Nixy and the Seeds of Doom - A high grade ZX Spectrum game gets a re-release on Itch io

In May of 2019 Florinthedwarf of Indie Retro News did a big review of the ZX Spectrum game Nixy and the Seeds of Doom, in which he said "It was a very fun and addictive game that casual and advanced players should try especially with its beautifully crafted visuals". So why is this game getting a mention yet again on IRN? Well if you didn't get the chance to play this game back then or the more recent C64 version (Nixy the Glade Sprite) which is also of high quality, you'll be pleased to know BUBBLESOFT has re-released the game on itch.

Wonderful Dizzy - Florinthedwarf takes a full in-depth look at this new Dizzy ZX Spectrum game!

It's been a long wait, but he's finally here! It really is the most wonderful time of the year!

He's been in eggs-ile for quite some time but now, finally, FINALLY he's back! It's a brand new adventure, new story, new eggs, new characters and a cute little fluffle has been thrown back in too. (Not enough Pogie in this world if you ask me). He's also back in wonderful world of 8-bit, full of glorious Spectrum colour and a quite stunning looking (and sounding) world for us to enjoy, explore and get us grinning again. Just what the world needs now if you ask me!

Wonderful Dizzy - Could this be the best Dizzy game yet for the ZX Spectrum?

I am a huge Dizzy fan, I have pretty much every Dizzy game in my collection and have always tried to feature the latest Dizzy games from fan based games to those found and released by The Oliver Twins. Thankfully for those who like Dizzy ( I know some who hate it ), will be overjoyed to learn that as of today, you can download the latest release in the Dizzy line up as Wonderful Dizzy; An eagerly awaited adventure platformer, as the first completely new Dizzy adventure game from the Oliver Twins in 26 years for the ZX Spectrum.

Wonderful Dizzy - A new Dizzy ZX adventure from the Oliver Twins is coming Friday 18th!

Dizzy will always get a full feature on Indie Retro News, from new fan games, to those that have been found lost in the back of The Oliver Twins loft. Well after Florinthedwarf's big exclusive preview that he did only recently with high praise indeed, we are pleased to announce that as of the 18th of December, you can play the latest release in the Dizzy line up as Wonderful Dizzy; The first completely new Dizzy adventure game from the Oliver Twins in 26 years for the ZX Spectrum.

Wonderful Dizzy - An exclusive ZX Spectrum preview from Florinthedwarf

A new Dizzy game? That's 'wonderful' news!

Dizzy is back! Well almost, and he's almost back in 8-bit form and a format he is very familiar with - the ZX Spectrum. The last official Spectrum release for everyone's favorite egg was way back in 1992 in Crystal Kingdom Dizzy. A remake followed 25 years later which was released in 2017. As great as it was, a completely new game is what fans have been waiting for. As far as waits go, 28 years is a pretty long one so it's about time we got one, right? Well, that long long wait is nearly over, my excellent friends! I'm not one to make lots of easy egg jokes (honest) so don't expect to read any is this preview, ok?

Mr Hair and The Fly - Florinthedwarf takes a look at a new homebrew ZX Spectrum game! [UPDATE]

There's nothing worse than getting a hair in your fly.

He's back and he's bigger and badder than ever! Well, he's the same size and still one of the nice guys, but you know what I mean. Mr Hair, fresh from completing his last adventure and after having a bit of rest is now off seeking another one and this time he's got a bit of a surprise for us. Being just a mere hair is not nearly enough for Mr H, he wants more, he wants to be able to get into places that he can't reach (being a hair has its downsides) and so with the help of technology he can now become another thing that you don't particularly want to find in your food. By that of course, I mean he can transform into a fly. Let's see how Mr Hair shapes up in this second incarnation.

The Pyramid - A 1983 ZX Spectrum game by Fantasy Software gets a Florinthedwarf review

Loading image by Andy Green

Ah, pyramids. A majestic sight filled with wonder, treasure, sand, and if computer games are to be believed also full of mythical evil creatures that want to eat you. Just look at the game Fred for example - plenty of creatures vying for your blood there from bats (ok, not mythical), scorpions (again, not that mythical), Mummies, ghosts and vampires (finally got one). Here, in The Pyramid, things are a little different in that department - no bats or vampires are here but instead it's filled with strange alien-like creatures, some with boggly eyes, some are just star shaped but what you can rely on is that there are plenty of them. Taking various shapes, forms and moving in various directions, they're here to make your quest pretty darn tricky and make a good job of it they do, too. They must be well practiced in that area. It's nice to see people (or things) putting the effort into their profession. Or is it?

Everyone's a Wally - Another classic ZX Spectrum review by Florinthedwarf

It's true - have you seen who is our Prime Minister?

There was a time, a very long time ago, that when you bought a computer game you would sometimes get a freebee. I mean, if you managed to finish JetSet Willy for example, you could win a helicopter flight - unbelievable! Other games came with a voucher to claim a free game, some had posters, stickers, postcards, badges - it was all out there and hoping that that little something would make you want to part with your hard earned cash.

Moritz on the Autobahn - A Florinthedwarf new ZX Spectrum game review

He's a doggy and he's looking good.

I'd like to stroke his head, that's understood.

Moritz has had his fair share of adventures over the last few years after 'striking back', battling with meds and then taking a trip to the moon; maybe it's time for him to calm down a bit and do some normal, everyday things...like driving on the motorway (sorry, autobahn) for instance. Of course this is a normal occurrence for most folk but most folk are human and most folk also probably use a car for a journey on the autobahn. But Moritz being Moritz wants to do things a little differently - and why not? There's absolutely no reason why you shouldn't take Sinclair C5 onto the road is there? Hmmm...well, we'll see as we jump in, saddle up and hit the tarmac (sometimes literally) as Moritz takes to the autobahn!

ZX Spectrum Game of the Year 2019 Indie Retro News special!

The ZX Spectrum game of the year!! What could it be? Read on to find out!

With the festive season over and being well into a new year (though that said, I still have Christmas cake in my cupboard - true story) I'd say it's time we have a look at some of the best releases for the Spectrum in 2019. The year saw the release of some new developers, some returning and also some sequels to previous game releases. A quick browse through the 2019 Speccy library will have you mightily impressed and amazed in equal measure. When you look at some of the quality in releases and how far some can push the Speccy's limits well, we're looking at mindblowing stuff and things we'd never had dreamed of seeing back in its heyday.

Well, let's get down to some games see what we can see. And play. I've compiled a list of my Top 9 ZX Spectrum games for 2019 - there were so many out there to choose from and it was really hard to whittle down and apologies if your favourite game isn't here. It doesn't mean it's not worthy, it's just there has to be limit and if I covered them all my fingers would wear down from my keyboard, and then where would I be? Hospital probably, I hear you say but enough of that; let's take a look.

Florin's ZX Spectrum Haul of Games - book by Paul Davies

Hey! That guy looks kind of familiar.

It's time for another book review and as like my last book review, it's by a guy I know pretty well. It's me, in case you haven't guessed. Yes, nothing like shameless self promotion (hey, something has got to pay for the amount of coffee I consume) but where's the harm in that? It's not like I'm going to demand you go buy it (please?) but just more of a nod to let you know that just like the Predator, it's out there waiting for you and it ain't no man.....it's a book.

Dynamite Dan - Florinthedwarf reviews a ZX Spectrum game from 1985

Explosives?! Probably not what you want in a zeppelin.

Oh, Dyamite Dan. Why are you so difficult but also so damn beautiful? My god Dan, I just can't stop touching you, looking at you and hoping that one day I may be able to see more than three screens of your glorious game. I wish I knew how to quit you.  

Nixy and the Seeds of Doom - High grade ZX Spectrum homebrew gets a Florinthedwarf review!

The Seeds of Doom don't sound very safe, Nixy! Don't go in!!

Nixy is back! Fresh from completing her last quest in The Glade Sprite, she's back yet again and looking for trouble. She must have a lust for danger, I tell you. Well, we all have our vices I guess - I personally can't say no to a pie so if Pixy can't say no to a dangerous quest, who am I to judge? With another brilliant loading screen from pixel art aficionado Andy Green and a quite brilliant soundtrack from Ricardo Vieira, Nixy 2 has the foundations to be another brilliant game from the brain of Andy Johns.

Wheelie - Riding Motorbikes ZX Spectrum style in a florinthedwarf review!

..but what if it doesn't come back?

If, like me, you're waaaay too scared to go anywhere near a motorbike, let alone get on one, then Wheelie would have been the closest you would have got to experience the thrill of motorbike racing. Also, like me, you would need to be the same age and have owned a Spectrum when I first started playing this game as otherwise the reference will have been lost on you. I'll assume you are and did so we can saddle up, helmet up (on?) jump into those leathers and get choking that throttle. It's time to hit the road and avoid some giant hedgehogs. Yes, giant hedgehogs - nothing wrong with that, is there?

Target Renegade - A classic 8-bit game gets a BIG ZX Spectrum review by Florinthedwarf!

I haven't seen slacks like that since MC Hammer.

Oh lordy. Mr Rene Gade is back and this time he's brought the option of having two players simultaneously kicking the crap out of people at the same time. Could things get better? Well, yes they can as it turns out because you can also pick weapons up and hit people with them this time too. This really does have the makings of possibly the greatest game ever and those things topped with the fact that the much revered and loved reverse-kick-to-the-groin™ makes a comeback, well, (did it just get hot in here?) how can you argue?

Splat! - A ZX Spectrum game reviewed by Florinthedwarf.

Argh! A spider! Nah, it's our hero Zippy! (No, not that one.)

SPLAT! Now that I've got your attention, let's talk about this game. Maze games can be a little repetitive, left, right, right, right, left, left etc. pick something up, get stuck, turnaround, right, left - you get the picture. But what if I told you that this was a maze game with a difference? 'You lie!' you cry; but alas this time, I'm not. What if there was a maze game where the walls moved around as well as you. 'That would be crazy!' you would say. Well, welcome to Crazyland*.

Ninja Garden Simulator - Florinthedwarf reviews a new ZX Spectrum game!

To become a ninja, you must become one with nature. Or flowers, to be precise.

People think it's hard to become a Ninja, and they'd be right; not only do you have to be stealth, learn Ninja-type moves, try and fit into your outfit after a large lunch (that's probably the hardest part), but you also have to master the art of gardening. Some may say gardening is easy - pah! - try doing gardening when you have scores of other Ninjas trying to infiltrate your Ninja base because you've left the windows open. Ah, you're not so cocky now are you?

The Micro Kids - A book by Gary Plowman

Micro Kids? I thought they looked small.

It seems Gary Plowman may have an obsession with Spectrums - first he wrote a book of self-penned ZX Spectrum games in his ZX Spectrum Games Code Club book, now he's back again (but this time in novel form) with another book featuring the old Speccy. Though we are treated also with other notable home micros (you should have noticed the C64 on the cover - and also the excellent pixel work of Simon Butler) here, as we are taken on a journey back to the glorious eighties when computers were real computers and the games defined many a young persons' life. Ah, memories.

3D Starstrike - ZX Spectrum review by Florinthedwarf

Realtime? Does that mean it's 1984 again?

This is a bit of a first for me - reviewing a Spectrum game that I didn't play back in the day, or indeed any day after back in the day. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I hadn't played it before. Hope that makes sense now. So, it's a bit like playing a new game for me, which is an oddity in itself but also exciting too as I'd only heard positive things about 3D Starstrike. Though excited, I also remain sceptical as I usually find if I'm told I have to play this game or have to watch this film etc., I usually find myself disappointed. Very rarely I end up liking the recommendation so how would this one fare? (Cue tense music).

The Last Ninja Ninjakul 2 - A Last Ninja WIP Demake - ZX Spectrum

As far as de-makes go, the news of a Last Ninja incarnation is great news! Yes, over on the ZX Dev Remake page a user who goes by the name of Pat Morita - no relation - has started work on his version of the martial art classic.