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Retro Games Ltd to release The Spectrum, fully working ZX Spectrum, and here’s the game list!

The Spectrum box front view
The Spectrum (retail packaging).

Retro Games Ltd to release The Spectrum, fully working ZX Spectrum, and here’s the game list!

August 24, 2024 Posted by Bill Loguidice News 9 Comments

Retro Games Ltd, the force behind the popular “The” series of plug-and-play mini and full-size (maxi) computer consoles I’ve been covering since 2016, including TheC64 (Commodore 64 and VIC-20 computer platform Minis and Maxis), TheA500 Mini (Commodore Amiga), and The400 Mini (Atari 8-bit computers (my review)), is now releasing a maxi based on the wildly-popular-in-the-UK ZX Spectrum platform, supporting 16K – 128K games and featuring a fully working ZX Spectrum-style keyboard. This leaks ahead of the official announcement thanks to some jumpy European retailers.

The Spectrum box rear view
Rear view of the retail The Spectrum box.

There are 48 built-in games, including popular titles like Manic Miner, The Hobbit, Saboteur!, The Great Escape, Head Over Heels, Match Day II, Target: Renegade, and Alien Girl (Skirmish Edition). Included in the box is The Spectrum console, quick start guide, HDMI cable, and USB-C cable. As with the other “The” series systems, you need to supply your own USB AC adapter.

The Spectrum overhead view
The Spectrum.

While the ZX Spectrum, in its bastardized Timex Sinclair 2068 form, didn’t make a dent in the US market, it proved a wildly popular budget computer platform in the UK and other select regions. While I suspect this will be a tough sell to US consumers due to its unusual graphics and overall modest gaming capabilities, as a US-centric enthusiast myself (with a variety of ZX Spectrum and Timex systems in my collection), I can say it’s still worth exploring for retro gaming and computing enthusiasts with an open mind. It had some great isometric action-adventure games and, as with any retro computer worth its salt, a unique “personality.” Thanks to the working keyboard, you can even play in the authentic way with the original-style wonky keyboard, as well as program in BASIC. Of course, the USB ports will no doubt support the usual external joysticks and keyboards.

The Spectrum rear ports view
The rear of The Spectrum.

While these are not meant as replacements for the original computers, they’re always fun for more casual uses, and, frankly, if you don’t enjoy the 48 built-in games, you’ll likely never enjoy the platform, as there are many all-time greats in there. It’s probably the best overall game list of any of their “The” series (though, of course, you can always add your own games via the SD card slot).

It’s expected to retail for €99/$129.99.

Here’s the game list:

  • Alien Girl (Skirmish Edition)
  • Ant Attack
  • Army Moves
  • Auf Wiedersehen Monty
  • Avalon
  • Bobby Bearing
  • Cosmic Payback
  • Devwill Too ZX
  • Exolon
  • Fairlight
  • Firelord
  • Football Manager 2
  • Freddy Hardest
  • The Great Escape
  • Head Over Heels
  • Highway Encounter
  • The Hobbit
  • Horace Goes Skiing
  • Jack the Nipper
  • Knot in 3D
  • The Lords of Midnight
  • Manic Miner
  • Match Day II
  • Movie
  • Nodes of Yesod
  • Penetrator
  • Phantis (Game Over II)
  • Pheenix
  • Pyracurse
  • Quazatron
  • Robin of the Wood
  • Saboteur! Remastered
  • Shovel Adventure
  • Skool Daze
  • Snake Escape
  • Spellbound
  • Starquake
  • Starstrike II
  • El Stompo
  • Stonkers
  • Target: Renegade
  • TCQ
  • Technician Ted – The Megamix
  • Tenebra
  • Trashman
  • The Way of the Exploding Fist
  • Wheelie
  • Where Time Stood Still

Related

Tags: game listhead over heelsmanic minerplug and playretro games ltdthe hobbitthe spectrumZX Spectrum
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About Bill Loguidice

Bill Loguidice is a Founder and Managing Director for Armchair Arcade, as well as a critically acclaimed technology author and journalist.  He is also the co-founder of creative services firm, Armchair Creative Services, and a noted videogame and computer historian and subject matter expert. See full bio

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9 Comments

Leave your reply.
  • VampireJack
    · Reply

    August 24, 2024 at 11:58 AM

    I’m pissed off as I’ve just ordered a ZX Spectrum NGO from Spain, and it’s about to hit me with a customs charge on top of the top dollar I paid for it! Ah well, it plays Next games too and can emulate other systems, so will do.
    I’ll still be getting The Spectrum on day of release though, and it looks to have quite a decent games list. Add on a pendrive full of games, and jobs a good un.
    2 Spectrums is better than no Spectrums.

    • Bill Loguidice
      · Reply

      Author
      August 24, 2024 at 12:37 PM

      Well, I personally think there’s a place for all of the various modern ZX Spectrum clones, FPGAs, etc., as well as The Spectrum. They all have their pluses, minuses, and special features that the others either won’t have or will do better. We’ll know more about the special features of The Spectrum soon.

      • AfterBurnett
        · Reply

        August 24, 2024 at 7:05 PM

        Yup! I have a MiSTer FPGA but nothing beats an official product with a proper keyboard layout. I love my TheVIC20 and it’s my fave way of playing C64 games – plus I can do programming etc without having to remember where the keys are! I’ll definitely be grabbing one of these! Game list is fantastic!!!! I’m so grateful for Plaion – they’ve done so much for retro computing and the build quality of their stuff is incredible. I recently sold my real ZX Spectrum as I knew this modern version would arrive soon, so perfect timing. Haha. I just prefer to play games rather than maintain hardware!!!

        • Viktor Špička
          · Reply

          August 25, 2024 at 8:36 AM

          I played on a local clone of the ZX Spectrum back in 1995 . Being from behind the Iron Curtain I would probably have chosen a slightly different piece of software . A lot of good games were from Ocean , Hewson, Codemasters , and I would definitely throw in the local Quadrax and F.I.R.E. …

        • Simon
          · Reply

          August 25, 2024 at 11:09 AM

          No Cannon fodder, no sensi soccer and no ultimate – play the game games

          Yikes

          • Bill Loguidice

            Author
            August 25, 2024 at 11:21 AM

            So what? It’s impossible to license every game. You can add Speccy Soccer or any other game yourself via the SD card slot.

  • AfterBurnett
    · Reply

    August 24, 2024 at 7:10 PM

    Wait, I just notice the lack of 180 in the game list. BOOOO! Haha, thank the almighty for that SD card slot!!!

  • Derek
    · Reply

    September 7, 2024 at 12:43 PM

    Hi does anyone know if the version of Spellbound is the 48k or 128k version on The Spectrum please?

    • Bill Loguidice
      · Reply

      Author
      September 7, 2024 at 1:18 PM

      I don’t think that’s been stated yet, but I’d be surprised if these all weren’t the best (128K) versions. This even supports Enhanced ULA games.

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