. Rescue as many as you can, because one of them has the answer to winning the whole war, but you don't know which. And don't forget to collect fuel for the trip. 0:52:37 43 - 1987 DIZZY (Codemasters): You control an egg named Dizzy and you have to walk around and solve lots of puzzles. This was the first game in a series that became extremely popular on the ZX Spectrum, and because of that the Spectrum got a lot of Dizzy games that was not released on other platforms. Most of these games were poor programmed and therefore a total mess of color clash but people liked them. 0:53:47 44 - 1987 DRILLER (Incentive Software Ltd): This game introduced a new graphics engine called Freescape and it made a new standard for 3D graphics. This was an incredible important release in the history of 3D gaming! It was released for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC and soon ported to a lot of other computers. A sequel Dark Side was released and soon a lot of Freescape games saw the light of day from many different developers. 0:55:33 45 - 1988 TARGET RENEGADE (Imagine Software Ltd): This is a follow up to the arcade port of Renegade and it is only made for ZX Spectrum, C64, Amstrad CPC and NES. The versions is not identical, and the ZX Spectrum version plays fantastic and also have 2-player co operative mode. The last game in the series was Renegade III: The Final Chapter. 0:56:31 46 - 1988 LASER SQUAD (Blade Software Ltd): Laser Squad is a turn-based tactics video game, originally released for the ZX Spectrum and later for lots of other systems. It was designed by Julian Gollop and his team, expanding on the ideas applied in their previous Rebelstar series of games. 0:57:57 47 - 1988 WHERE TIME STOOD STILL (Ocean Software Ltd): This game is a follow up to Ocean’s big success; The Great Escape, and it features the same engine, but it is much more advanced and made only for the 128k machines, and later ported to PC and Atari ST. While flying three members of the same family, your planes crash-lands in an area where it soon becomes clear that time has stood still - dinosaurs still roam the area, and the humans are primitive and carnivorous. Your task is to guide them to safety through the complex isometrically viewed world. 0:59:48 48 - 1989 ASTRO MARINE CORPS (Dinamic Software): Showtime for what the ZX Spectrum is capable of in a horizontal run and gun platform shooter. A huge stunning looking game that was made for all the 8 bit and 16 bit machines. The Spectrum wins when compared to the other 8 bits, and it can easily compete in gameplay and playability when compared to the 16 bit versions. 1:01:18 49 - 1990 TEENAGE MUTANT HERO TURTLES (Image Works): This game was only made for the 8 bit systems and David Perry and Nick Bruty did a fantastic job with this for the ZX Spectrum. A highly detailed and colorful game where you have to fulfill a lot of different tasks before the final confrontation with Shredder. 1:02:54 50 - 1991 EXTREME (Digital Integration): Again a game made only for the 8 bit systems and again a fantastic Spectrum version by David Perry and Nick Bruty. A quite short but technically very impressive game! And again: Arcade ports and ports from other computer systems is not included in this video, because they define the arcade machines and the other computer systems, and not the ZX Spectrum.

[@MZX-RG]

25 GAMES that DEFINED the ZX SPECTRUM 128K (1986-1988): kzbin.info/www/bejne/kH-7c4RjbrmdmJY 25 GAMES that DEFINED the ZX SPECTRUM 16K (1982-1985): kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYqVpZVvr8ppfKs 5 THINGS that DEFINED the ZX SPECTRUM: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2SXfI2pj7WShZo 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 ZX Spectrum 16k: THE 20 BEST ARCADE GAMES (1982-1984): kzbin.info/www/bejne/bH3Mq2xpgc-kfNE 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 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

[@ZenoWatson]

RIP Clive Sinclair, thank you for enriching our childhood!

[@ARDUNNO]

Yeah, owe so much to Mr Sinclair! He was a Genius

[@blackporscheroadster6415]

I remember bunking off school and playing Sabre Wulf on the big living room TV in 1985. I remember it was a sunny morning and I had a cool drink of Kia Ora and played Sabre Wulf, whilst feeling very rebellious at missing school. Happy days.

[@CastleKnight7]

That’s the life! 👍

[@blackporscheroadster6415]

@@CastleKnight7 Definitely is/was. I would highly recommend bunking off school. You remember those days far more than the boring miserable depressing monotonous maths classes. If I was young again, I'd bunk off every other day!

[@merlin5476]

Glad to see that CHAOS got a mention. Its a game that is different everytime ( like an board games) & is now called Chaos groove & is available for the pc. Its still played by a few mates today when they pop over & normally stick some money ( 50p each) in the kitty for the winner. Julian gollop made a basic but brilliant game here. Fairlight was also played a lot back in the day, but all i remember was the severe eye strain trying to find a random key lying on the floor that actually looked like A piece of the floor..

[@FatHead1979]

Great to see JetPac, Dizzy and Target Renegade. JetPac never gets old and I remember playing one of the Target Renegade games on my best mate's 128K +3, so it only took a few seconds to load due it being on floppy disc.

[@ARDUNNO]

Knight Lore ... Tau Ceti.. Completely forgot about these games! they were Awesome!

[@SomeOrangeCat]

Speccy games have one of two sound modes: Chippy-blippy-plippy, and ANGRY ROBOT.

[@GandaMelgao]

Many great games here. Thank you ☺️

[@horrgakx]

This brings back a LOT of memories, strangely smells and sounds. By about 1986 I'd moved to a C64 so I missed the latter games on the Spectrum.

[@alm5966]

It seems unbelievable now but when I saw those screens in The Hobbit I was totally gobsmacked as 12 year old back in 1982. 40 years later we have 12TF of compute power in a home console. Even in 2000 the most powerful super computer only had 7TF.

[@yachtmontyb9567]

Same for me, as the screens were loading up I knew what was coming next, such as the troll footprints being red on the path; haven't seen that for forty years but it all came back instantly!

[@TomMannCenturia]

Great work, clearly a lot of effort went into this, with a written summary for each game. Some truly great games in that list, including several I haven't played. Of course Laser Squad is there too, which is always the sign of a good list!

[@blackporscheroadster6415]

For me, this list is missing. Bombjack, Spikey Harold, Commando, Neverending Story, Ghosts N Goblins, Outrun, Spy Hunter, Hunchback 2.

[@MZX-RG]

Many of these are arcade games, therefore they define the arcade games from that era, they can not define the ZX Spectrum. This is also mentioned in the video description...

[@snagultoof]

Fantastic video and informative comments. I hope you make more videos like this one. It's almost impossible to pick just 50 out of thousands but you picked most of my personal favourites and missed hardly any. I agree with you about arcade ports too 😊👍

[@roboticbaboon3125]

Ant Attack was such an early game for the ZX but it had a really powerful atmosphere.

[@davmo72]

Those garish colours give me a rush of nostalgia!! Head Over Heels was my favourite game of that era.

[@jamiewallaceux]

Turbo Esprit was nothing short of incredible. Way ahead of its time.

[@MZX-RG]

It was Grand Theft Auto's grandfather, and if you do not already know it, someone has made a conversion of GTA for the ZX Spectrum in 2022: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fp_RqIdnd7J_iZY

[@hopetagulos]

Sinclair ZX Spectrum is the king of dithering and creative limitations in the gaming world.

[@Kakker71]

Oh man...what a great trip down memory lane! I had more than half of these games...takes me back

[@stevebarry8149]

Great list. I remember getting chequered flag and panama joe with my speccy back in 1985/86. Those were the days

[@ViktorJaneba]

Oh lord, Head over Heels. I loved that one. I miss 2 titles here: WDW2 and Into the Eagles Nest. And Pssst! And Tomahawk/Fighter Pilot! Cyclone! Masters of the Universe! And! And! I miss my childhood, here.

[@djx-ray1876]

Love to see it - still have 3 Spectrums -48k rubber keys, Spectrum +, Spectrum+2- along with over 500 games.

[@blackporscheroadster6415]

How much for the lot?

[@tonybell7267]

How smooth is checkered flag ??? That looks amazing 👍

[@gameware3480]

Old school games I love this.

[@opinali]

Nice list. Missing for me: Kokotoni Wilf, Rapscallion, Terramex, Trap Door, Underwurlde, Batman, Robocop, Warlock of Firetop Mountain, tons more... :)

[@sambas9257]

These are the games that didn't age a single day:they are a perfect balance of fast, modern, reactive gameplay pacing and clean, effective abstract graphic. JetPack 5:05 Manic Miner 5:58 Atic Atac 7:10 Manic Miner 2 - Jet Set Willy 23:46 Star Quake 31:09 Zynaps 48:59

[@stevenspx6226]

Memories flooding back really did love ma old +2

[@getdrinking]

Great list. Lots of nostalgia

[@jamiewallaceux]

Spectrum games were also kind of haunting in their own special way, hard to describe really.

[@Mandrax1138]

Anyone remember Mailstrom? I think it ended up on a cover tape which is how I found it. I quite enjoyed that one.

[@hubertzimnicki1770]

Chaos, Nether Earth, Turbo Esprit...all way beyond their time.

[@braingers]

RIP Clive Sinclair without this computer my life would been completely different.....

[@deterdamel7380]

This is a nice collection, that shows real game play unlike most other collections of these kinds!

[@neilthomas8070]

An interesting video, never owned one or played the games but I am fascinated by the computer. Don't play games now so I won't be playing them now.

[@nepalesejam7505]

I must of missed Wheelie and Nodes of Yesod but it was such a vid! So many memories. Nice

[@javierm_uk1588]

Wonderful list. I´m missing Amaurote and Ranarama. The later could be argued what it was first developed for, but Amaurote was 100% Speccy. Maziacs could have made it too. Cyclone (or Tornado Low Level) , Gift From The Gods, Match Day and The Sacred Armor of Antiriad would have made my list too.

[@connorthomas4469]

23:36 : I was so confused why Gwen Stegfani's "Rich Girl" was playing haha

[@nifftbatuff676]

Valhalla (1984 I think) was another interesting game, exclusive for the ZX Spectrum. It was the first graphics-animated text adventure game featuring emergent gameplay with autonomous NPCs.

[@cultofdeath79]

was a great adventure, was released on c64 too

[@satan3959]

Actually it was ported to the C64 a year after the Spectrum version www.mobygames.com/game/c64/valhalla Also the Spectrum version was from 1983

[@gorankopcic7827]

I played A LOT of games, over the years, on Spectrum, Commodore 64, on arcade consoles, Playstation 1 and 2, Amiga 1200, and PC, and the best two games OF ALL OF THEM, for me at least, are Silent hill 1, 2 - Playstation, and Benefactor - Amiga 1200.

[@gerrytemple5044]

Fantastic, thank you! One question please: just watched a "wireframe" mod of Tomb Raider 2 (search Footi wireframe TR2) which made me wonder if a Speccy was capable enough to run TR in this reduced way - what do you think? Just love the idea 😁 Cheers!

[@MZX-RG]

I don't know, but it will for sure have to be less complex, with less lines to draw. Some other very impressive new ZX Spectrum productions can be seen here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoaoZayYpL5ons0

[@cthutu]

I would add Way of the Exploding Fist instead of Sai Combat. I would have added Android II, TTL/Cyclone and Scuba Dive over some of the games there (like TMNT and Extreme). Glad to see Lords of Midnight in there.

[@seraphinberktold7087]

There is an eplanation in the video's description for omitting "Way of the Exploding Fist". It is one of those games which were ported to the ZX Spectrum from other systems. Sadly or luckily any list of 50 games out of the Speccy's huge library will have to skip some important games.

[@MRK1973]

I had the spectrum+2. And I had Zynaps, chuckle egg and target renegade. But where are Batman ,Empire strikes back and Robocop? They were excellent too

[@jonnysegway7866]

Anyone remember Wriggler or Strange Loop? Speccy had some left-field games!

[@captainblood9616]

I remember Strange Loop, that was an odd one

[@adamw.p.6287]

Out of some of the earlier games Maziacs, Escape from Krakatoa, Mutant Monty, Android 2 were some fantastic titles for their time.

[@livesjuris3032]

just amazing

[@gazville313]

mind the noise the casette tapes used to make haha lovin dizzy

[@jonelson1983]

'Infiltrator' was a bloody good game. And I spent hours playing Microprose's 'Gunship', where you flew an Apache....loved it.

[@ViktorJaneba]

On a Spectrum? Have to check it out. I played Tomahawk.

[@jonelson1983]

@@ViktorJaneba I had a +2 so it may have been 128k only. Two cassettes. Great game!

[@MZX-RG]

It can be downloaded here: spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/2183/ZX-Spectrum/Gunship

[@jamesrmorris1952]

Oh my god that image with the pot and logs I remember it

[@HighwayUK]

quite a few there i'd have swapped out, such as 3d Starstrike for the 2nd game which was miles better, Driller for The Sentinel. Also a lack of games like Elite, Mercenary, Fairlight, Jack the Nipper 2, Everyones a Wally etc that were way above most of these.

[@b213videoz]

Just one game: MYTH - history in the making

[@petipitiszka1454]

Tir-na-nog?ELITE?Heavy on the magic?Glaurung?Spy hunter?Robin of the wood?Code name:mat? Fred? Commando?Bat man?etc...

[@MZX-RG]

Elite was published by Acornsoft for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron computers in September 1984, so it defines these computers. Spy Hunter and Commando are arcade conversions, they define the arcade games from that era.

[@Albert-kx2jr]

Se te ha "olvidado" poner los cientos de juegos españoles como la pulga, Freddy Hardest, Navy Moves, Army Moves, CApitan Sevilla, Camelot, Phantomas, Cauldron, Livingstone supongo, Abu Simel y un largo etc, que mal....

[@12345fowler]

I remember playing some sort of flight sim game on this PC. All I remember was there was a F-15 in it, taking fuel from a tanker and I was shooting them both down. The game was loaded from cassette and it was awesome.

[@seraphinberktold7087]

Afterburner, perhaps? That was a shooter rather than any sort of flight sim. But visually very attractive. Quite an achievement on the ZX Spectrum.

[@jonelson1983]

Either 'Ace' (which you could refuel), or 'F15 Strike Eagle' probably

[@ViktorJaneba]

Fighter Pilot?

[@12345fowler]

@@ViktorJaneba I honestly don't remember, but it sounds it could have been the game.

[@jonnysegway7866]

Quazatron was a really good game, I had focus then, don’t play games at all now

[@xlsully7033]

kids these days don't know their born..... never mind waiting an hour for an update.....try waiting 72 hours for a game to load and then the cassette get eaten lolololololololol

[@HanJammer]

Bringing back the memories from the 80s - gaming on ZX Spectrum was truly horrible experience compared to other systems of this era (PC included).

[@johnk7571]

Hi all, does anyone know what this old Spectrum game is. You play as 4 different balls that have different abilities, I can remember that one bounces and another one sticks to walls, I can't remember the other two. I think the theme was Sci-fi.

[@J5X7]

Is that I-ball or something, Eye-ball?

[@johnk7571]

@@J5X7 just had a look, it's not that one buddy

[@user-nc7go8tz9q]

не могу найти игру на zx spektrum мне было лет 5 когда я в нее играл. управляешь мелким орлом ,он не перевоплащается в мага,хотя игра похожа. там локация не переходит плавно в другую локацию. на подобии игры "Jet Set Willy"

[@isidrodeleon673]

Starquake remembers me to Anfractuos.

[@AlexanderSeven]

Dan Dare is one of the greatest games I played ever.

[@rusgercin9630]

But Big Nose in usa too, and Iron Man, and Robicop, and Operation Walf ,and of cose suboteur, and Enduro Racer.

[@ARDUNNO]

Quazatron! Strange Game , but i liked it and played it a lot.

[@blatherskite3009]

Quazatron was basically the Speccy version of the C64's Paradroid, iirc. The nice thing about that era of gaming was that the different formats were very different hardware - not just slightly different specs of PC like they are today - so you'd sometimes get devs bothering to make very different versions of a game for different formats, "reimagined" to be a better fit for that hardware's strengths. The C64 was better at 2D hardware scrolling and sprites, so Paradroid plays that way, but the Speccy was better at more detailed isometric graphics, so Quazatron plays that way. They've got a lot in common under the hood, though - same "hacking" mini-game, same taking over other types of droids, same shutting down levels of the ship, etc. :)

[@phillippatryndal4255]

No 'wall' off the horizons tape? :P /s

[@LADY_JEMIMA_FORTESCUE]

Manic Miner was the game to play.

[@roboticbaboon3125]

I like the selection but Commando is really missing. You can throw out Atic Atac or Head Over Heels but Commando needs to be there. It was epic.

[@hugodrax71]

Throw out Atic Atac!!? Are you kidding??? One of the iconic games on the 48k and a game which propelled Ultimate to the top of the tree.

[@roboticbaboon3125]

@@hugodrax71 Ultimate was already one of the tallest trees in the garden thanks to Pssst!

[@hugodrax71]

@@roboticbaboon3125 Atic Atac established Ultimate firmly as the no.1 software house for the Spectrum. It was a landmark game with stunning graphics for the time (it was the main reason we got a Spectrum back in '83) and should be included in every 'Best Ever' list.

[@roboticbaboon3125]

@@hugodrax71 I'm not saying it sucked but it sucked compared to their other games, such as Knight Lore, so IMO Atic Atac is completely forgettable.

[@hugodrax71]

@@roboticbaboon3125 For you it may be forgettable - but for thousands of Spectrum owners, it remains an all-time classic. It was groundbreaking in '83 and even today it remains fun and challenging. Not putting Atic Atac in a list of greatest ever Spectrum games is like leaving Maradona out of a list of greatest ever footballers.

[@Motocicleiros]

Actually there is just ONE game to define the ZX Spectrum and I don't need to say what it is. Any one who lived that time knows which one I am talking about.

[@J5X7]

Pippo!

[@uncletimo6059]

skool daze! lords of midnight! sabouteur!!!!! still good games

[@quantumloc8159]

шмфты created electronic lock means laser clock

[@castedaway13]

LSD trip without actually taking the drug

[@danielt.8573]

I never played Jetpack that much, I prefered Pogotron.

[@daveydumpling]

Didn’t see Elite in there!?

[@MZX-RG]

No, it was originally published by Acornsoft for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron computers in September 1984, so it defines these computers...

[@Andre-bi3gq]

rip

[@AceBanana100]

No Elite? Space explorers will be upset ;-)

[@woolychewbakker5277]

Elite was not an original Spectrum game. I think it came out on the BBC computer first ?

[@jamesrmorris1952]

Yeah the hobbit

[@satan3959]

Where are sqij and Alien Kill? (joke)

[@Sr19769p]

Oh God, Alien Kill! I forgot about that stinker!

[@woolychewbakker5277]

Trashman LOL. You have to put your bins out now !