Xadom Xanagrams 1957 Xanthius Xarax - The Ultimate Guide to ...

X

Anagrams game which features res little lit in the way of graphics and playability. Gameplay is very slow, and there isn’t really much to get excited about, even for word game me addicts. add ur Spectrum S ”An enjoyable game to play” – Your

Xadom

Your Spectrum

20/30

* 1983 Quicksilva Ltd

Xanthius

Also known as Galax 1987 Players Software

Dull arcade game with simple line graphics and poorl poorly defined sprites. The game is easy enough to play, but not particu articularly playable or addictive.

Moderately playable arcade adventure enture with good graphics and animation. You move round a large area repairing repairi various pods, and avoiding the nasties. Gameplay is quite good,, nothing nothi special.

“A 3D hi-res arcade quality adventure” – Your Spectru ctrum Big K

KK “Great graphics but not much playab yability” - Crash

Also available as part of the covertape •

Crash MicroHobby Your Sinclair

Software Magazine issue 03a

and on the compilations • •

Also available as part of the compilati pilation

30 Games Games Compendium

•

Zap-Pak

*

**

Xanagrams

Xarax

1984 Postern

1988 Firebird Software Ltd

1957

60% 8/10 7/10

raphics are pretty good, Tricky shooter that is influenced by Xevious. Graphic but the game is too difficult to be too playable. Ass it is is, it is pretty good, but just average.

Poor game which sees you driving ing a boat round a military base, in order to destroy the central core. Graphics aphics are nice and colourful, if a little small, but the game is horribly difficult difficu and keyboard play sluggish. Not very good.

“A Xevious clone that is actually better than Xevious ious itself” – Sinclair User Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair

“I’d tend to describe it as infuriat riating, but one man’s infuriating is another man’s addictive” – Sinclair ir User U

52% 6/10 8/10 7/10

Computer Gamer Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair ZX Computing

**

Xark

3/5 59% 5/10 5/5 6/10 Great

Also available as part of the compilati pilation •

1983 Contrast Software

Big Box

See also: Panzadrome *

Xavior 1984 PSS

Poor game that seems to be influenced by Defender der in graphics if not in gameplay. The game itself is a simple left to rightt scrol scroller, but gameplay is poor, and the game lack any addictive qualities. “A poorly presented Defender conversion” – Your Spec pectrum **

Xarq Average maze game with quite good graphics but tricky gameplay. You have to find the various parts of the DNA in order to save your people from extinction. The game is quite uite playable, pl but with over 4000 screens to explore, ultimately repetitive.

1986 Electric Dreams Software Also known as Aquadrome

“For those that like bashing their heads hea against a brick wall - this is the game for you” – Sinclair User Crash Sinclair User Also available as part of the compilati pilation • •

55 WOW Games

See also: The Covenant **

1958

71% 5/10

Xcel

Classy shoot-em-up which features res very ve good graphics, with clever use of colour and lots of playability. The he difficult dif level just stops it from being an all-time classic, but this is still ll a very ve good game.

1985 Activision Inc

se in ages” - Crash “One of the best shoot-em-ups I’vee seen Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair

84% 8/10 10/10 9/10

Re-release 1988 The Micro Selection Sinclair User

92%

Also available as part of the compilati pilation Playable but repetitive shooter which comprises of two main stages. The first is a scrolling level which sees you shooting build buildings and avoiding trees. The next stage is a basic Invaders shooter. ter. Gr Graphics are pretty good, but the gameplay seems a little lacking.

• ****

“A treat for arcade addicts” – Your Sinclair Computer Gamer Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair

All Stars

Xen

4/5 75% 8/10 3/5 8/10

1987 Sparklers

Re-release 1987 Mastertronic Ltd Sinclair User ZX Computing

4/5 Good

Also available as part of the compilation • • •

Mastertronic Collection 10 Mastertronic Collection 4 Sinclair Game Compilation

**

Xecutor Decent shooter with very colourful rful graphics gra and clever use of colour with little clash. This is a straightforward rward shooter, which just happens to be rather playable and good fun. The he level leve of difficulty might be a little high, but it is a worthy addition to the genre. genre

1987 ACE Software

Cr “Very addictive and fun to play” - Crash Crash Sinclair User ZX Computing

64% 2/5 Good

Re-release 1988 Top Ten Hits Sinclair User ***

1959

4/10

Xeno

Poor Lunar Lander type game which hich sees s you trying to land your craft on the platform below, avoiding thee asteroids. aste The game is very difficult to play, not least because your ship ip moves mo a lot slower than the asteroids, and collisions are difficult to avoid. oid. Graphics G are poor, gameplay terrible.

1986 A'n'F Software

*

Xenon 1988 Melbourne House

Very playable ‘future sport’ game that sees you and aan opponent try to shoot the ball into the goals at either end by extending nding a target and then shooting yourself at it. This simple method works very w well. The graphics are good, nice and clear, and the game is easy to pick uup, but difficult to master. A very good and original game. “I think that Xeno is the sort of game that I couldd pplay for an infinite length of time” – Crash Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair

Excellent shooter that has a novel twis wist – your craft can change between a regular jet into a ground based tank. ank. You Y need to change between the two as various baddies can only be shot sh by certain craft. Graphics are excellent, and the game, though tough, tough is very playable and addictive.

86% 8/10 5/5 8/10


air “A tasty conversion” – Your Sinclair

Crash issue 97: Presents 33

Crash The Games Machine MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair

and on the compilations • • • •

20 Games Pack Command Performance Games Compendium Kidsplay

84% 82% 8/10 90% 9/10

****

Xeno II

Re-release 1991 Mastertronic Plus

1983 Anirog Software

Sinclair User Sinclair User Your Sinclair

90%* 91%* 91%

Re-release 1992 Tronix Sinclair User

88%

** Reviewed in Jan 1991 (90%) and re-reviewed re in April 1991 (91%) Also available as part of the covertape ertape •

Microhobby issue 208: 8: Tape Tap 35

and as part of the compilation •

1960

Edition One

A demo of the game appeared on the covertape

****

Straightforward vertical shooterr that features no-frills blasting. Graphics are minimal, which does mean that the th scrolling is nice and smooth. The game is actually good fun to play, y, but the slow speed of your craft can be frustrating. Overall, though, thiss is a good g shoot-em-up that is great for a quick blast.

Xenophobe

“Fast, vicious and enthralling” – Your You Sinclair

1989 Micro Style

Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair

•

SU issue 83: Megatape 12

64% 8/10 4/5 8/10

Re-release 1987 Americana Software Ltd Sinclair User

3/10

Also available as part of the compilati pilation • •

El Lingote Space Ace

***

Xirius Very good shooter with strategic elements. You have ave to rid various places of the alien infestation, and the game is played split plit sc screen with another player, or just one screen. Graphics are very good, od, we well defined sprites and clear backgrounds, and the game is very playable yable aand good fun, if a little tricky.

1986 Grupo de Trabajo Software S.A.

“Totally addictive” - Crash Crash The Games Machine MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair

83% 82% 9/10 71% 76%

****

Xevious Colourful maze game which looks ks and plays similar to Maziacs, but with less playability. You man is tricky ricky to t control, but the game is simple enough, and good fun in short bursts. ursts.

1987 US Gold Ltd

Only available as part of the tape magazine mag •

Libreria de Software Spectrum Spect issue 17

**

XIV/2 1985 Pandovisia Ltd

1961

Only available as part of the compilati pilation •

Santa

*

Xonix 1987 A. Surna

Yugoslav graphic adventure.

XIV Beogradska Gimnazija 1984 Pandovisia Ltd

Fill in the screen by drawing lines nes to capture spaces. Graphics are rather poor, and monochrome, and thee game, game though fast, is not very playable, due partly to a very awkward keyboar yboard layout. *

Xonix 1991 C&C

Yugoslav text adventure.

X-Maze 1983 Artic Computing Ltd

Ugly and slow version of the game me where wh you have to box off parts of the screen. Graphics are monochrome, e, and move by character, and it can take a few seconds for your boxes to be filled fill in. A poor version. *

Xonix Very poor arcade game which sees you opening variou various doors to try and uncover keys. Graphics are appaling, small and poorly defined, and the whole game is rather a waste of time.

1962

1994 Vlad Corp

Version of the Logotron game, but with wi inferior graphics. The game runs a lot slower, but the puzzles are still sti as fiendish, and there are more levels. Fast version of the game that has character movement, ment, bbut because of the high speed, this isn’t such a drawback. Graphicss are simplistic, but do their job well, and it certainly presents a challenge.

***

Xorktrons

***

XOR

DK'Tronics Ltd

X-Out

1987 Logotron Ltd

1990 Rainbow Arts

Fast moving puzzle game which sees you controlling olling two objects who move around a maze collecting masks. Each maze ze is a logic puzzle, and certain objects act in certain ways – walls can only ly be ppassed in a certain direction or chickens will move to the left. Graphics hics aare functional, but the scrolling is fast, and the game is frustratingly addicti addictive.

Underwater shoot-em-up that features atures okay graphics and gameplay. You can choose your own craft and power ups before you start, but the game runs quite fast and is very difficult. ult. The Th multi-load is also quite annoying, and the game is okay, but nothing g more. mor

“It looks good, but Xor is let down by its gameplay” – Sinclair User Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User

“The best horizontally scrolling underwater und blast-em-up of all time” – Sinclair User

58% 9/10 6/10

Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair

****

Xor 1990 Proxima Software

Re-release 1991

1963

73% 69% 90% 84%

Kixx Also available on the compilation Sinclair User

87% •

10 Pack Vol 2

Also available as part of the compilation ** •

Power Up

Xybots

**

Xo-Word

1989 Domark Ltd

1986 Azed Software

Decent shooter that uses a good d 3D perspective. p One or two players can play independently, as you move ove through th a series of mazes, blasting monsters and collecting keys to o progress. prog Graphics are quite good, and gameplay quite good fun, betterr with two players, but still playable with one.

Only available as part of the compilation Anagramss + X Xo-Word

Xtarda Rescue

“As good a conversion as anyone could cou hope for” – Your Sinclair C&VG Crash The Games Machine MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair

1982 Sonic Software

Xtroth - The Adventure

84% 82% 87% 8/10 75% 80%

1985 Automata UK Ltd

Re-release 1991 The Hit Squad Sinclair User Your Sinclair

Also available as part of the compilati pilation • ***

Fair graphic adventure which is set in the distant future future. The graphics in the game are okay, but drawn very slowly, and the he spe speed of the game is its greatest failing. That said, it’s hard to dislike this is gam game, as it does have a certain charm.

1964

TNT

85% 92%

Y Y.....

Juana Pueblo Soft

Yabba Dabba Doo! 1985 Quicksilva Ltd

Highly detailed simulation of sailing iling that t uses decent graphics to realistically represent your time on the lake. There are quite a few options, so you can gently easee yourself your in, and the game is good fun, once you get the hang of it. “Fun and gives a real insight into the world of sailing” – Sinclair User Sinclair User

5/5

Also available as part of the covertape ertape •

48K issue 05

**

Yahtcee As Fred Flinstone, you must build a house for youu and Wilma to live in. However, the site must be cleared first, and then hen th the house built by collecting the large rocks lying about. Graphics cs are very good, with recognisable sprites, though limited colour. Though gh pla playable at first, the game does become quite boring after a few goes.

1984 Anik Microsystems

Yahtzee

“A very addictive game once you get the idea of what at yo you are supposed to do” – Your Sinclair Computer Gamer Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair ZX Computing

1983 Pegasus Developments

1/5 81% 7/10 2/5 8/10 Grim

**

Yacht Race 1985 Hill MacGibbon Also known as Ocean Racer and Regata The dice game for 1-6 players. Graphics Graph are minimal, and the game quite easy to pick up. Not too bad a version. ersion. Also available as part of the tapee magazine maga

1965

•

16/48 Tape Magazine Tape 09

**

Yahtzee 1983 Spectre

Mostly text based, but impressive sive version v of the game. You can play against the computer, and when you are a playing, you can see your scoring possibilities. A good version. ***

Yakzee! 1983 Automata UK Ltd

Simple version of the dice game for 2-4 players. ers. G Graphics are very limited, and the game quite slow and fiddly to play. y. Not very good. *

Yahtzi 1983 Work Force

Straightforward version which uses a nice graphical display, but has limited options. A decent version, n, though. thou Also available on the compilation •

10 Pack Vol 1

**

Yankee

Good version of the popular game that benefits greatly from its ease of use. Graphics are okay, but the game is mostly text xt base based, and there is no one-player option. Good fun, though.

1987 CCS

***

Yahtzie 1983 Bob Hemmings

1966

Slow moving version of the game me that tha has a nice colour scheme, and is quite good fun. You can play the computer co and set your own winning target. Nothing too special, but a nice little version.

Relatively simple strategy game that uses the now-fam familiar Ken Wright display. The game is quite easy to get into, and is relativ relatively good fun, but offers little new in the way of wargaming.

“Could certainly be useful nr formal al teaching t sessions” – Sinclair User “Has a deceptive complexity beneath a simple command and structure” Crash

Sinclair User

5/10

** Crash Sinclair User Your Sinclair

87% 4/5 6/10

Ya Vendran Tiemposs Mejores Mej

**

Individual Software Service/Hueber eber Software S

Y.A.S.G. 1992 Dominic Morris

German educational game.

The Yellow Door 1987 Tartan Software

Snake game that sees you moving round a screen collect collecting numbers. The number indicates by how many segments you will ll grow grow. Once you have reached a certain length, you finish the level. Funn in sh short burst, nothing new, and a little bit repetitive. **

Yatzee 1984 CP Software

1967

You move around the screen avoidin voiding the dog in the other direction in this spin on the old game. Graphics ics are ar poor, the game slow to play.

rays of the sun. The Fair text adventure that sees you trying to recover the ra scenario is quite good, and the problems okay, y, alth although a little bit illogical in places. Presentation is not brilliant, butt the ggame is okay.

Only available as part of the compilati pilation •

Only available as part of the compilations • • • •

10 Juegos I

*

6 in 1 The Tartan Eleven The Tartan Eleven Plus Two Your Sinclair Special Adventure Offer

Yes, Prime Minister 1987 Mosaic Publishing Ltd

**

Yellow Peril 1994 Dorothy Millard

Yenght 1985 Dinamic Software

Entertaining and humorous strategy tegy game ga based on the popular TV show. You take the part of the Prime Ministe inister, Jim Hacker, and you have to stay in power for as long as you can.. The game g is based mainly on a choice of what to do next, with each option n providing prov a different path. Graphics are basic, with a rather garish representat esentation of your office, but the game is very playable, but there is limited d replay repl value. “The only problem I can see with this game is in its long-term appeal” – Sinclair User Crash Sinclair User Your Sinclair

56% 8/10 9/10

Spanish graphic adventure.

Yeni Tragona Re-release 1990 Mastertronic Plus

1984 Microparadise Software

Your Sinclair ***

Yeti 1988 Destiny Software

1968

75%

is pretty flexible. The problem with the game is the lack of difficulty, which is very low, and the game becomes a high score game instead. Despite this, it is still a playable game, but lacking a bit in addictiveness. “It's easily the best of the Spectrum martial arts programs” - Crash Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair

92% 8/10 3/5 8/10

Also available as part of the covertape Exolon clone that has lovely colourful graphics and animation, but lacks the playability of that game. Whilst still playable and addictive, it lacks that extra sparkle that would turn it into a classic. Good fun, though.

•

and as part of the compilations

“It’s very slickly programmed” – Your Sinclair Crash The Games Machine MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair

Microhobby issue 192: Tape 12

• • • • •

61% 69% 7/10 7/10 6/10

Chartbusters Konami’s Arcade Collection Konami’s Coin-Op Hits Magnificent 7 Amstrad Compilation Disk Spectrum +3

***

Yie Ar Kung-Fu II Also available as part of the compilation •

1986 Imagine Software Ltd

4-Most Big Hits

***

Ygor 1987 Grupo de Trabajo Software S.A See Igor

Yie Ar Kung-Fu 1985 Imagine Software Ltd

So-so beat em up that has less impressive graphics and gameplay than the original. Once again, the game is too easy, but this time, there is less variety and it gets boring quicker. Not particularly good. “The worst beat-em-up I’ve seen in ages” - Crash Crash

48%




Konami’s Arcade Collection

**

Ying Yang Playable beat-em-up which provides you with plenty of opponents to beat. Control is pretty good, with eight directions plus fire, and your guy

1969

1986 MicroHobby

Yogi Bear & Friends: s: The Greed Monster 1990 Hi-Tec Software Ltd

Very poor kung fu type game with flickery graphics phics aand very sluggish controls, making it almost impossible to fight or beat eat aw away objects. Only available on the covertape •

MicroHobby Cassette 11

Simple maze game which is similar milar in style to some of Hi-Tec’s other cartoon licences, especially Top op Cat. Ca Graphics are pretty good, with recognisable characters, and gamepl ameplay is fine, though there’s nothing special about it, and it isn’t really ly all that th addictive.

*

Yogi Bear

“I found it great fun to play and quite uite addictive” - Crash Crash MicroHobby Your Sinclair

1987 Piranha

69% 55% 47%

**

Yogi's Great Escape 1990 Hi-Tec Software Ltd

Poor arcade adventure which sees you trying to rescue escue Boo-boo who has been captured. The graphics do capture the atmosphere phere oof the cartoon, but the gameplay leaves a lot to be desired, as controll ontrolling Yogi is very difficult. “It is addictive in an odd sort of way” – Your Sinclair Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair

62% 8/10 7/10 8/10

Standard platform game in which ich you yo control Yogi, and you go around collecting pic-a-nic baskets and other items. Graphics are quite nice, and the game is okay, nothing new, but quite qu good fun.

Re-release 1989 Alternative Software Ltd Crash

“I doubt you’ll be able to ‘bear’ itt for very long” – Your Sinclair 48%

C&VG Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair

Also available as part of the compilation •

Cartoon Capers

*

1970

83% 79% 65% 84% 42%

Shooting gallery game which has as basic bas graphics and a myriad of control keys, making the game rather unplaya playable. Only available as part of the tapee magazine mag Also available as part of the compilation • •

•

Cartoon Character Collection Collection The Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Character Colle

VideoSpectrum issue 23

*

Young Learners 1

**

Yomp 1983 Rose Software 1983 Virgin Games Ltd

Rather poor series of educational al games, gam none of which are much good, and of limited educational value. e. Slow, Slow with poor graphics, not enjoyable at all.

Very difficult Frogger variation, but instead of contro controlling a frog, you have to get your troops across the road. Only fourr lanes of traffic, but the gaps are very small, and perfect timing is needed.. Grap Graphics are poor, and the game is less than playable and not at all addictive.

*

Young Learners 2

“The way the traffic moves along the highway makess it almost unplayable” – Crash Also available as part of the compilation •

1983 Rose Software

Games Compendium

*

You 1986 Video Spectrum

Game that seems incredibly similar ilar to t the first in the series. A waste of time. *

The Young Ones 1971

1986 Orpheus Ltd

1989 MicroHobby

Rather poor tie-in in which you control the titular stude students as you attempt to pack up your possessions before you are kicked cked out. Graphics are okay, but there’s lots of clash, but the game is just co confusing, and less than addictive.

Poor vertical scrolling shooter, which has lots of lovely presentation, but misses out on the gameplay stakes. akes. Graphics are okay, with blocks of colour used well for the landscapes, apes, but the speed is too slow, and the game is rather boring after a short rt while. whi

“A rather chaotic game” – Sinclair User

Only available as part of the covertape ertape

Crash Sinclair User Your Sinclair

42% 3/5 7/10

•

Microhobby issue 191: 1: Tape Tap 11

*

*

Yuppie

YS Capers 1988 Mental Images 1990 Your Sinclair

Fair text adventure that sees you u trying tryin to raise £30,000 in a short space of time. The game is quite well ell written, w and has good presentation. Enjoyable because of it’s originality, ality, this t game is quite good fun.

Humorous and graphically good Operation Wolf olf cclone, except the enemies are all staff members at Your Sinclair. The he ca caricatures are quite good, and the game fairly playable, though of limited ited ap appeal.

Only available as a free bonus game with w Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Beheaded Smuggler

Only available as part of the covertape ** •

YS issue 55: Smash Tape 32

Yurk Attack

**

Yucan

1983

1972

David Hembrow

Very simple game which sees you avoiding the deadly Yurks as they swarm across the screen. You can’t shoot them, just up and down to avoid. Graphics poor, gameplay repetitive and not addictive at all. *

1973

Z

Zahada 1988 JH Software

Z

1987 Rino Software

Slovakian text adventure

Zakliaty Zamok Programatorov 1988 Delphine Soft

Overhead multi-directional directional shooter that uses ugly graphics, which make it tricky to see bullets and other enemies. The game, however, is fairly playable, nothing special, but an average game. “It's onee game that certainly won't put you to sleep” – Your Sinclair Crash Your Sinclair

44% 7/10

**

The Zacaron Mystery 1986 Players Software

Slovakian text adventure.

Zamonarr Slowglass

Playable text adventure that has a nice plot, decent location descriptions and a fair vocabulary and parser. Sound effects add to the atmosphere, and the game is fast to play, and well presented. A nice game. “Really quite nice”- Sinclair User Sinclair User Your Sinclair

4/5 7/10

**

1974

MicroHobby Colourful but badly designed arcade adventure. You play a robot, and you must infiltrate an underground base. The main problem is the fact that it takes ages to recover when you shoot, by which time you will have been killed. Graphics are garish, and gameplay poor.

5/10

*

Zanthrax

* 1989 Crash

Zamp 1985 MicroHobby

Hybrid racing/shoot-em-up up which looks and plays like a vertically scrolling Uridium, but the idea is to blast ten domes and get to the finish in the quickest time. Graphics are quite good, with nice shading effects, and the game is playable and good fun, if a little tricky, as oncoming craft don’t give you much chance to avoid them.

Walk around the field, collecting crops, but avoiding the mines. A simple Pacman variant with small graphics and limited gameplay.

Only available as part of the covertape Only available on the covertape • •

Crash issue 69: Presents 5

MicroHobby Semanal 009-012 ***

*

Zany Adventure Zampabolas 1984 Timothy Betts/Steve Parry

1990 System 4

Poor adventure that is far too slow to be enjoyable. As you search for the spider’s legs that you require, you see a stick figure representation of yourself, and the input box at the bottom – the parser isn’t too bad, but it takes ages to type in the commands, and even longer to execute them. Give this a miss.

Four player game which is a translation of the game Hungry Hippos. Each player controls a hippo, and you have to eat the ball moving round the screen. Repetitive and not much fun, and you’d be better sticking to the real thing.

1975

*

Zauberschloss

Zapper Achim Kern 1984 Anco Software Ltd

German graphic adventure.

Zaxxan

“Rather fun to play” – Crash Big K Crash

KK 61%

1983 Starzone Software

Zaraks 1983 CRL Group PLC

Jerky and bad looking version of the arcade game. Graphics are very small, one character size, and your craft doesn’t move very fast, making it difficult to shoot the ground based targets and then above the walls. A poor version. “A very good copy and difficult to play well” – Crash Poor overhead maze game, which sees you racing around the screen shooting or avoiding the Zaraks. Graphics are poor, gameplay dull, and there is little addictiveness.

Crash *

*

Zaxxon

Zarjas

D. Boettcher

1988 Sinclair User See Lightfarce

1976

74%

Richard Lander

Very poor effort, which takes away one of the main features of the arcade game – the vertical movement – and just turns the game into a simple left and right blaster with very dodgy collision detection detection. Controls are very sluggish, and the graphics are poor and jerky.

Simple one player version of Battleships, which has basic graphics and slow play. Not the best version.

*

*

Zaxxon

Zegar

1985 US Gold Ltd

1985 Janusz Gajewicz

Polish educational game which deals with clocks and time Sluggish but not unplayable version of the arcade game. All the features of the original are present, although the black backgrounds are rather disconcerting. Graphics are plain, but colourful, and there is plenty of clash. A fair attempt, butt perhaps this is a game not really suited for the Spectrum.

Zemepisny Test 1987 CV Software

“If you still want a good Zaxxon, then this isn’t it” - Crash Crash

58%

Also available on the compilations • • •

10 Titles for the Spectrum Plus The Gold Collection The Sega Collection

**

Zeeslag 1990

1977

Technically rubbish, but strangely playable platform game which sees you roaming the screens collecting items, a la Jet Set Willy. But the graphics in this are a lot larger, and the game is as much about split second timing as much as pixel perfect jumps. Quite addictive, but relatively good fun.

Czech educational game

Zenji

** 1984 Activision Inc

Zepherus 1985 National Software Library

Very playable and unusual puzzler. The idea is to turn the whole grid yellow by rotating the junction points so that they connect with other pathways. On top of that, there are meanies roaming the grid, and numbers counting down to destroy parts of it. Graphics are functional, and the game is strangely hypnotic and very addictive.

Interesting text adventure that sees you trying to infiltrate a building and gain access to the computer within. The descriptions are sparse, and puzzles can be tricky, mainly because of a limited vocabulary. Despite this, the game is reasonably playable, and quite tricky.

“Quite an intriguing little mind-twister” – Your Spectrum Crash PCG Sinclair User Your Spectrum

83% 7/10 8/10 9/15

**

Zeus

Re-release 1987 Firebird Software Ltd Sinclair User Your Sinclair

1984 Ventamatic

8/10 3/10

Also known as El Templo de Zeus

****

Zeon 1986 Jorge Perez Barreiro

Very slow arcade adventure rather in the vein of Atic Atac, Atac but a lot worse, with mono graphics and sluggish gameplay. Only available as part of the tape magazine •

1978

Spectrumania 2/03

Zhor, el Rey de Oidumas

*

Z-Fred

1994 Rock'n'Soft

1984 AK Wood

Spanish text adventure.

Ziggarat of Dread Simple clone of Q-Bert Bert which has poor graphics and little in the way of playability, because of the sluggishness of the controls. A less than impressive version.

1983 Custom Cables International Ltd

*

Zhak 1989 MicroHobby

Very slow text adventure that tries some different presentation by use of different coloured text. The parser is limited, and directions must be entered as GO N rather than just N. Not really worth bothering with. *

Ziggurat Graphically quite pleasing but tricky platformer. Split second jumps are required to jump over the creatures roaming the world, and the game is quite good fun, slightly marred by repeated deaths.

1987 Ariolasoft UK Ltd

Only available as part of the covertape

Ziggurat •

MicroHobby issue 184: Tape 3

**

1986 Hewsdon Consultants Ltd See Quazatron

1979

Crash Sinclair User Your Sinclair

Ziggurat

85% 7/10 16/30

Also available as part of the covertape 1984 Software Super Savers Ltd

•

Software Magazine issue 08a


Video Vault

***

Zion Attack 1983 U.T.S

Rather dull graphic adventure which skimps quite a bit on the descriptions, and has repetitive, if colourful graphics. Not very playable, and unlikely to convert any non-adventurers. “It is not a highly verbal adventure and cannot possibly compare with more expensive productions” – Sinclair User Sinclair User

5/10

*

Zig Zag Move from the right to the left of the screen and back again, avoiding the Zions (or green squares). Flickery graphics, and minimal gameplay.

1984 DK'Tronics Ltd

Only available as part of the compilation •

Spectrum 50 Games

*

Zipi y Zape 1989 Dro Soft

Unusual and playable maze game. You search the maze looking for Scarabags. If you find one, you need to chase it into a corner, where is will give you a key if you shoot it. When you have enough keys, you can progress to the next level. Graphics are pretty good, with a good 3D maze effect, and the game quite addictive, although perhaps a little bit repetitive. “Fun and interesting to play” – Your Spectrum Big K

KK

1980

Zip-Zap

Spanish graphical adventure MicroHobby

5/10 1983 Imagine Software Ltd

Zipper Flipper 1984 Sinclair Research Ltd

Move your robot around the screen in order to collect the four pieces needed to build your teleport. When you have them, you can teleport to the next level. The range of aliens is very impressive, and the game is good fun, playable and addictive. Each ach screen is trickier than the last, but even the first one isn’t easy. A great little game. Dull pinball machine that features on table, but poor graphics and unrealistic ball physics make this game less playable. Keyboard play is simple enough, but the game isn’t very good.

“Compulsive” – Sinclair User Also available as part of the compilation

“Could have been more exciting with a few more features” - Crash • Crash Sinclair User

60% 4/10

Value Pack 48K

***

Zly sen Frantiska Koudelky

*

Zippy 1990 Proxima Software 1986 Luca Bordoni

Version of Sokoban which has excellent presentation. You have to push the crates onto the target squares, but you can only push it if it is not blocked. Graphics are nice, with a pseudo 3D effect, and the game relatively playable, though the graphics do seem se to confuse on occasion.

Simple arcade game. You are shown a grid with several bombs on it. The bombs then disappear and you need to get the cherries without landing on a bomb. Simple enough fun, but frustratingly, you need to redefine keys before every game.

**

Z-Man

**

1981

1983 DJL Software Ltd

Playable and fun adventure that has several missions for you to complete, some given to you by characters along the way. Though there are no graphics, the text is very well written, and the puzzles tricky without being impossible. The fantasy location is old hat, but this is one of the best games of this genre. Poor version of Pacman which has tiny graphics and a rather big big-mouthed main character. Little excitement can be got from this game, which lacks any redeeming features.

“Highly recommended” – Your Sinclair

Also available as part of the covertape

See also:

•

Your Sinclair

The Blood of Bogmole The Witches Skull

YS issue 82: Magnificent Seven

and as part of the compilations • •

9/10

****

Comecocos + Froggy Froggy + Z-Man

Zoids

* 1985 Martech Games Ltd

Zodiac Strip 1985 Suzy Soft

Very involving strategy game which sees you, as Spiderzoid, Spiderzoid searching for the eight pieces of Zoidzilla. Graphics are okay, with a very small display screen, but this game isn’t about graphics. The atmosphere is very good, and once you have got the hang of the icons, the game becomes very playable. A game that will ll keep you busy for a long time.

Serbian numbers game.

Zogan's Revenge

“One of the most addictive, engrossing and innovative games to appear for quite a while” - Crash

1986 Compass Software

Computer Gamer Crash Sinclair User Your Sinclair

1982

4/5* 96% 4/5 9/10

* reviewed alongside Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 versions

*

Re-release 1992 Alternative Software Ltd

Zolyx

Your Sinclair

30% 1988 Firebird Software Ltd


Five Star Games

***

Zoink 1985 MicroHobby Also known as Invasion, Zonik

You must fill in the screen by boxing off areas, but avoid the balls and flying meanies. Graphics are very basic, but the game is playable and very addictive, and features the usual excellent Pete Cooke presentation. Proof that a game doesn’t have to have good graphics to be good. “Astoundingly addictive” – Sinclair User Crash Sinclair User Your Sinclair

14% 8/10 5/10


A poor Lunar Lander type game with garish graphics and tricky gameplay, thanks to sluggish controls and poor screen layout. Only available on the covertape •


and on the compilations • •

MicroHobby Semanal 045-048

20 Chart Busters 30 Red Hot Hits

*** *

Zombi

The Zolan Adventure

1990 Ubi Soft Ltd

1983 Softek Software International Ltd

Unusual and playable adventure which has overtones of Dawn of the Dead. You are forced to land your helicopter on the roof of a shopping centre and must search for fuel. The game is icon driven, and the

Poor adventure that uses very basic, one-line, descriptions of your locations. The presentation is below par, and the game requires a lot of guessing the verb/combination to proceed. Not very good.

1983

locations well drawn, if monochrome. The tension is excellent, and the game great fun.

Graphically similar to Ant Attack, this game repeats the formula, but has several developments. You can build your own city, by dropping blocks, and can play either a boy of girl. Colour is used for freely in this version, though this does make for some colour clash. Still playable, this game is little different from the original game, but good fun.

“You really need to keep your wits about you” – Your Sinclair Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair

81% 65% 87% 77%

“I don’t think this is any significant improvement over Ant Attack” Crash


16/48 Big K Crash PCG Sinclair Programs Sinclair User Your Spectrum

The Ultimate Collection

***

Zombie Island 1984 Spectre Soft

See also:

Also known as Zombies

Ant Attack

5/7 KK 80% 7/10 70% 7/10 6½/15

***

Zona 0 1991 Topo Soft

Very poor arcade game in which you are running around a screen collecting items, but avoiding the zombies on your tale. Quite fast to play, but little playability. Only available as part of the compilations • •

Astrocade Strike Four

*

Zombie Zombie

Three dimensional version of the light cycles game which looks very good and plays quite well. The computer puts up a decent challenge, and it is easy enough to differentiate between you and your opponents.

1984 Quicksilva Ltd

MicroHobby

90%


Mega 4

A demo of the game appeared on the covertape •


***

Zona Radioactiva 1986

1984

MicroHobby

A simplistic arcade game which has tiny sprites and little playability.

Version of Centipede that starts off with a completely blank screen. The usual rules apply, but without the variety of the original, the game quickly becomes boring.

Only available on the covertape

*

•

Zone Trooper

MicroHobby Semanal 089-092

* 1989 Game Busters

The Zone 1984 Arcade Software

Zone 00 1985 Allanson Computing

Fly around the planet locating the reactor pieces that will stop your craft from exploding. Graphics are colourful but look ugly, and the game is rather dull to play. “Ropey and unappealing” – Sinclair User Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair * “Quite playable and strangely addictive” – Crash

Zonik Crash

45%

Zone-M

1985 MicroHobby See Zoink

1986 Zuheir Urwani

Zoo 1985

30% 1/10 44% 2/10

1984 L'Ensouleiado Software “An interesting formula” – Sinclair User

Zoot 1985 Bug-Byte Software Ltd

Good puzzle solving game which features quite simplistic graphics, but has some fiendish problems. Playability wise, the game is fine, but once you have played the game through, there is little incentive to play on. Fun while it lasts, though. “Fun to play and surprisingly addictive” – Your Sinclair Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair

53% 6/10 3/5 8/10

Also available as part of the compilation • •

Rather simplistic game which sees you descending into the sewers to locate your marbles. You have to biff your way through many screens, and you can move up and down or left and right on the platforms, which does add a tactical edge to the game. Graphics are good, nice and cartoony, but the game is rather dull to play and repetitive.

Spectrum Stingers El Super 10

***

Zortron

“It's all great fun and criminally underpriced” – Sinclair User Crash Sinclair User Your Sinclair

1987 Grupo de Trabajo Software S.A.

59% 5/5 7/10


Games Compendium

*

Zorf Fair shooter that is simplistic but quite entertaining. You must shoot the eggs that fall, but when you do, the creatures inside them hatch and you must shoot or avoid them. Graphically quite basic, but enjoyable in short bursts.

1983 Odyssey Computing See Spectrum Zorf

Only available vailable as part of the tape magazine

Zorro

•

Libreria de Software Spectrum issue 18

and as part of the compilation 1986 US Gold Ltd

• **

1986

Pack Angel Garcia Delgado

Zozon

•

Megaplay 1

See also: Lightfarce

1983 Ivan Benishek

***

Zuckman 1982 DJL Software Ltd

Zulu Wars 1987 CCS

Your city is at risk from the damburst. Pacmen fly across the screen, and you must shoot them down with your missiles. Graphics are poor, and the game very simple. Not very good. *

Zub 1986 Mastertronic Added Dimension Rather dull strategy game that has a lot of scope, but the game is quite boring. Graphics are poor, with tiny sprites, and the control methods are quite fiddly. “Unlikely to prove of lasting interest” - Crash Computer Gamer Crash Sinclair User Your Sinclair ZX Computing *

Zut Alors! You must move to the top of the screen by jumping on the platforms, which move as you walk on them. You must also avoid the monsters coming down to knock you off. Graphics are nicely defined, but the screen looks a little empty. The game, however, is very playable, if a little frustrating and repetitive.

1986 Aryxoft

“On the whole I really like this” - Crash Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair

79% 7/10 5/5 7/10

Also available as part of the compilations •

Fantastic Four

1987

78% 61% 3/5 7/10 Great

Stereotypical adventure which sees you trying to aspire to become one of the famous Musketeers. The descriptions are all in cod French, using words like ze and ‘ere, which grates after a while, although the adventure itself is not bad, but nothing special.

Less than wonderful version of Centipede, in which all the sprites are computer related. You, of course, control the ZX and must blast the other computer logos. Not one of the best versions. *

**

ZX Draughts

Zvezdani Zatvorenik

1982 CP Software

1989 Milivoy Kostic

See Draughts Master

ZX99

ZX Fruits

1990 Richard Mark Bacon

1985 Video Spectrum

ZX Berserk

See Fruit

ZX Reactor 1982 Jega Software 1983 ASP Software Ltd

ZX-Reactor 1983 Spectrum Computing Also known as Reactores

Poor arcade conversion that has tiny sprites and sluggish controls. The game speed is very slow, and you will give up long before you get very far in the game. *

ZX Centi 1985 Callum Gibson

Snake type game which sees you moving around the screen collecting numbers in order. Graphically basic, and little variation means low addictiveness. Only available as part of the tape magazine • •

Spectrum Computing 01 Spectrum Computing issue 01

*

ZX Reversi 1983 CP Software

1988

Poor version of Star Trek, which uses all the usual commands. Graphics are minimal, using characters, and the game runs very slowly. A poor version of a poor game. “Simply not good enough” – Crash *

The ZX-Word 1984 16/48 Tape Magazine Fair version of the game which has plain and functional graphics. Plenty of options, but the game plays slowly. Not too bad a version, though. “Guaranteed uaranteed to give Othello addicts a good run for their money” – Sinclair User Sinclair User

7/10

**

ZX Spectrum Golf 1984 CRL Group PLC See Handicap Golf

ZX Spectrum Grail

Very slow computer crossword game which, unusually, has two sets of clues for the same answer. Moving around the board is very slow, and the game is not much fun.

1983 Severn Software

Only available as part of the tape magazine

See Grail

•

16/48 Tape Magazine Tape 04

ZX Spectrum Pro-Am Golf *

Zybex

1982 R&R Software Ltd See Spectrum Golf

1989 Zeppelin Games Ltd

ZX Trek 1982 Impact Software

Excellent shooter which has nice, clear graphics, and provides a stiff challenge. You shoot automatically, with fire used to switch between weapons. The more icons you collect for a weapon, the more powerful it

1989

is. Plenty of lives are available, but you’ll need them, as this is one tough cookie. Very playable and addictive.

Also available on the compilations • • •

“What more can you ask for from a shoot-em-up?” – Sinclair User C&VG Crash Sinclair User

79% 87% 95%

4 Smash Hits Heatwave Space Ace

*****

Zythum

****

Zynaps

1986 Mirrorsoft Ltd

1987 Hewson Consultants Ltd

Quite pleasant horizontal shooter that sees you running along the ground, jumping obstacles and shooting enemies. The jumping makes it quite tricky to judge whether to jump or stay and fight. Good fun, though a little bit frustrating that you have to go back quite far you die.

on shooter which has bags of addictiveness. Extremely playable side-on The graphics are excellent, with lovely sprites, and lots of wonderful backgrounds, with smooth scrolling. The game difficulty is pitched just right, with later levels becoming really tough. It’s hard to see how this game could be bettered in any way.

“Very, very irritating” – Sinclair User Computer Gamer Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair Also available as part of the covertape •


***

Zzoom 1983 Imagine Software Ltd

“Playability is something Zynaps has got lots of” – Your Sinclair Crash MicroHobby Sinclair User Your Sinclair

91% 8/10 10/10 8/10

1990

50% 59% 9/10 4/5 4/10

Very playable shooter. You control a craft and must shoot oncoming aircraft whilst protecting the people walking on the horizon. Hilariously, you can shoot you own people, and they turn red and are flung into the air. Graphics are reasonable, but this game is very playable. “A very memorable game” – Crash Also available as part of the compilation •

Value Pack 48K

***

Zzzz 1986 Mastertronic Ltd

Icon driven or text input graphical adventure which, because it all takes place in a dream, allows itself to be rather illogical with placing of locations, e.g. a beach next to an igloo. The graphics are rather colourful, and nicely drawn, but the icon system is a bit superfluous, the game being faster with text input. The game itself is enjoyable, and something a little bit different. “Surprisingly imaginative” – Sinclair User Crash Sinclair User ZX Computing

58% 5/5 Grim

***

1991