Fairlight and Beyond! - ZXSpectrum Game

Melkhior’s Mansion has been released! It’s completely FREE and you can download it here: 👉 bitglint.itch....
Fairlight is a lovely little #ZXSpectrum game. I still have no idea what you're supposed to do, but I spent hours playing this back in the day!
After Fairlight, we'll take a quick look at 'Avarslund' by Richard Jordan ( / ericretro ) which is a version of Fairlight for Windows that was never released.
Finally, we'll take a look at Richard Jordan's current WIP - Melkhior's Mansion - the spiritual successor to 'Atic Atac' on the Speccy and one of the most beautiful looking and sounding isometric games I have seen! This is being converted to the Spectrum Next by Kev Brady and to the ZX Spectrum by Bob Smith.
Follow me on Twitter👉 / spectrumnez
Follow Richard Jordan on Twitter👉 / ericretro
Follow Kev Brady on Twitter👉 / 9bitcolor
Follow Bob Smith on Twitter👉 / bobsstuffgames
Fairlight Music remix by: D.A. Wilson
#zxspectrum #retro #retrogaming #8bit #isometric

[@cthutu]

An interesting fact about Fairlight is that the backgrounds where drawn using the same routines that Bo Jangeborg used when he wrote the Artist tool. The background would be drawn off-screen then blitted in when finished. So the drawing would be based on drawing lines, filling, and other routines that you would find in an art program.

[@SpectrumNez]

Awesome info - thanks!

[@Retronomy]

I'm a simple man. I see a video about ZX Spectrum game, I click "Like" and then I watch.

[@SpectrumNez]

I like your style. 🕹😉

[@chanjackie2299]

You should also get a spectrum emulator and play these fun games !

[@Spacecoke]

I must be a simple man too. I read your comment which made me click like for the video. Now I will watch the video 😂

[@tkbettas1890]

Fairlight is pure pixel art!

[@SpectrumNez]

It’s delicious isn’t it? 😎❤️

[@thrillhausen8858]

A trail blazer, RIP Sir Clive x

[@nigeltrigger4499]

It is fantastic to see ZX Spectrum graphics, colour pallet and resolution restrictions, without colour clash! Obviously none of those thing are restraints on modern machines, but it is awesome to see what speccy games would have looked like without the colour clash limitation!

[@SpectrumNez]

The Spectrum Next is already making this happen with quite a few games now, and MM is still incoming (at some point!)

[@Roysterini]

Aww man, this brings back memories. I had to play my Speccy games on a black and white portable tv though.

[@SpectrumNez]

Roysterini At least you missed out on all the colour clash! 😂

[@sashaburrow6186]

ASHBY DE LA ZOUCH was the location of the original ULTIMATE offices in England...

[@SpectrumNez]

Just up the road from where I’m from and spent the first 20 years of my life - Derby! That’s why I sound so funny me’ duck! 😂

[@CrownAcademyEnglish]

I had a Spectrum+ back in the day and had a lot of fun with it. Fairlight was way ahead of its time but yeah it was never clear what you're supposed to do lol. Programmers made good use of the 48k RAM didn't they?! Good times. Nice video. :)

[@SpectrumNez]

Hi! Thanks for your comment - appreciate that. Yeah - Fairlight was awesome. I used to spend ages wandering around the castle as a kid without any clue as to what I was supposed to be doing, but it didn’t seem to matter. The atmosphere was so great that it felt like I was in another world! Brilliant stuff!

[@Switcher1972]

"Fairlight" received very few coverage here in France, first and mainly because the Speccy wasn't a fan-favorite in the specialized media (the Amstrad's being the 8bit leader) second maybe because it looked a bit too much like previous "3D isometric" essays (one word: "Knight Lore") and our very own French "Crafton et Xunk" (which was a blast on... Amstrads). Watching YT vids from the Sinclair enthusiasts, it gives me the impression the Sinclair offerings have been highly underrated.

[@SpectrumNez]

So Amstrad was the leader in France? Wow - that’s totally different to the UK. The CPC always lagged behind both the Speccy and C64, although it had some amazing games. (Gryzor comes to mind). We had ‘Crafton et Xunk’ here too but it was called ‘Get Dexter’. It looks like a lovely looking game! It’s a pity Fairlight didn’t get the coverage it deserved over there. Such a good game. I spent countless hours playing it back in the day. I thought it was magical!

[@RoseTintedSpectrum]

You're right, this game truly is mind blowing.

[@SpectrumNez]

As is your comment, sir! 🤯😂

[@DarioRuellan]

Very nice video! Interesting bits about Fairlight, and it is always a pleasure to watch Richard's work.

[@SpectrumNez]

Thanks Dario! It’s true, Richard’s work is superb! 👍🏻

[@MarioMartinez_]

Melkhior's Mansion is like Attic Attack but much better

[@SpectrumNez]

Exactly! And it’s free to download too! What could be better? 😉

[@TheTurnipKing]

IIRC "The Edge" is basically one guy, Tim Langdell, who was a legendarily litigious copyright troll who after decades of successful extortion, ended badly when he tried to shake down EA over "Mirror's Edge", and he and Bo Jangeborg the creator of Fairlight had a falling out over the state that Fairlight 2 was released in, which probably has something to do with the Fairlight rights being unavailable.

[@SpectrumNez]

I have heard of this guy. Sounds like a real dilbert!

[@cthutu]

I feel like I want to write a game called "Cutting Edge" now :)

[@SpectrumNez]

I noticed that @realedgegames joined twitter this month and was posting some info about Fairlight. Can’t be sure it is THE edge, obviously, but the info was interesting nonetheless.

[@BongWeasle]

I remember all the praise this received back in the day. Still looks great.

[@SpectrumNez]

It is a fabulous looking game and the atmosphere is tremendous!

[@hideawaystudio9683]

..thought I heard my old Fairlight remix :-) ..that Fairlight remake looks really nice - a crying shame it wasn't released. Melkhior's Mansion looks truly stunning! I have had a huge soft spot for Atic Atac since its original release but this is something else and I simply cannot wait to see it running on the Spectrum Next... Mr Jordan - you are a genius with those pixels!

[@SpectrumNez]

HideawayStudio Oh hey! The remix is yours? Awesome work dude! I did credit you in the text with what I found on here somewhere. Hope that’s ok? It fits so well with the remake! Melkhior’s Mansion is, I indeed, a thing of beauty! I’ve played the current builds on both Windows and the Spectrum Next and they’re both equally stunning! You’re not going to be disappointed buddy! 👍🏻

[@hideawaystudio9683]

@@SpectrumNez yes - it was one of a few remixes I did many years ago - nice to see it being used to good effect. I can't wait to feed my Spectrum Next Melkhior's Mansion!! Is there any hint yet as to a release date? All the best, Dani.

[@SpectrumNez]

HideawayStudio I don’t think so. I know the current progress on the Next version has stopped until the Windows version is finished or, at least, a bit further down the line. I think it was becoming a major job to keep changing stuff for the conversation depending on which way the Windows version went. So the decision was taken to halt until later on so that Kev is not constantly trying to hit a moving target! Both versions will be worth the wait - that’s for sure! 👍🏻

[@RACING5312001]

Any news on Melkhior's Mansion. I had a spectrum 16K back in 1985 then a 48K just after that. So what do i need to play Melkhiors Mansion when it's released. cheers

[@SpectrumNez]

There’s a playable demo available NOW on PC! 👉 bitglint.itch.io/melkhiors-mansion When it’s finished, it’ll be available on PC, Spectrum Next and Spectrum 128k!👍🏻

[@miikasuominen3845]

I remember loading this game, just for the intro tune ;) Love the melody and the way it's done on simple Speccy beeber...

[@SpectrumNez]

Yes - it’s quite wonderful! I purposely put the 48k version on this video because I prefer it to the 128k version! There are not many games I can say that about!

[@DobryakDobreyshiy]

@@SpectrumNez kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXWVnaltnL9oiLM Enjoy :)

[@SpectrumNez]

Dobryak Dobreyshiy Awesome! Thanks for this! 👍🏻

[@DobryakDobreyshiy]

@@SpectrumNez Okay, if you like that, then have this Exolon Cover link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5vOYWSsgNiNe7c Best of any I have encountered. Approved by Nick Jones itself...

[@SpectrumNez]

Dobryak Dobreyshiy That’s very nice! My favourite cover has to be the Robocop one by Allister Brimble. Listen to this, it’ll blow your socks off! 👉kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5LTaJVqlJl_nKM

[@yeraysantanaaday6827]

Yes we dont know what we where doing...just exploring and feeling the sensations of the bits exploration...problem with pirate copies..

[@collapsiblechair9112]

Fairlight was one of many games I really enjoyed playing even if i didn't know what he fuck i was doing. I doubt many people finished this at the time, none of my friends did.

[@Staglaitor]

Fairlight, knightlore, pentagram and!!!!! - SIR FRED! :)

[@SpectrumNez]

Sir Fred! What a game! That game was so alive to me when I was a kid. There’s just something very special about it!

[@Staglaitor]

​@@SpectrumNez Mind you that as opposed to Jet set willy - all rooms in Sir fred were made manually, - all they were unique. Each room was like a little masterpiece. The majority of people couldn't overcome even 3 or 4 rooms whereas people who could understand the value of this game could navigate 15-20 rooms and i did it!!! :)) During a couple of year of my zx life - i attended almoust 90% of all rooms in Sir Fred. If you are interested - you can watch this beautiful remake of Sir Fred kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmKnYaaMZtt4fKc imgur.com/xneDjrT

[@SpectrumNez]

Staglaitor Wowzer! I certainly didn’t see that much of the game, that’s for sure but I could get past the stumbling blocks of the first few screens that would turn most people off. I loved the animation and detail. Everything just seemed so detailed. I have seen that remake before and it’s lovely! 👍🏻

[@80snos]

Fairlight was a superb game. Good video, man! Subscribed too.

[@SpectrumNez]

Thanks! Appreciate that! It is a wonderful game , even though I still have no idea what is going on! I mean, Giant Death Bubbles - what’s that all about? 😂

[@speedy7834]

This looks wonderful! Thanks for uploading 👍

[@SpectrumNez]

Thanks for watching, Paul! Don’t forget to download and try Avarslund if you get chance (link is in the description) and keep an eye out for Melkhior’s Mansion! It is going to be super duper! 🕹👍🏻

[@speedy7834]

Spectrum Nez indeed, was checking out Melkhior’s Mansion after I watched this. Looks brilliant. Can’t beat that revamped look to classic 8-bit graphics. Quick question, what formats will Mansion be released on? Is it Spectrum Next and PC only? Cheers!

[@SpectrumNez]

It’ll be on PC first then Spectrum Next and Spectrum 128k afterwards! 🕹👍🏻

[@speedy7834]

Spectrum Nez great thanks so much for reply! 😃

[@MoonMonster1978]

Такой бы Спек в начале 90х !!!

[@AFancyHippo]

Good job. A++

[@SpectrumNez]

Thanks MJR! 👍🏻

[@TYNEPUNK]

nice, basically an isometric attic atak.

[@SpectrumNez]

You got it! It’s been released and is completely free so go and try it if you haven’t already. The link is in the video description. Thanks for watching!🕹️👍🏻

[@WhatHoSnorkers]

Cracking vid sir!

[@SpectrumNez]

Thanks James! 👍🏻

[@xmookeh]

Melchiors Mansion looks like an isometric version of atic atac. Sorry if someone has mentioned this, haven't read all the comments.

[@SpectrumNez]

Howdy! That’s what it is based upon and it’s absolutely fantastic to play! Great gameplay, fantastic graphics and amazing tunes that will never leave your brain! Go and try it - it’s totally free! 👇 bitglint.itch.io/melkhiors-mansion

[@stewsretroreviews]

Fairlight was great little game back in the day, still got it somewhere. Must get a Next at some point, nice interesting video here, liked and subbed👍🏻

[@SpectrumNez]

Thanks Stew. Fairlight is fab, isn’t it? Keep an eye out for Melkhior’s Mansion as it is nearing completion. It’ll be out on PC first but then the Next at a later date. Apologies for the lack of video updates recently, kinda lost the desire to create anything for some reason.😶

[@stewsretroreviews]

@@SpectrumNez No probs, you have so many games I don't have there, think I just went for the big hits for my collection. I'm just starting doing the videos stuff properly recently I would say, its ok to do when I actually get the time to do it😃👍🏻

[@billbaud]

Nice. Need to get me a ZX Spectrum.

[@SpectrumNez]

Thanks! If it’s just a vanilla ZX Spectrum you’re after, try the ZXSpin emulator. If it’s the Spectrum Next you’re after, register your interest over at specnext.com. There will be a new Kickstarter very soon! 👍🏻

[@girofrank]

Cool

[@TheTimeProphet]

That last isometric game looks like atic atac.

[@SpectrumNez]

Howdy! That’s because Melkhior’s Mansion was inspired by Atic Atac! It’s free to download, so give it a try. It’s awesome! bitglint.itch.io/melkhiors-mansion

[@alpharoid3358]

Very nice video about some of my fondest Speccy games, and from some incredible remakes/tributes. Judging from Mr. Jordan's dev tools, the version of Melkhior's mansion on your video is the Windows version... am I right? Thanks for the video!

[@SpectrumNez]

Hi, thanks! Yes, the video is from the Windows version. There is some footage of an early version of Melkhior’s Mansion on the Spectrum Next here 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4rag6ptmddlfMk

[@undocumentedspot]

I saw the remake long ago. now seeing it I was excited thought they finally were able to release it. but nope even the demo gone. why original author not make his remake if he doesn't allow others.

[@SpectrumNez]

Yeah, I’m afraid the Fairlight remake/demo is now totally dead due to various issues, copyright being one of them.

[@BazzaHSpeccymad]

Great looking game but like you I never had a scooby what to do!!

[@SpectrumNez]

It’s odd isn’t it? Back then I was just happy to try and ‘get to the end’ - whatever that was!

[@bjharvey3021]

ths is the future of isometric games. if you live in the year 1985. which i do.

[@SpectrumNez]

You live in 1985? Literally? Man, I’m so jealous! All the best stuff was in 1985!

[@healthylife3041]

Check out Mystic Towers game, it looks similar to Fairlight

[@SpectrumNez]

Thanks for the heads up. Just looked it up and it looks super! Nice chunky graphics and great animation. Thanks, I’ll check this out!

[@richardjordan2565]

Crikey, how has it already been nearly a year since we sat and played this at Revival? Oh how Corona time flies!!

[@SpectrumNez]

That was a great day! I reckon it was the last proper retro event we’ll ever visit without insanity ruining it. Such a shame.

[@pcsocket462ecsviak7vza]

har har Jim lad!

[@MoonMonster1978]

А цветовая палитра как на оригинальном Спеке, только качество картинки гораздо лучше, т.к видеорежим - цвет на точку.

[@SpectrumNez]

Да, палетка потрясающая, не правда ли? Я убежден, что любую игру можно сделать на 100% лучше, используя цвета Speccy! 😎🕹️

[@MoonMonster1978]

Было бы ещё круче, если бы кто-то подключил к стандартному спеку add-on с программируемой палитрой на 4096 цветов, как на Амиге...

[@SpectrumNez]

Ну, возможно, это не 4096, но у Spectrum Next 512: www.specnext.com/about/ Если вам интересно, следите за третьей кампанией на Kickstarter в 2024 году! 😎

[@MoonMonster1978]

12 битовый палитра, по любому будет круче 4 битовой. Может это даже сделаю Я. Схема есть, есть понимание как, и что делать и как программировать. Подключатся будет к краевому разъёму Спектрума. Можно туда ещё добавить контроллер ps/2 pc клавиатуры и спектрумовскую Кемпстон- мышь. Мне бы такой девайс был бы интересен и сейчас.

[@MoonMonster1978]

А она будет, третья компания? И какова предполагаемая цена Next'a. Может располагаете информацией. Сейчас думаю что лучше приобрести Next или ZX Evolution + vdac2. Next vs. ZX Evo. :)

[@TheCarin12]

Hard to finish. I couldn't find the last key no matter how hard I looked. Great Game tho.

[@SpectrumNez]

Are you taking about Fairlight or Melkhior’s Mansion? Mind you, they’re both equally hard, yet amazing fun to play!

[@TheCarin12]

@SpectrumNez fairlight. Yes couldn't make it up the tower without the key. Great to manipulate stuff within the game to. Picking up, putting down, pushing, stacking, wow.

[@SpectrumNez]

@TheCarin12 Yes, that was a fantastic element of it. Such a good game!

[@spacebwoy]

Melchior's Castle is Isometric Atic Atac I presume

[@SpectrumNez]

Melkhior’s Mansion is a homage to Atic Atac. It really is quite fabulous and there’s a playable demo available now. If you haven’t tried it yet, drop whatever you are doing and go here!👉 bitglint.itch.io/melkhiors-mansion

[@cynewulf1]

Looks like it has a few elements from Firelord in there too. Some of the monsters, sounds and the way the helmet falls when you die.

[@SpectrumNez]

Good spot! Firelord always looked like an Ultimate game to me anyway. Very reminiscent of Sabre Wulf!

[@cynewulf1]

@@SpectrumNez I played Firelord so much that it's still ingrained in my brain over 30 years later 🙂 I actually found the graph paper map I made of the game in the loft the other day. Those were the days.

[@SpectrumNez]

Wow! Happy memories! Those were the days, indeed! I wish we could go back!

[@rickrivethead]

The music's different on your version!

[@SpectrumNez]

Which music? Melkhior’s Mansion? Are you sure? 🤔

[@rickrivethead]

@@SpectrumNez its different from the original 80's version. I remember the music fondly to this day lol!!

[@SpectrumNez]

Ah, I see what you’re saying! You played the 128k version that has it’s own theme during play through. The version I played was the 48k version which is pretty much silent during play so I dubbed the title music into the background, just to distract a bit from it just being me talking!

[@rickrivethead]

@@SpectrumNez o right haha!

[@rickrivethead]

@@SpectrumNez music's still good btw👍

[@Twirlyhead]

Fairlight was great I thought but somehow I always lost interest about halfway through thus never finished.

[@SpectrumNez]

I never finished it either and I didn’t really know what I was supposed to be doing, if I’m honest. I still enjoyed wandering around though. It had a really nice, magical feel to it. 🕹️👍🏻

[@mattjackson9859]

It's a shame about that Fairlight remake. After going to the trouble of writing the engine, could he have made an original game round it instead?

[@SpectrumNez]

It was actually released for download a while back, but appears to have been removed again now. I think he used that experience to create Melkhior’s Mansion which, if you haven’t tried it yet, is absolutely fantastic!

[@mattjackson9859]

@@SpectrumNez Melkhior's is great! A bit under a year ago I wiped Windows off my PC and installed Ubuntu, but as there's Linux version now I can play it! 👍

[@SpectrumNez]

@@mattjackson9859 Awesome! It’s soon coming to the Spectrum Next and 128k Speccy too!