The BEST ZX SPECTRUM Games You've Probably Never Played (Unless You Have)

[@Dogzbody]

This was awesome. Cheers.

[@RoseTintedSpectrum]

Thank you buddy! Very much appreciated

[@fibrewire3029]

Rana rama on the amstrad was amazing, probably the first game I've ever played. I remember playing legend of Zelda on the Nes, reminded me of the frog dude so much

[@YouTubeMrP]

Watched the whole Thanatos review expecting the dragon to say “Amaaaaandaaaaa!”

[@50factsabout]

I wondered why i was watching something about Elizabeth Holmes. Damn dyslexia : )

[@rc55uk]

Huge relief to see some deeper cut games on the Speccy rather than the usual Manic Miner / JSW footage. Great video and great guests as well. :)

[@saltysumo7991]

That or the endless amount of arcade ports. It's honestly hard to find good recommendations for 80s computer games online.

[@WojciechPietrzok]

If that's not the correct way to do the compilation videos I don't know what is! Great format, great guests, great remaster!

[@dantootill]

Thank you for the opportunity to do my first game review video in over 30 years, and I got a song! 😊 It's just dawned on me that I forgot to say what Contact Sam Cruise is actually about. Bloody amateur.

[@The-Bloke]

"It uses the same engine as Skool Daze, but it's really really good!" - what are you trying to say about Skool Daze, Dan?! That's a review that belongs on Gamesmaster if ever I heard one! :) In all seriousness though, Contact Sam Cruise looks pretty good and I got a strange flashback feeling when watching you play. I have no memory of the name at all but now I'm wondering if I played it on the 48K back in the day. I certainly had Skool Daze and Bak 2 Skool.

[@dantootill]

@The-Bloke Oops. Of course, that wasn't what I meant. For the record, Back to Skool is in my opinion the best game on the Spectrum and it's in my top five favourite games on any system, ever.

[@WhatHoSnorkers]

Contact: Sam Cruise is an EXCELLENT game and an excellent choice. If viewers want to know what it's about, then they just need to contact Sam Cruise. It couldn't be simpler!

[@TheRealDJSigma]

I played the hell out of Bugaboo The Flea and never completed it once. I used to wonder how big the map was, then, years later, I looked it up on KZbin and found it could be completed in under 20 seconds, lol.

[@RoseTintedSpectrum]

I refuse to accept anyone can complete it

[@malfranks1807]

@@RoseTintedSpectrum I did at least 3 times. Was very disappointed to find that there wasn't a second level.

[@WhatHoSnorkers]

@@RoseTintedSpectrum Destiny's Child were such big fans that they made a song about it. I believe to this day that Beyonce plays it on-stage as part of her encore.

[@mr.a8315]

Just seen your post re your dog Zelda in your community section. Glad to see in the update she's doing better, I hope she recovers fully soon! ♥ Couldn't see a way to super-tip on the Zelda community post. (will catch this upload soon) 😀👍

[@RoseTintedSpectrum]

Thank you buddy, much appreciated. I will buy her a bone when she's better.

[@mr.a8315]

@@RoseTintedSpectrum 🦴🐕 👍

[@RFC3514]

You can wrap food in gold, too. I haven't done it personally, but I asked my valet to check.

[@gwishart]

Why would your valet degrade himself by speaking to the kitchen staff?! Have you no footmen?

[@RFC-3514]

Oh, I expect he asked one of the footmen to tell the hall boy to go ask one of the between maids to check it. But if he bothered me with such trifling details I'd have the porter flog him (I'm afraid we're no longer allowed to have a dedicated flogger; it's PC gone mad). 🧐

[@RFC3514]

@@gwishart - I had a longer version (explaining the full chain of staff). It got deleted (three times) by our amazing AI censor overlords. This site is becoming unusable.

[@RFC3514]

@@gwishart - Oh, I expect he asked one of the footmen to tell the hall boy to go ask one of the between maids to check it. But if he bothered me with such trifling details I'd have the porter flog him (I'm afraid we're no longer allowed to have a dedicated flogger - I know, it's PC gone mad). 🧐

[@Chernobylkinsman]

I've never played any spectrum games cause I had an Amstrad, but as they shared a lot of games I've been enjoying your older vids and will most likely enjoy this one too.

[@KingSidJames]

A friend had an Amstrad. We used to point at him, laugh and tell everyone he was sired by circus freaks.

[@Bitmuchmate]

I've spent decades trying to work out what this strange maze game was I used to play. It's XOR!!!

[@mattridler377]

Watching OCC play minder is one of the best ways to spend time on KZbin

[@LordmonkeyTRM]

Oh so that's what Dudley looks like. Also I once knew how to play Rana Rama.

[@Sparkypark]

Gauntlet on the Amstrad - you could just wind the tape forward a little to jump a bunch of levels.

[@RoseTintedSpectrum]

THAT'S ILLEGAL

[@DaveVelociraptor]

I agree with the sexy one about Lords of Chaos

[@RetroSegaDev]

Yeah bit of a hotty that one!

[@Orosian5]

@@RetroSegaDev And so was that guy.

[@pigpenpete]

Smashing these feature length videos lately!

[@middle-agedclimber]

I'm voting Pixie for SoftCorn only. That man truly did not give a ....

[@TheTootyFrooty]

Can we please have a 24 hour frog squeak loop video.

[@davylyons5704]

Awesome, genuinely excited to see you returning to the 8 bits. I had Thanatos and it was bloody amazing as a kid, always so cool to see it again 🙌 Any chance of some more Speccy bin dipping ? I'm also holding out for a live Bad Influence series one reunion show, hosted by your good self, live at the...I dunno...Albert Hall? Maybe just some bin dipping in the meantime 😁 Top frog content 🐸❤

[@SebsPlaceYT]

Anyone who does not think Pixy (who, I might add, is a microdot, not just a dot, which is a popular misconception)is not the bestest game here, is quite frankly a bit of a George Clunt.

[@Trance4mason]

I had totally forgot all about Pixy - I shall be legally acquiring and playing this all weekend! 😊

[@SebsPlaceYT]

Yes!!! High five ​@@Trance4mason

[@Nosaveddataretro]

Microdots we're pretty popular in the 80s

[@YouSoSpice]

amazing work here

[@jackleg693]

On a night out (actually just trying to deal with the social anxiety before meeting people). So I’ll like this now and watch later.

[@ItsCrapContent]

Power frogs are life

[@tolindaniel]

Ayy there we go me duck, that's how you get me excited about a compilation. Best marathon video I've seen on KZbin simply because you expanded on it.

[@RoseTintedSpectrum]

If I can make a job difficult for myself, you'll be sure I'll do it

[@ThisSourKraut]

Doesn't everyone wrap their lunch in gold? No? Plebs...

[@MyAccount-f8u]

Just dropping by to say you make amazing content! I've binge watched your entire Bad Influence and GamesMaster videos, I remember watching them both when I was younger, and your videos are hilarious. Now learning more about the Spectrum! I had one but I as a kid but had a hard time loading games.

[@damionk3258]

I loved Rana Rama, but this video is the first time I have ever seen the instructions thanks to the good old days of just recording a tape, had the same problem with Bloodwych.

[@ThePoxun]

I played the hell out of ranarama. Although I will admit to a little bit of Multiface snapshotting to disk on my +3

[@MrJimithee]

Just in time for Christmas

[@Rustem_A_]

Very unusual choice, but so intriguing. Some titles I was totally unfamiliar with. Humor is hillarious and I enjoy the duration of the video. As for the games: with Orcs Attack - it would be so great to have a reboot of the game with proper orcs sprites (the ones from the Soldier of Fortune might fit), it needs you know...more vivid depiction of the theme. Mega bucks is similar to Blinky's adventures, isnt it? Ranarama invoked memories of Captain Fizz😢

[@YouTubeMrP]

I remember that game! Played it far more than it deserved.

[@SmoMo_]

Huh, I thought the story ended with the bandits being caught on the bridge and Stoddy getting his pigeon back. Seems like part 2 here has really taken things in a different direction.

[@malfranks1807]

Loved Ranarama on the ZX Spectrum and was very happy when I got it bundled with my Atari 1020STFM which I took to uni.

[@sheppertonstudios8253]

I've played Bugaboo, Thanatos, Minder, HTBACB, and while I've not played Lords of Chaos, it looks very similar to Chaos which is a firm favourite!

[@ZakTDuck]

Dragons: The frogs of the fantasy skies.

[@markbutl]

Great video even if the frog quotient drops off alarmingly after a good start

[@RoseTintedSpectrum]

frog

[@DS76204]

Thanatoa was a favourite of mine! One of the only Speccy games I finished!

[@richbuilds_com]

Really like the graphic style for the rooms on this.

[@kickstart_1.3]

I'd entirely forgotten about Thanatos.

[@tagprawn163]

Have you ever played Gunfright for the spectrum? I have vague memories of it being amazing from my childhood.... its probably shite tho young me had terrible taste

[@RoseTintedSpectrum]

I have not! Need to get on that

[@dantootill]

I nearly chose this as my top game. It's bloody brilliant!

[@KingSidJames]

I had Gunfight and can confirm it was shite.

[@dantootill]

@KingSidJames Each to their own I suppose, but I thought it was a great game. It was recently ported to the C64, plays the same but the 6510 can't shift the map around like the Z80. Keep it Spectrum for this one.

[@andrewphillips6436]

Ranarama is my all time favourite game - it's just awesome. And you are spot on - Gauntlet is just bland & repetitive, factor in the multiload & back in the day I felt it wasn't worth the effort of loading yet another data block for what looked like the same level I'd just played. Multiload can be dealt with these days, but other than nostalgia, there's no appeal to replay. Ranarama though, well I still play it to this day - replay factor is off the chart due to the spell mechanic & strategies involved. It's also a very fair game - I've completed it several times (sadly the game loops), but not always - its always a challenge & completion is never guaranteed even if you've honed your skills over the last 35+ years. I love it. ❤

[@mogwaay]

Just started watching (rewatching as seen these already) and i really need to make some time for RanaRama as it looks right down my street.

[@cnfuzz]

Orc attack is basically Kaboom or missile command in reverse

[@snagultoof]

Ranarama is such a fantastic game. Slightly better than Dandy which I find quite similar. Couple of gems in the video that I haven't played. Will rectify that at the weekend. Great vid 😊👍

[@robm8809]

Wow, it's Eddie Wally! 22:11

[@jessragan6714]

Wow, that is a colorful description of Popeye as a franchise.

[@lukmigindnuforhelved]

You should try review "Out of the shadows" from 84. A very early real time graphical rpg with much depth. The controls were a little clunky ... but great game.

[@omrilapidot6770]

Ranarama was an amazing game. I loved it and played it many long hours.

[@fremenondesand3896]

orc attack reminds me of a game where you're a bar steward and you must slide pints to bar patrons and that's about all I can remember. If you miss, they get angry.

[@RoseTintedSpectrum]

@@fremenondesand3896 tapper?

[@fremenondesand3896]

@@RoseTintedSpectrum thanks, that's the one. My god that "music" is terrible.

[@dweston76]

Brillant stuff!

[@fremenondesand3896]

does anyone remember a trading game on the speccy, you had a sail ship, went to different ports, bought low, sold high (in theory). Also, dunno if it's dark mode but the comments section when I write is black text on a dark grey background.

[@gwishart]

That sounds like"Tai-Pan".

[@fremenondesand3896]

@@gwishart There's lots of trading games where you captain a ship. This one is far more colourful. I think this was about sailing from England to the new world. I remember about 20 years ago pop cap games had a go making their own one, where you could own a fleet of merchantmen, and eventually had airships so you could sail to Shangri-La and other mythical places that aren't on the coast.

[@Eggnog3000]

What is this? Where's Rod Hull and Emu?

[@KingSidJames]

Both got dead before operation Yule tree caught up with them.

[@mrb6094]

I'm doing a Skyrim playthrough with a character called George Clunt.

[@TheCaffeineKid]

Did you say "fog of war" or "frog of war" at 4:09 ? Any other video I would assume the former, but with you I can't be sure :)

[@jonathanclarke4529]

What sort of ripe mints? Extra strong?

[@Orosian5]

Maybe the Elf in Gauntlet used poison-tipped arrows. Didn't think about that before you went chompin' on that food, did ye?

[@RoseTintedSpectrum]

@@Orosian5 elf can't handle his spice

[@Orosian5]

@@RoseTintedSpectrum They're much easier to remember now. Old spice, old spice, old spice, old spice, and old spice.

[@gregd3344]

Action Reflex is a hidden gem.

[@Timotei75]

12:28 How much was that ecstasy and can I have some?

[@RoseTintedSpectrum]

In this day and age? Probably about £20.

[@adamanonymous6885]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I recall only one of the food items in Gauntlet is shootable, and its the moonshine jug which logically would shatter, and therefore empty its delicious contents all over the floor? You are right that Gauntlet is overrated cack though - whereas Ranarama is absolutely brilliant.

[@Justin-TPG]

Bulldog's magnificent MegaBuck$-beater Streaker didn't make it in, then? Gutted.

[@cnfuzz]

That's the spirit!

[@vidarlystadjohansen9829]

love orc attack

[@smacksalad]

Thanks frog. Throg.

[@robm8809]

I get that reference.

[@Geoglyph89]

Hurry up and make the next gamesmaster one. Please.

[@Concreteowl]

They aren't Orcs they are the Omen

[@colonelbasic9736]

The Orcs look more like Homer Simpsons 🤔

[@50factsabout]

Dudleys face and voice don't seem to match. It like he combined the two out of spare parts :)

[@plisskensghost2951]

Ranarama had it, hated it, binned it.

[@DaveVelociraptor]

Frogicide

[@consty715]

How dare you say exciting. HOW BLOODY DARE YOU

[@alanwakeish]

This video makes a nice change from the usual whinging and complaining about ZX Spectrum games on this channel.

[@SuperMookles]

Why watch it, if it offends your delicate sensibilities quite so much? Bizarre.

[@letsdiscussitoversometea8479]

You're correct, I've never played any of those titles. I think you made 6 very good choices here... one of the most... interesting games I've ever played, was called "Prime Minister". A very simple text adventure game with very poor grammar which I'm very fond of. "You are Prime Minister", it starts off by saying. (I like mistakes like that! ☺️) It's written in BASIC (though I think that's very obvious as soon as you see it), and it takes you through the process of trying to get re-elected. You have to decide how to spend your campaign funds, and there is RNG to ensure that you very inconveniently can lose no matter how careful you are. Wonder how much the programmer made from it? (I think of it as being programmed by a fairly young teenage boy) You can clap like a seel (like I do) and go "wAAAAy" every time you do well. Not sure I ever completed it, but I'm counting on the ending being as glorious as the end credits of Zelda OOT on the N64. I hope they saved the best for the end! 🥹