Undiscovered gems
Hi,
There are many lists of the best ever Spectrum games, but I'd be interested to know of any "undiscovered gems" you have come across. That is, games which aren't widely known but you really like for whatever reason. Maybe the game code isn't too hot technically, or maybe it takes a long time to get into properly so most people downloading and playing in an emulator just give up. I'll start off with a couple...
Saracen
I had that on C64 back in the day. (The C64 version scolling is no better than the Speccy one!) Reminiscent of Boulderdash but I wouldn't call it a BD clone.
The Valley
This is an RPG coded (mostly or all, not sure which) in BASIC. It's surprisingly addictive -- but pretty hard. Make sure you read the instructions/storyline before playing. Again, I played this on C64 a long time ago. :) It originally appeared as a type-in listing in a magazine. It was also available on VIC-20, C64 and ZX81. There are actually four different versions on the WOS site:
The official commercial release from Argus
A different version sold by Kayde Software
An updated version of the Kayde release, appeared in Outlet electronic magazine
The Orb from CRL
Kayde Software and CRL apparently ran into some legal issues with Argus Specialist Publications, see http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=PopularComputingWeekly/Issue830609/Pages/PopularComputingWeekly83060900005.jpg.
There are many lists of the best ever Spectrum games, but I'd be interested to know of any "undiscovered gems" you have come across. That is, games which aren't widely known but you really like for whatever reason. Maybe the game code isn't too hot technically, or maybe it takes a long time to get into properly so most people downloading and playing in an emulator just give up. I'll start off with a couple...
Saracen
I had that on C64 back in the day. (The C64 version scolling is no better than the Speccy one!) Reminiscent of Boulderdash but I wouldn't call it a BD clone.
The Valley
This is an RPG coded (mostly or all, not sure which) in BASIC. It's surprisingly addictive -- but pretty hard. Make sure you read the instructions/storyline before playing. Again, I played this on C64 a long time ago. :) It originally appeared as a type-in listing in a magazine. It was also available on VIC-20, C64 and ZX81. There are actually four different versions on the WOS site:
The official commercial release from Argus
A different version sold by Kayde Software
An updated version of the Kayde release, appeared in Outlet electronic magazine
The Orb from CRL
Kayde Software and CRL apparently ran into some legal issues with Argus Specialist Publications, see http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=PopularComputingWeekly/Issue830609/Pages/PopularComputingWeekly83060900005.jpg.
Post edited by mark_k on
Comments
Rally Driver (Hill MacGibbon) despite being slow paced it was surprisingly good especially for the time,if i remember the game came boxed with a large detailed map of the roads and you could choose your route.
It's not mainstream though compared to the usual titles... Rommel's revenge is nice by them also
but 3 games I like a lot are
buggy blast http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0000744
krakatoa http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0002763 (glad to see "all or nothing" is in the top 100 )
taffy turner http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0002763
I got a c64 after my speccy broke.. so I'm sure there is loads of later games I missed
Other almost unknown games which share a similar trait - few frills but simple and fun arcade action - in my opinion are: Mission Jupiter, Mazemania, Impossaball, Cop-Out, Con-Quest, Scumball, Super G-Man, Super Stunt Man, Hoppin' Mad.
Tank is a proper conversion of the SNK coin-op (despite somewhat sketchy graphics), but as far as I remember Ocean did some marketing mess-up and the game was not granted an official release.
Quite a few text adventures marketed by smaller companies such as Zenobi are also atmospheric and challenging despite being virtually unknown.
Into Africa is a great variation on the Lords Of Midnight concept in a very atmospheric setting, but how many people ever heard of it? (Oddly enough, I remember of it being briefly but favorably mentioned in an Italian multi-format magazine in 1989 or so.)
Astros Production made some nice tactical combat games which I think did not earn the recognition they deserved: Samurai, Solar Fire, Tank Assault/NATO Assault.
Back in my youth i realy enjoyed playing this.
Only war game i ever realy got in to on the spectrum, played for me alot like panzer general does.
Being from 83, id imagine it's under most peoples radars, that and the ton of other war games.
As for Beach Volley, I've got the Spanish Erbe release, the UK one.... who knows. It possibly was released, it's rarity may be on a par with Robobop 3 and Sly Spy.
Steve
i remember that too.
Pickpocket - very simple but quite addictive
erm...the game where you start at the bottom of a tower and have to get to the top. you stay in the center of the screen and the tower moves around as you go left/right. really good graphics/scrolling. forgot the name...anyone?
edit - Nebulus, thanks scunny
http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0003377
And the Retroleague I take part in introduced me to a little game I'd never seen or heard of before called Beebul this week...they had to pick another game as this one doesn't have any scoring system, but it was good enough to warrant me playing it anyway!
Oh, and welcome to the wonderful world of posting on the forums, Mark_k! :D
It seemed to be more popular on the C64 than on the Spectrum however.
Despite being a fan i am not aware of the pc remake to be honest as i have little interest in remakes and rehashes of old games,i do recall a variation of the original HOTT by the same programmers with changable mazes and thing aggression and the less said about the later Return Of The Things the better lol.
Hmmm, lots of versions for different computers (including ST and PC), called Tower Toppler in the USA, there was even a homebrew version for Windows Mobile (2003 second edition), quite an achievement for an obscure game...
These have been mentioned before but Terramex and Sceptre of Baghdad are great games that aren't that well known.
good to know someone else likes it, played many times as a kid. just gave it another go but couldn't beat the train. it's a bit like a wild-west version of Hypersports but with less 'events'
if kane is so flippin popular, how come no one buys it.. been listing the game for for 2 months :p
I was just going to say! :grin:
That's the 7 year lurking itch for ya, I guess.
I prefer the Wild Bunch for my wild west fix!
F.I.R.E
What a brilliant shmup!
or TETRIS 2 by same author.
Hmmm, ok you asked for "undiscovered gems" but now I have to ask what kind of games do you like? Puzzle, maze, shmup, yadda-yadda?
Games with a puzzle/adventure aspect are good, so Boulder Dash-style/inspired games. Also the Dizzy games. If there are any Rogue-like RPGs for the Spectrum I'd probably like that too. (Apart from Master of Magic, I don't know of any others.)
The occasional faster-paced game (e.g. Guardian II) is okay too. Though my keyboard skills aren't really quick enough for that particular game!