Gaming News — ZX Spectrum

June is in full bloom, ladies and gentlemen, and since everything’s in full swing, the retro games keep coming. Of course, this means everyone can get a good helping of quality old-school games that never fail to bring fun, action or otherwise. Whether it’s a port of a classic or something brand new, best believe we got the scoop. So kick back, relax, and enjoy the ride!

THE TELWYNIUM

If you’re a fan of eighties and nineties epic adventure games like Kings Quest, then you’ll be happy to know that a new Sierra-style game is coming out and looks pretty good. The Telwynium book one, book two, and book three by Powerhoof look to bring the same classic Sierra-style adventure that everyone enjoyed in the nineties.

The Telwynium Book one

The game sees you as the hero, and your party of four, escaped the horrors of the shadow fell, fighting your way to safety. So far, there’s only information on book one, but since this trilogy will likely be rolled out quickly, you can expect more news to drop. Feedback on the game has been positive, especially in the visual design and story departments.

The Telwynium book two

It’s a nostalgia trip that takes you on an exciting, plot-driven journey where every decision can alter your story. If you’re an old-school Kings Quest or Quest of Lori veteran, then Telwynium looks like the next logical step.

The Telwynium book three

HAMULET

There have been a lot, and I mean a whole plethora, of brand spank and new games coming out in the past few months, and June is no different. One of these new upcoming games comes in the form of an impressive-looking demo of Hamulet by Remy Veilleux for the Amiga.

While there isn’t any definite news on when the game will come out, the demo looks pretty good. The top-down dungeon crawler elements, paired with some intense action, look a lot of fun in terms of art style and sound design, you get a nice, cutesy feel from it all, and we’re pretty sure there’s more in store for everyone as the game nears completion. So if you’re thinking retro Stardew Valley, but with more action about as much whimsy and lots of puzzles, then Hamlet might be worth the wait.

MARIO BROS G&W

Do you remember the Game and Watch an absolute classic? Do you remember Mario Bros for the game and watch from 1983? Well, just about 40 years later, we’re getting a demake for the ZX spectrum, and it’s every bit as cool as it is, old-school. Now, this should be a straight-up blast from the past from any G&W fans, but for anyone unfamiliar, this might not be the Mario you’ve come to know and love.

Instead of the usual friendly plumbers, Mario and Luigi work at a bottling plant, prepping packages to load into a truck, and instead of a side-scrolling adventure, it’s a challenging relay of platforming as you make sure those bottles make their way up a few floors and into the truck. Funny enough, this version came out in March of 1983, 3 months before Mario rose for the Arcade.

Now this makes the very first appearance of Luigi and also, in the retro gaming world, his latest. If you have a ZX spectrum lying around and want to relive good old game and watch days, check this one out.

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As we enter the month of May, the retro action and adrenaline never stop. This marks a slightly slower time for releases from most studios, but as we all know, retro gaming never sleeps. As such, we have a few titles that'll bring epic fantasy and modern action vibes to your gaming experience. It's time to look at a few platformers, hot and fresh, from the classic arcades to your old-school console to whatever device you're using in 2023.

WELCOME TO ADVENTURE LIFE

Now, if you're searching for a new ZX Spectrum game that gives just the right amount of action and adventure, then Welcome to Adventure Life by Free Pixel Studio just might catch your eye. Speaking of eyes, players take on the role of a young, inquisitive cyclops out to discover the mysteries beneath the Earth.

The story takes us to a secret passage leading to an underground realm that leads to quirky, supernatural adventures. So far, the game looks like it involves a lot of exploring with many caverns and caves, all decked out in some vivid colors and a nice 8-bit soundtrack. It's definitely a platformer to look out for. And as retro gamers, we really do welcome the adventure life 

SERAPHIMA

Now onto something a bit above the surface and less about monsters. Zosya Entertainment, who's been a major part of the Yandex Retro Games Battle for years, just dropped a high-quality game for the ZX spectrum. Seraphima features a character that takes on a more angelic persona, but make no mistake; she'll still kick some ass to save the world.

In the game story, we learn about the guardians, supernatural beings who protect the earth, and the marauder's bad guys who aren't fond of anyone but themselves. In a never-ending battle between good and evil, our main girl Seraphima emerges as the last surviving guardian. Now it's up to her to keep fighting, banish the marauders of the shadow realm, and save us all from extinction.

No pressure, girl. You got this. Looking at the game itself, we're getting a lot of side-scrolling. girl power with some nice neon colors. Definitely a visual treat with some interesting gameplay. On more of a story-driven epic fantasy, there's a bit of action to experience. So if Seraphima looks like something you'd wanna pick up, we suggest you do so.

COINZ ARE MINE!

Last but not least, we get another game for the ZX Spectrum that also hails from the Yandex Retro Games Battle. This time, we go from epic fantasy to a more modern, realistic vibe. Drunk Fly’s fabulous arcade platformer Coinz Are Mine!. It's out right now and looks like a ton of fun.

We're getting some great character animation, a cool soundtrack, various enemies, and a coin challenge that cranks things up with each level you complete. There's definitely some gritty retro action here, but we still get that fun factor. Coinz are mine! is a puzzle platformer with a twist. You only have to collect one coin per level, but things won't be so easy for the number of puzzles and hoards of enemies in your way. 

Getting that coin just might be a grind like in real life. Yep, a bit too real and a bit too close to home. Thankfully, you'll have heavy objects and a trusty rifle by your side. So it all boils down to just how bad you wanna get that coin. So if you want it that bad, check out this game.

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As serious as a heart attack, we have the freshest news regarding retro gaming to satisfy those retrogaming needs. And speaking of blood pressure, we intend to bring action and adventure to your console of choice, regardless of the genre. So sit tight and kick off with some hot and tasty games.

BREAKTHRU by AcidBottle

If you’re into Amiga titles poured straight from the arcade machine, like Flying Shark, Green Beret, and Wonderboy, then we have news for you. AcidBottle is now working on the arcade to Amiga game of Breakthru, an Action-packed 1986 side-scrolling shooter by DataEast. The premise is simple. Drive through enemy territory and rescue your PK 430 aircraft. Easy peasy.

Well, it may not be as bombastic as most titles. It’s an easy score-attack shooter that’s a lot of fun. So far, the game has a few bugs to work out, game mechanics to refine, and a few more things to work out to make sure the port comes out nicely. Still, there is lots of work to be done, but at least progress has been swift for now.

Players can expect many bullets and explosions to go around once the game gets released. So if you’re into big machines with a minimalist yet badass aesthetic, keep your eyes peeled for Breakthru.

LA CULOTTE DE ZELDA by Zisquier

We’ve had our fair share of Zelda Re-releases, clones, and modern reimagining. This time it looks like we have yet another, but with a slight twist, at least by name. This version could be a welcome addition to any Amstrad Plus collection.

La Culotte de Zelda is brought to us by the capable hands of Zisquire with graphics by BDCIron. So while the name may be in a different language, this title looks like a faithful adaptation of the OG Legends of Zelda, which came out on the NES. But based on the current info, it also seems to reference A Link to the Past and Link’s Awakening. Currently, the game is a work in progress at version 3.2 in the past six months.

La Cullote de Zelda not only features graphics made by BDCIron with a wider spectrum of color but also smooth and fast animations with smooth gameplay. With atmospheric sound design and a soundtrack from the classic game, we can look forward to a nice modern version with a name that’s more open for interpretation for the more linguistically inclined. Muy Bien!

DOUBLE DRAGON

Time for an absolute arcade classic that might not be as popular as before but always brings us back to the good old butt-kicking days once it’s mentioned. We’re talking about the 1987 Classic Double Dragon.

If you played it back in the day, especially on the ZX spectrum, you’d be stoked to know that it’s currently available for download as Double Dragon 128K. A 2023 edition with a few tweaks made specifically for the Amstrad CPC, MSX, and C64. There have been a few earlier conversions in ports of this game, but this version has a few more perks, like an intro screen with instructions and scrolling text trader options, AY music from Amstrad CPC and MSX, plus converted music from the C64.

This version also includes an epilogue and game over screen, so you’re guaranteed a more complete experience this time around. Sweet. So if you have your trustees ZX spectrum and want to live an absolute action-packed classic, then make sure to check out a Double Dragon 128K.

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We tone things down a little as you wrap up things this month and start April. Well, we won't be featuring anything too explosive. We're still looking at some pretty dynamic retro games that'll keep you wanting more. And no, we're not slowing things down, don't worry. From Rogue Light to Platformer to Tech Space Adventure, we're covering all our bases this week, so sit tight.

PLANET B

We got the four in one, and anyone looking forward to anything coming out on the Sega Mega Drive. The game Planet B is a 16-bit Roguelike RPG that offers just what any fan would expect, a unique run every time. Fabrice Fernandez, Hieu-Khai Bui-Quang, and Emmanuel Rousseau are leading in developing this title, and things are looking great with randomly generated content; players can explore dungeons, collect items, and go through a story with a different experience every time. Just like any good roguelike.

Currently, there isn't much info on planet B, but given the love for the genre, you can best believe we'll be following up.

CRACKY

Now it's time to look at a new game for the Amstrad C64, Plus4 and ZX Spectrum. Yeah, that's a lot of consoles, but we're looking at an intriguing game. Cracky is an arcade platformer where you collect all the stars while avoiding deadly baddies and other dangers you'll definitely come across. Cracky is a new title with an old-schooled book and feel. Written by a Japanese developer Infuto who habitually releases games on many eight-bit platforms. This one is his 13th release, and we can expect many more by the look of things.

The game objective is simple, clear each level by collecting all the stars without getting killed. As for the reason why it's called Cracky. While some parts on the game's floor literally crack when you walk over, creating holes in the platforms. To make things even more challenging, there's no jumping. So on most levels, you must use the cracks to your advantage or fall from the stars. So if you're in the market for a non-jumper platformer with a quirky twist, then it's time to get Cracky. 

GNOME RANGER & TIME AND MAGIK

Now for an adventure in text, retro style. Developer Csabo, together with Pigmy are doing old-school fans of the genre, a solid by reporting the classic text space adventure games of Gnome Ranger and Time and Magik over to the Commodore Plus4.

For those unfamiliar, Gnome Ranger is a text adventure game designed by Peter Austin and released by Level 9 in 1987, many, many moons ago. A year later, we got a sequel entitled Ingrid's Back, which further explores the series. As for Time in Magik, you got a trilogy of interactive fiction games by the same studio.

Level Nine first released the individual games separately from 1983 to 1986. The trilogy came out in 1988, with all three games revised, expanded, and rereleased together as a compilation by Mandarin Software. When it comes to text Adventures, Level 9 of the Gnome Ranger franchise, we're among the first to popularize the genre. It's nice to see the same games getting more love in 2023. Once the Commodore Plus Port comes out, we'll make sure to let you know. 

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