 There's no doubt Manic Miner set the speccy standard, but its sequel rewrote it. It's also one of the most poked games ever. Jet Set Willy was huge and fantastic and later went on to feature in 1001 video games to play before you die. It also featured the world's first mod where your Sinclair added an extra level. Jet Set Willy was also probably the first commercial game to have a patch produced after the publisher initially claiming that the bug was actually a feature. Night Lore back in 1984 gave early gamers a look into the possible future 3D worlds with its isometric look and feel. It became a cult classic in no time at all. In fact it was so good back in 1984 that everything else looked like the work of amateurs. In fact Night Lore was released about one year after it was finished. Ultimate felt the new isometric graphics would hurt the sales of the 2D game Saber Wolf. So sadly they held it back. Load Runner presents the player with 150 screens of platforms, ladders and ropes. It was also one of the earliest games to include a level editor. The original load runner proved so popular a coinup version was commissioned and appeared in 1984 housed in its own cabinet and complete with artwork. In January 1985 Crash awarded it 81% and they said a very good game with plenty of playability and addictive qualities. Operation Wolf was such a great arcade conversion that Crash and computer and video games both awarded it 91%. In fact Crash went on to say a great conversion of a popular coinup which couldn't be bettered. Irrespective of the graphical capabilities of the ZX Spectrum the conversion is so close that you might as well be playing the coinup. In fact your Sinclair went on to say beg, steal or borrow a copy of this game. R-Type arrived at the perfect time when graphics were starting to get a bit good and gameplay was being perfected. Even today R-Type on the ZX Spectrum remains the ultimate 2D shooter. Sadly there was a mastering error on the original release for the ZX Spectrum which meant you didn't get level 8. That was later remedied when R-Type saw a budget release. This arcade conversion by Bob Pape was so good that your Sinclair awarded it 98% in January 1991. Not only one of the best games ever made for the ZX Spectrum but the ZX Spectrum version alone sold over 350,000 copies making this one of the most successful 8 bit games of all time. And if that wasn't enough in October 2004 issue 9 Retro Gamer voted it the 46th best game of all time according to a reader's vote. Whilst Crash awarded it 91% it was personal computer games in August 1984 that gave it 100%. You play as Eric The Scamp, a typical 80s schoolboy whose parents purchased a ZX Spectrum for his homework. Your school report is due, apparently it's really bad you've been playing games and not doing homework and now you have to steal it from the headmasters safe. The game plays out in a seemingly real time affair and it's another game that made it into the 1001 video games. Adding to that Retro Gamer in October 2004 issue 9 awarded it the 40th best game of all time. According to the magazine Retro Gamer in issue 1 the game was Mastertronics 24th best selling game selling 152,378 copies. The on-screen menu system was also inspired by the Apple Max interface and the game took 5 months to develop. Now whilst Crash gave it 95% in January 1986 it was Sinclair user that awarded it 100%. Although ancient looking to the eye Arcanide boasted 6 levels of differing complexity. While Sinclair in May 1987 awarded it 90%, Computer of Video Games in May 1997 also awarded it 85% and it's yet another game that featured in 1001 video games that you must play before you die. It's also a fantastic innovation over the original breakout concept. Best of all Arcanide features power ups which includes a laser, a catching device and another to slow the ball. One must play Bombjack. It's a rite of passage. It ruled in the arcade and it rules on the ZX Spectrum. It featured a good blend of complexity and cuteness. In April 1986 Crash awarded it 92%. They said this is absolutely fantastic. It's so playable. Sinclair October 1988 awarded it 90% and went on to say a simple idea that's 100% addictive. Bubble Bobble might look a bit old now but it still plays well. In fact in 1991 Crash gave it 88% for the budget re-release and said in short Bubble Bobble is one of the most playable platform games around. In 1991 computer and video games gave it 92% in their budget re-release and they said Bubble Bobble ranks as one of the best Spectrum coin-up conversions of all time. A thrilling racer in which you play as a cop hunting down criminals in your Porsche 928. Not only that but after you've caught up with them you were supposed to ram them off the road. The arcade original can still be found in run-down service stations right across the country. There's no question the ZX Spectrum arcade conversion is a herculean effort and computer and video games in January 1990 awarded it 97%. Deaf Chase is in the list because in February 1992 Yorsin Clare rated it number one in the top 100 Spectrum games of all time plus it's the review from Home Computing Weekly in 1984 where they gave it 100% and they said simplicity and immediacy make it most attractive and youngsters will probably find it compelling. The graphics in Dynamite Dan fell ahead of their time in 1985 especially when you consider as well the use of colour. But graphics don't always make a game and it's the sheer playability that keeps you glued to the keyboard. In 1985 Crash awarded this 94% and then later in 1989 on a budget re-release they still liked it and awarded it 92%. For a time it was one of the best games on the ZX Spectrum of its type. Obviously Earthlight set new trends on the ZX Spectrum. Crash in June 1988 awarded it 90% and they went on to say could hopefully set a whole new trend in shoot-em-ups. Yorsin Clare in 1988 awarded it 80% and they went on to say a scrawler that's a cut above the rest most stimulating thank you. There's no doubt about it Earthlight is a tour de force in graphics but more so than that there's a compelling challenge as well. A special game in its own right and a fantastic port to the ZX Spectrum. The 128k version was enhanced and it was released and introduced with three new missions and fixed a number of existing bugs. Popular computing awarded it 100% in 1985, your computer in 86 100% as well, Sinclair user in 85 100% and if you owned a ZX Spectrum back in the day this was the game no self-respecting ZX Spectrum user should live without. Raphael Seaco was the brains behind Equinox but it wasn't until Exalon that he struck gold on the ZX Spectrum. It went down well with the critics as well Yorsin Clare in 87 awarded it 90% Crash in 87 awarded it 90% as well, computer and video games the same 90% but it's the graphics that are highly detailed, colourful and smooth that win the day. Fairlight is another one of those games that features in 1001 video games to play before you die. This version is the 128k version which introduces music and adds some new secret locations, Crash in 1985 awarded it 95% Sinclair user 100% and popular computing weekly 100% as well. Sinclair user said this is one of the most complete and satisfying role-playing graphic games I've ever seen. Head over heels is yet another game that features in the 1001 video games to play before you die. In fact in Crash magazine Newsfield Readers Award they voted it the best arcade adventure of 1987 through Readers Choice and it was also voted the most challenging game of 1987 but much more than that it was a massive improvement over the tried and tested isometric game style. Hyper Sports is a fantastic collection of games that today's children believe Nintendo invented but no, dads across the country were cliff diving, swimming and clay pigeon shooting long before it was also possible to play with your friends and yet another game that made it into the 1001 video games you must play before you die. Crash in August 1985 awarded this one a massive 92% Well I hope you've enjoyed this video if you have don't forget to like, subscribe and ring that bell. Until next time BYE!