The appeal of Mastertronic was that not only were their games (and utilities) budget priced, but they also had a diverse range of titles too.
As with most software houses, there were some very good games and some which were just plain diabolical and reputationally bad. Fortunately, with Mastertronic, you could buy more and if you got a stinker, at least you weren’t fully ripped off if you’d bought a full price one (which also had its own!).
So, here I present to you, my Top 10. No doubt you are bound to have a difference of opinion on some of these games (which is great) and it’ll be very interesting to read your thoughts and comments here on the website. Anyway, without further ado, let’s get going. Action!
1. Manic Miner
I honestly couldn’t tell you how many entertaining hours that I spent playing this platform game masterpiece. Jumping around the named caverns, collecting the flashing items and exiting through a portal (without running out of air) was extremely addictive. In fact, I think it was the one game that I also played sometimes before even going to school! Manic Miner had that addictive one more go factor, no matter how far you got into the game. As I spent so much time on it, I did complete it a few times without cheating too. Even to this day, I occasionally load it up, but I don’t think I’d complete it again if I’m perfectly honest.
2. Feud
In this fast-paced action game, you must hunt down your arch nemesis brother who you have been feuding with for years. The aim is to track down and kill Leanoric with magic concoctions. You do this, by collecting the ingredients (which look like flowers) and creating spells that are in your spell book.
Feud is fast, extremely colourful with great graphics and has a large playing area to explore. The first version that I played was the Amstrad version (around an old school friends house, namely Scott) and although this didn’t have the soundtrack on the Spectrum, it was just as good, if not better to play in my opinion.
3. Motos
An action-packed arcade conversion, where you must knock everything that moves off the board. It’s fun, gradually ramps up the difficultly level and keeps you wanting to play more to see the later stages.
Playability is quick and it needs to be as you must use your spaceships’ weight (or combining it with an enemy for a heavier push) without getting bumped and shoved of the screen yourself, losing a life.
Collecting power-ups along the way and knowing which levels are best to use your limited jumps is also key. Motos has the ingredients of an excellent game and this is why it is on my list of greats.
4. 180
This is by far, the best darts game to grace the ZX Spectrum. The aiming mechanism to hit the segments you need on the dart board takes a short while to get used. This makes for a great game, as if you could hit every target easily, it would ruin it, but here the balance is just right adding to the drama.
It has neat colourful graphics, a good AY soundtrack (128K) and a sense of humour, 180 makes for a great sports game, especially in two player mode. I have fond memories of playing one of my friends. So, Robert, if you’re reading this, I’m referring to you mate. Arrows at the ready and game on!
5. Agent X
I remember playing this game quite a few times in the past. Agent X contains an amazing 48K, 1-bit soundtrack by Tim Follin. It really is hard to comprehend how he did that, but if you haven’t heard it, load it up and you’ll hear exactly what I mean. It used to be worth loading in just to play that alone!
The game is split over four different varied stages where you must stop the mad professor! Once again, fast action, and great playability over four levels. I particularly enjoyed the first one with the cars bumping into one another and having the ability to jump over drains.
The only downside is the multi-loading for each level but despite that, great entertainment.
6. Finders Keepers
This is the first (and best in my opinion) of the four Magic Knight games released. It took a bit of practice to jump but had plenty to do to keep the player entertained. The King’s upset as he had almost forgotten his daughter’s birthday (which just happens to be tomorrow) and needs to give her a special present. On a side note, I’m pleased to say that thus far, I haven’t personally forgotten my own daughters’ (Lucy and Emma) presents. Anyway, that’s just a personal statement and irrelevant to the game!
Finders Keepers is an arcade adventure which includes collecting items, some thought on what items to collect and trade (with dodgy dealers with a checkered past) and running through a couple of large scrolling mazes. All this whilst avoiding ghouls, snakes and other enemies. If you don’t like cats, you may wish to turn away (only joking but it does feature an excellently drawn and huge puss in boots!)
I never managed to complete this one to the end, so I’ve still got no idea what the special present was, even to this day. On the plus side, I did manage to escape from the castle without getting the present for the King to give to his daughter!
7. Way of The Exploding Fist
A re-release of the Melbourne House classic. At the budget price, this was a real bargain for those who didn’t play it first time around. My friend’s and I used to play this for absolutely ages and everyone talked about playing during the school breaks for quite a while. I can even remember running home after school to load it up and play it. Even forty years on, an enhanced version has been released on the Spectrum Next (obviously not on the Mastertronic label, of course).
It’s much better than the sequel, Fist II (which was also re-released on the Mastertronic Plus label.) There are plenty of moves, such as flying kicks, somersaults, roundhouse kicks, punches, chops and leg sweeps all over three brilliantly drawn and colourful screens. The short crunching sound effects made it authentic too.
Not many other martial arts came anywhere near it, perhaps with the excellent but full priced Saboteur and Saboteur 2 games by Durell Software).
8. Specventure
I remember this one is that because it is quite unique. Where else would you be inside a Spectrum computer collecting flashing missing bytes, avoiding the lethal sparks and system bugs? Turns out, only in Specventure, of course!
Although when I look at it now, it’s quite slow to play to play, it does have that one more factor. Afterall, who doesn’t want to see the next stage and go on to complete a game.
It was rare in the sense that it had 9 tunes which could be played during the game at the touch of a button (turning it off is an option).
9. Chronos
Yes, it’s the side scrolling shoot em’ up where your spacecraft looks like a flying carrot! A reasonably smooth right-to-left scroller where the different levels change colour. Alright, it’s not to the extremely high standard (of the full price) R-Type but as a budget shooter, Chronos was well worth the money.
Yet again, this has an awesome 48K 1-bit soundtrack by Tim Follin which also makes the game memorable before (even pressing any key to get into the keyboard and joystick main menu.) Also, reading the high-score table, clearly somebody liked the Beatles too!
10. Zub
I remember my old school mate, Stuart talking about how good it was before (I believe) I’d played it myself. Hi, Stuart, if you’re reading this as I know you do read some of the reviews on the website! Yes, I played this one many a time but am fairly sure I never completed it. It has great graphics and animation, quick gameplay and has a real gem of a 128K AY soundtrack too!
It’s a fun and challenging game to play. The aim is simple. To reach the top of each level to progress onto the next planet. It’s frustrating, as if you make one mistake it can result with falling a long way down (but not as frustrating as the opening section of One Man and His Droid!)
Final Thoughts
It was quite a tough choice choosing these ten games to put in this article. I could really go on about the hundreds of games to choose from, but other close outsiders were Rockman, Kane, Agent X 2, Ghostbusters and Destructo to name but a few.
Please have your say and comment on your personal favourites and what made them stand out for you and I hope you enjoyed reading the article.
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