Unique Spectrum games?
What Spectrum games are unique? Unique as in there's no other game like it on the Spectrum? It doesn't matter if there's a million games like it on any other machine, I just mean Speccy-wise.
The obvious one, I think, is The Sentinel - I don't know of any other game like it on the rubbber beermat.
Utter tripe is unique too (as far as I know, of course), being the only type-em-up on the Speccy.
Stunt Car Racer is unique, I think, and also Turbo Esprit.
Offhand I can't think of any more, though there are a few that are 'sort of' unique, being vaguely similar in gameplay to other games, i.e. Batterie's Not Precluded is sort of like Run Baby Run, even though I love the former and just can't play the latter, or 3D Deathchase is similar to part two of Savage (again, I love the former but the latter leaves me cold).
And Mined Out is similar to the Mine Sweeper Speccy clones (I can't name any, offhand) but different enough that it might be considered unique, that is if there really is no other game like Mined Out on the Speccy. (In Mined Out you have to clear a path from the bottom to top of the screen, whereas in Mine Sweeper you have to clear all the mines - the big difference is that in Mine Sweeper if you are unlucky you can (unfairly!) lose the game on your first turn, whereas on Mined Out you cannot, as you always start in a safe spot.
Is Xeno unique?

And would 3D Pool (Maltese Joe's Pool Challenge) count, since it's basically a pool game but with a fully 3D rotational game engine?

What other Spectrum games are unique?
The obvious one, I think, is The Sentinel - I don't know of any other game like it on the rubbber beermat.
Utter tripe is unique too (as far as I know, of course), being the only type-em-up on the Speccy.
Stunt Car Racer is unique, I think, and also Turbo Esprit.
Offhand I can't think of any more, though there are a few that are 'sort of' unique, being vaguely similar in gameplay to other games, i.e. Batterie's Not Precluded is sort of like Run Baby Run, even though I love the former and just can't play the latter, or 3D Deathchase is similar to part two of Savage (again, I love the former but the latter leaves me cold).
And Mined Out is similar to the Mine Sweeper Speccy clones (I can't name any, offhand) but different enough that it might be considered unique, that is if there really is no other game like Mined Out on the Speccy. (In Mined Out you have to clear a path from the bottom to top of the screen, whereas in Mine Sweeper you have to clear all the mines - the big difference is that in Mine Sweeper if you are unlucky you can (unfairly!) lose the game on your first turn, whereas on Mined Out you cannot, as you always start in a safe spot.
Is Xeno unique?

And would 3D Pool (Maltese Joe's Pool Challenge) count, since it's basically a pool game but with a fully 3D rotational game engine?

What other Spectrum games are unique?
Post edited by ewgf on
Comments
Yes, it's a very original game, cool in 2 player mode.
Underwurlde is also unique, in the way that they're not the baddies who kill you, but yourself if you fall from a big height. I don't remember (maybe exists???) any other game like this.
Skool Daze (and obviously its sequel), where you must reach an objetive while sticking to a timetable.
I would say it's the first, but not the only one where you 'stick to a timetable'. The Great Escape also had you sticking to the Nazi POW camp rules if you didn't wanna get shoved into solitary confinement every 5 minutes.
The Ket games were also unique at the time for combining Adventure genre with RPG elements.
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Wow! You're right! How could I forget it?
Another (IMHO) unique games:
Deus Ex Machina: An original concept where you play the game while you need to listen to the B side of the tape.
Highway Encounter: In the way that all the remaining lives go with you, and the baddies can kill them while the current life is ok.
Good thread. Pretty tricky!
I would also list:
Good point! Although I'm sure everyone here is sick of hearing it from me! :grin:
Other suggestions:
Since rekindling my love for the Spectrum recently, it's struck me just how many quirky varied games are out there. There were very few established rules of what a computer game SHOULD be so people went off & made all sorts of zany stuff. (With a very mixed results!)
The sheer variety of games unique is fantastic. :-)
I've re-read the opening post & I feel silly!
How about Jumping Jack? OK Loads of platformers have you leaping, but I can't think of any others quite like it. Pre-dates Doodle Jump by over 25 years.
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101% agreed. And it was mostly interpreted BASIC. Impressive.
Spy vs Spy.
What's the one where you travel around inside the body killing germs?
That's it!
I guess this one would be the complete opposite of that one? :smile:
Then again, all three were written by Binary Design, so that shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.
Feud - I can't see there being many games were you need to hunt for herbs etc to make spells in order to fight a rival wizard.
can't be that unique because it even says in the description it is almost identical to Blood'n'Guts. (just saying - I've not played either!)
not until ya finish ya dinna ! hehe
Then it becomes Puddle Puddle ... errr ...................
It's just plain odd.
Sailing - i don't remember seeing much sailing simulators around, probably because its boring:smile: