The treasure of Lumos - a ZX Spectrum homebrew review by The Games Helmet

You can't beat getting stuck into some good old fashioned treasure hunting action, and Jaime Grilo's "The treasure of Lumos" (2017) fits the bill just nicely! The Games Helmet has been fiddling about with it, and has come up with another "Your Sinclair" style review - it's just like being in 1988, except you don't have to wear fluorescent socks, have spiked hair and listen to Wet Wet Wet! Unless you want to, of course. Just keep it indoors, ok?

Airwolf Sprite Mod - Allan Turvey tweaks a classic ZX Spectrum game

Ask most retro gamers or people of middle age and upwards about the name Airwolf and they'd probably tell you of a TV series in the late 80's that revolved around a rather powerful military helicopter and its crew undertaking missions with cool action sequences. In fact living on in memory with that awesome theme tune, the TV show did even appear as its very own game on multiple platforms such as the Amstrad and the even the ZX Spectrum, but sadly the games were nowhere as good as the TV show.... At least until now!

RESCUE LANDER - A special review by a new team member Rob Munns, aka The Games Helmet

A couple of months ago I decided to start writing reviews of ZX Spectrum homebrew games in the style of “Your Sinclair” magazine - the classic and very silly computer mag of the 80’s and early 90’s. I am very happy to have been asked to post my reviews to Indie Retro News as of today, and here is the first, David Pagett’s “Rescue Lander” from 2015. I create the reviews in the style of a magazine scan for that true retro feel, and because I’m rubbish at desktop publishing. Hope you enjoy it!

APULIJA-13 V2.0 - Alessandro Grussu's action shooter on the ZX Spectrum gets an upgrade

Ladies and Gentlemen another ZX Spectrum game has made an appearance on IRN, as Alessandro Grussu announced recently that APULIJA-13 V2.0 is available for all to enjoy. This game which according to Jonathan Caldwell showed off what AGD could really do, has been enhanced with new improvements and is based upon the Director’s Cut, but also runs on 48K Spectrums (without AY background music).

Ninja Gaiden Shadow Warriors - A Gameboy game makes its appearance on the ZX Spectrum

Gorgeous Loading Screen!

As many of you were aware the latest the ZX-DEV conversions competition was launched last year and up until now we'd already seen a number of decent games that were all hoping for a prize or two. In fact today we were flooded with finished games, much to the dilemma of HenrykTur who said himself he just doesn't have time to play them all. Well sorry Henry, but another finished game has appeared and this one is called Ninja Gaiden Shadow Warriors by Jerri & DaRkHoRaCe; a conversion of the Gameboy original which was released way back in 1991.

THE ADVENTURES OF JANE JELLY: THE EGG DIAMOND - Jaime Grilo's third game in the Jane Jelly ZX trilogy

The ZX Spectrum scene has really been busy this week, what with the release of ZXombies Dead Flesh, Mighty Final Fight, HARBINGER 2 – THE VOID, Jet Set 40-40 and an early tease of David Clarke's new game Impossabubble. But this time we are looking towards Jaime Grilo's third game in the Jane Jelly trilogy, with THE ADVENTURES OF JANE JELLY: THE EGG DIAMOND, which was released today!

Renegade III - Yes seriously, Florinthedwarf has done a BIG review of this Speccy game!

The final chapter, you say? Woo hoo!

Come on now, people. It's not that bad surely? Any takers? Not to start a review negatively, it just seems that when anyone mentions the game that cannot be named, you're either met with groans or laughter. I always thought laughter was good but soon learnt that this is not always the case (mainly in school when teachers were marking my work, but that's for another time).

Bobby Carrot - Android puzzler for the speccy gets a release!

If you own an Android based phone or tablet, you may have come across a game called Bobby and Carrot. In this adventure puzzler you must pick up as many Carrots as possible, while avoiding deadly traps to open up a magic exit. If you have come across this game, you may be pleased to know a team of speccy fans for the ZX-Dev compo have released a demake onto the ZX Spectrum and is called Bobby Carrot.

B-Squared - A very square platformer released for the ZX Spectrum

Announced just moments ago via his twitter profile, Paul Jenkinson‏ with music by David Saphier and Sergey Nilov have released the charming little game ' B-Squared ' for the ZX Spectrum. In this new game you play as a single blocked square and must make your way through 31 screens to complete the game. Be aware, not only can you die by touching nasties and evil spikes, but you can only jump upwards! So think carefully before your next move.

Xelda - A grand Zelda inspired game makes its appearance on the ZX Spectrum

What a great release for all that is Spectrum, as we've just heard from Andrew Dansby that his Zelda inspired game of ' Xelda - Quest for the Golden Apple ' is finally here and ready to be played on a 128k ZX Spectrum. One of the first games by the developer who started playing around with Basic; comes a brand new game using the Mojon Twins MK2 game engine, that has been in development for nearly a year which features a huge amount of screens to play through!

EGGHEAD Goes to Town - An exclusive look at Jonathan Cauldwell's new ZX Spectrum game

It wasn't long ago that we told you of Chris Wilkins newest Kickstarter for The Crash 2018 Annual; A revival of the classic ZX Spectrum Crash magazine, wrapped up in the guise of a Christmas annual, with a brand new Oliver Frey Christmas cover! Well after a big success raising £46,990 and a number of people receiving Crash Mugs already, we have an exclusive look at EGGHEAD Goes to Town; a brand new ZX Spectrum game by Jonathan Cauldwell, which was listed as one of the support pledges in the Kickstarter!

Benny Hill's Madcap Chase 128k - ZX Spectrum game now with added Benny Hill Theme

Not long ago on this very website we were talking about the 1985 ZX Spectrum game 'Benny Hill's Madcap Chase' by Don Priestley; a game released by DKTronics based on the famous Thames TV show, with hilarious runarounds as you grab pieces of clothing and get chased by a woman with rather big boobs! We also went on to say after a conversation between Allan Turvey and David Saphier they decided to add a Benny Hill Theme into the game, to see just how much difference a tune can really make.

Sophia - A ZX Spectrum game for Halloween is now available

Even more Halloween goodness as we've come across another announcement on Facebook, that Alessandro Grussu's game of ' Sophia ', has been released for the ZX Spectrum and is available for all to play right now! This game which was developed using Arcade Game Designer puts you in control of a little master wizard called Sophia, on a mission to save the empire from destruction and humanity from enslavement.

Pumpkin Poe - Jet Set Willy style ZX Spectrum fairy tale platformer gets a release!

This is Halloween, this is Halloween, Pumpkins scream in the dead of night! Yes that's right it's nearly Halloween with the day to come tomorrow, so as a heads up by Program Bytes 48k, a special release has come out for the ZX Spectrum called ' Pumpkin Poe '; a Jet Set Willy style ZX Spectrum fairy tale platformer developed by Ariel Endaraues, AGD by Jonathan Cauldwell, and music by David Saphier!

Sophia - A high grade ZX Spectrum game is coming for Halloween

Just moments ago we came across an announcement on Facebook, in regards to a new game that is in development and will be released on the ZX Spectrum this Halloween. Titled as ' Sophia ' and developed by Alessandro Grussu using Arcade Game Designer, you play as Sophia, a young master wizard on a mission to save the empire from destruction and humanity from enslavement.

RetroForce - A great ZX Spectrum homage to the StarForce/MegaForce arcade game

The ZX-Dev conversions compo is really hotting up now with some seriously cool looking entries such as Gandalf, Gimmick! Yumetaro Odyssey and even Baby Monkey Alba. But now as a rather special treat to every ZX Spectrum owner across the globe, Climacus & KgMcNeil 2017 have released RetroForce. In their words " a personal homage to every great vertical shoot-em-up game that we enjoyed playing as kids, but particularly, a homage to the StarForce/MegaForce arcade game "

Bobby Carrot - Android puzzler is getting a ZX Spectrum demake

If you own an Android based phone or tablet, you may have come across a game called Bobby and Carrot. In this adventure puzzler you must pick up as many Carrots as possible, while avoiding deadly traps to open up a magic exit. If you have come across this game, you may be pleased to know a speccy developer by the name of Fabio Marcon is doing a demake onto the ZX Spectrum and it will be called Bobby Carrot.

ZX Vega+ update - A statement from Lee Fogarty

The ZX Vega+

The delay of the Vega+ has been well documented over the last year or so and the man that has been a vocal supporter of Retro Computers Limited - Lee Fogarty - has come under a lot flak due to these delays. As backers have been crying for updates, Lee has tirelessly tried to inform backers of the progress and urging them to keep the faith that the units will be ready to ship and in the hands of the backers on dates stated by the company. Targeted incessantly by the various vicious trolls that have emerged on the back of the Vega+ production, Lee has done well to keep it all together and to try and help to keep the project moving.

Zukinox - A rather nice Cybernoid ZX Spectrum clone by Jaime Grilo

The ZX Spectrum scene has really been busy this week, what with the Benny Hill theme added to Benny Hill's Madcap Chase, Horace and The Robots announced, and a Zelda style game called Xelda shown off with new footage, but this time we are looking towards Jaime Grilo's Cybernoid clone of ' Zukinox ', which again is for the ZX Spectrum and released just yesterday!

Benny Hill's Madcap Chase - ZX Spectrum game with added Benny Hill Theme, brilliant!

In 1985 many of us had the pleasure of playing Don Priestley's 'Benny Hill's Madcap Chase', which was released for the ZX Spectrum by DKTronics and was loosely based on the famous Thames TV show. As many of you have played the game, there was something missing that would make all the difference, and after a conversation between Allan Turvey and David Saphier they decided to add a Benny Hill Theme into the game, to see just how much difference a tune can really make.