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Spectrum

.: Spec256 games
.: Game Reviews
.: Emulation

~* 256 colour emulation*~

Spectrum games are best known for great gameplay, high resolution graphics, great sound and.... er... colour clash! Some years back, a little known emulator known as Spec256 was released that allowed Specchums to play their favourite games in glorious 256 colours with no colour clash. While purists may argue that it takes away from the true feel of playing a game on the speccy, I believe what it also does is allow us to change the graphics without affecting the gameplay in anyway.

Have a look at some of the 256 colour games here and judge for yourself! You will need Emuzwin to play these games.

The games listed on this page are the newer ones made using Emuzwin. The older Spec256 games meant for the Spec256 emulator can be found on the link the left. Note that Emuzwin can also play these games.

Please do read the notes at the bottom of this page. They contain important information that may save you hours of trouble later on.

Armando Quaranta has his own web-site for 256 colour games done by him where you can also find the games that he is currently working on.

~* 256 colour games*~

Game: Head Over Heels Publisher: Ocean Author(s): Jon Ritman & Bernie Drummond Recolouring by: Anthony Lycett
It's here finally - the 256 colour version of the superb 3d isometric game by Jon Ritman and Bernie Drummond! Help Head and Heels overcome the evil Blacktooth empire in this arcade adventure romp! Miss this one at your peril!
Game: Cybernoid II Publisher: Hewson Author(s): Raffaele Cecco Recolouring by: Armando Quaranta
The sequel to the highly acclaimed Cybernoid by Raffele Cecco features more of the same and then some more. Classic shoot-em up with some excellent graphics and fast action. Pixel perfect accuracy required to complete this one!
Game: Atic Atac Publisher: Ultimate Author(s): Stamper bros. Recolouring by: Jào Paulo
The classic Ultimate game that has won itself a permanent place in Speccy gaming history. Allows you to play as three different characters! Collect the three pieces of the key and escape.
Game: Dizzy I Publisher: Codemasters Author(s): Oliver twins Recolouring by: Jào Paulo
The most famous egg in 8-bit history gets a facelift in this 256 colour version of the original Dizzy game. Help Dizzy find the cure to athelete's foot - something that is troubling his fair land. And in the process destroy the Evil Wizard Zaks. No,I'm not making this up!
Game: Dizzy II Publisher: Codemasters Author(s): Oliver twins Recolouring by: Jào Paulo
Dizzy returns in yet another adventure from the fertile minds of the Oliver Twins. This time he is stuck on a treasure island and he must escape with at least 30 coins.
Game: Exolon Publisher: Hewson Author(s): Raffaele Cecco Recolouring by: Jào Paulo
One of the first Raffele Cecco games that won loads of praise for it's imaginative use of colours and big sprites. Guide Vitorc through a hostile alien planet as he battles his way past their defences.
Game: Mad Mix 2 Publisher: Author(s): Recolouring by: Jào Paulo
At first sight it appears to be another Pac man clone with a twist on things, but can't be sure since I can't find instructions for it!
Game: Pac Mania Publisher: Hewson Author(s): Raffaele Cecco Recolouring by: Jào Paulo
Pac Man is back! But this time in an isometric-3d style game with all the game elements of the original Pac Man in place.
Game: Gun Runner Publisher: Hewson Author(s): Cyberdyne Recolouring by: Jào Paulo
A side scrolling shoot-em up in which your goal is to simply blow up alien after alien as you battle to save your planet Zero from plutonium stealing hordes. Ho-hum.
Game: Bubbler Publisher: Ultimate Author(s): Stamper bros. Recolouring by: MatGubbins NOTE: This version seems to work with only .SNA format. Read the enclosed text file for detailed instructions to run the game in 256 colours.
Guide your sphere the isometric screens, shoot at the enemies, and find the corks to prevent the enemies from escaping from the bottles (or something). One of Ultimate's lesser known titles.
Game: Highway Encounter Publisher: Vortex Author(s): Costa Panayi Recolouring by: MatGubbins
A classic shoot 'em up from Costa Panayi! Guide your Vorton with its precious cargo through an alien infested highway to reach its ultimate goal. You'll require some quick thinking and reflexes to complete this one!
Game: Chuckie Egg Publisher: A & F Software Author(s): N. Aldertron Recolouring by: Ville Torren
Collect the eggs and the corns, while avoiding the evil hens (and a duck!) in this classic platform and ladders game!
Game: Scooby Doo Publisher: Elite Author(s): N. Aldertron Recolouring by: Armando Quaranta
Help Scooby Doo rescue his friends from the clutches of a mad scientist in this licensed cartoon game by Elite. A nice arcade game that looks absolutely a treat in cartoony 256 colours!
Game: Bruce Lee Publisher: Ocean Author(s): Ron J. Fortier Recolouring by: Armando Quaranta
"Guide Bruce Lee to discover Immortality by beating the evil wizard and his minions". Kung-fu action in glorious 256 colours!

Notes:
1) Ultimate and Codemasters games are denied for distribution. The files for these games you download from here are only the graphics files required for 256 colour support. You'll have to look elsewhere for the actual snapshots of the files. Also, please note that 256 colour mode currently works ONLY with .SNA and .Z80 file formats.

2) If you can't get a 256 colour game to work despite having all the graphic and snapshot files, makes sure that the filename for the snapshot matches that of the .GFX file. Eg, ManicMiner.sna should correspond to the associated graphics file ManicMiner.GFX. Rename the snapshot if you have to.

Some files may be in the .EZX (Emuzwin) format), which encapsulates the entire game and the 256 colour graphics - in which case the the .Z80/.SNA snapshots are not required to play the game.