The ZX Spectrum, the micro that gave birth to the first indie development community in Europe and some of the most important classics, is a machine that simply cannot age. Over 10,000 games have been developed for it, dozens are being released each year and, well, here are 10 classic 8-bit games that really helped define it.
3D Deathchase
Requiring a measly 16k of RAM this is a game that has topped countless of best Spectrum games lists and is considered a true and undisputed classic. What's more, 3D Deathchase hasn't aged a day and remains an addictive and engrossing recreation of the speed-biking-on-Endor scenes from Star Wars, as well as an impressive 3D graphics showcase.
Find it over at eBay.co.uk and eBay.com.
R-Type
As far as arcade ports go, R-Type is the most accomplished one to ever appear on Sinclair's micro. It's fast, as faithful to the original as it gets and looks stunning, while remaining one of the best horizontally scrolling shoot-'em-ups ever created.
Find it over at eBay.co.uk and eBay.com.
Chaos: The Battle of Wizards
Before X-Com, Julian Gollop had designed a multitude of instant classics, though none came close to the uniqueness of Chaos; a highly tactical game that let you control a wizard and cast spells in an attempt to crush other wizards. Said spells could summon monsters, create illusions of monsters, dispel illusions, directly attack things and, above all, change the state of the battlefield itself.
Find it over at eBay.co.uk and eBay.com.
Head Over Heels
The pinnacle of the isometric arcade adventure, Jon Ritman's Head Over Heeals, is a cartoon-esque brain teaser that lets you control two outrageously named characters (Head and Heels, obviously) who can combine into a single, ludicrous entity. Puzzle solving skills aside, this is a game that requires some dextrous maneuvering too.
Find it over at eBay.co.uk and eBay.com.
Manic Miner
Behold the best 2D platform game of all time (well, according to this humble blog)! The surreal, tough, pixel-perfect, at times hilarious and subtly puzzle-y Manic Miner. It really is a perfect game, you know, and one that should take you many hours and many deaths at the hands of gaming's most bizarre baddies to finally beat. It's Matthew Smith's magnum opus.
Find it over at eBay.co.uk and eBay.com.
Knight Lore
Ultimate Play The Game shocked everyone with the release of Knight Lore and single-handedly created a new hit genre with its smart, 3D-ish Filmation engine. The game may seem a tad simplistic (albeit charmingly so) today, but everything from Head Over Heels and Get Dexter to Gunfright and Abadia del Crimen owes a debt to Knight Lore. Oh, and Sabreman's transformation to a werewolf remains as cute as ever.
Find it over at eBay.co.uk and eBay.com.
Trashman
No other gaming platform had as many working class heroes as the ZX Spectrum and Trashman is a fine example of how brilliant a game about ordinary people can be. It's unique, lovely to look at, smart, hectic, addictive, demanding and far more interesting than any super-hero fantasy you'd care to mention.
Find it over at eBay.co.uk and eBay.com.
Deus Ex Machina
Accompanied by audio tracks on tape, Deus Ex Machina was Automata's most ambitious and meaningful game. A wonderful assortment of mini games tied together with a strong, dystopian narrative, an amazing soundscape and unique aesthetics that failed to become a hit, but helped define a more artful approach to game design.
Find it over at eBay.co.uk and eBay.com.
The Hobbit
Text-adventures were big during the 8-bit era, but The Hobbit by Beam Software was simply huge. Based on Tolkien's classic, it sported numerous technological innovations (including a advanced parser and proto-AI driven characters), great writing, smart puzzles, evocative illustrations and a lot of singing about gold. Oh, and it did usually ship complete with a hefty manual and the original book.
Skool Daze
Skool Daze: the ultimate fantasy of any '80s schoolkid simulated via the magic of computers! Seriously though, this open world simulator let you run amok in an excellently illustrated school building in order to eventually, uhm, liberate and "fix" your report card, while torturing teachers, attending classes, playing with that catapult of yours and avoiding getting lines. Getting to name the staff and write on blackboards were fantastic extras too.
Find it over at eBay.co.uk and eBay.com.
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