The ZX Spectrum version of Dennis Caswell‘s classic platform/puzzle game, Impossible Mission, was first published in 1985 by US Gold. It is an okay adaptation. Playable, but nothing special.
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Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax, ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum version of Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax was developed by M.C. Lothlorian and first published by Palace Software in 1988.
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Barbarian, ZX Spectrum
The Spectrum version of Barbarian is an okay fighting game, but it doesn’t quite have the satisfying decapitation animation of the original C64 version…
Split Personalities, ZX Spectrum
Split Personalities is a sliding puzzle game featuring topical people from the 1980s (Margaret Thatcher, Neil Kinnock, Charles and Diana, Reagan, Breshnev, and so on). The game was first released in 1986 by Domark and was a critical success, but not a commercial one.
Kong, ZX Spectrum
Ocean‘s 1983 release of Kong was an unofficial clone of Donkey Kong, and not a very good one at that. Kong was another early ZX Spectrum game I bought and thought was crap, but was entertaining enough for a few hours at least.
Forgotten Worlds, ZX Spectrum
Created by Arc Developments and published by US Gold in 1989, the ZX Spectrum port of Capcom‘s side-scrolling arcade game is an excellent late-stage shooter that demonstrates the Spectrum punching well above its own weight.
The Addams Family, ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum version of Ocean Software‘s classic platformer, The Addams Family, was first released in 1992 and was for 128K Spectrums only. The game was programmed by Andrew Deakin, with graphics by Ivan Horn and sound by Jonathan Dunn.
It’s A Knockout, ZX Spectrum
It’s A Knockout, also known as “Jeux sans frontières“, was a TV show where teams of contestants battled it out over various physical challenges, in order to win the most points.
The idea for the show came from French President Charles de Gaulle, whose wish was that French and German youth would meet in a series of games to reinforce the friendship between the two countries. The domestic BBC English language version of the show was called “It’s A Knockout“.
The TV show grew during the 1970s and became popular throughout Europe, with various countries getting their own local and national versions, and the winners going through to a European final where individual countries would take each other on. These finals were usually much bigger-budget, with elaborate costumes and challenges, than in the early rounds, and they were broadcast throughout Europe on a regular basis for at least a couple of decades. It’s A Knockout was a phenomenon back in the late 70s and 80s. It’s since been replaced by similar shows like Tekashi’s Castle.
Death Pit, ZX Spectrum
***CANNED GAME***
Death Pit was advertised extensively by Durell Software in 1985, but was never released. The completed full game has since been made available online, so you can still play it now.
Kosmic Kanga, ZX Spectrum
Kosmic Kanga is a bouncing, platforming, shooting game in which you play a large, yellow kangaroo that fires boxing gloves as bullets. The game was created by Dominic Wood and first published for the ZX Spectrum in 1984, by Micromania.