LOST IN MY SPECTRUM

Authors: Allesandro Grusso

Memory: 48K/128K

Released: 2021

Originally released in 2012, author Allesandro Grusso has revisited his Lost in My Spectrum and improved upon it for 2021.

Poor Allesandro — he’s become so addicted to playing his Spectrum that he’s transported into its digital firmament. More to the point, he’s been playing so much Manic Miner that his new environment has manifested into various levels of that single-screen style; he must leap platforms, collect the objects, avoid the nasties and get to the exit before time runs out. All of the levels pay visual tribute to various video games and other references. We see influenced graphics from Arkanoid, Ghosts n Goblins and Ghostbusters to name but a few. The 128K version is accompanied by a very nostalgic medley of classical tunes that we may know from famous games such as Brian Bloodaxe, Technician Ted and Jet Set Willy. Players committed to playing right through will be best served and rewarded by wearing rose-tinted glasses.

CRITICISM

• On the surface, Lost in My Spectrum provides a visual and aural overload. The sprite work is fantastic and pays decent tribute to the graphics of Spectrum’s golden age of platformers.

The potpourri of tunes is a delight and will remain in your head due to the familiarity of 128K renditions of old beeper chip melodies. Sadly, behind its veneer is a mixed bundle of level design. Many games imitated Manic Miner, but most fell short of its well-thought-out layout, and L.I.M.S. is no exception. I’m not saying the levels are terrible — they just hover around average. The most annoying thing is the latency when jumping, this caused more untimely deaths than anything else, and it dampens the game’s immersion. It’s a decent enough idea, but rides on waves of nostalgia rather than its laurels.

Gordon King

CRITICISM

• Within seconds of playing Lost in My Spectrum Matthew Smith’s Manic Miner comes to mind and you start playing it the same way, as your sub-conscience is telling you, “I know how to play this!”. Unfortunately the gameplay mechanics in L.I.M.S. are not as slick as Matt’s game — you will find yourself missing the platform you are jumping to again and again due to the slight latency in the game engine, and the ‘jump arc’ of Allesandro being very different to that of Miner Willy. Your brain needs re-training!

On the plus side, each level looks absolutely fantastic, with various graphical enemies to avoid and imaginative names for each screen. The music also needs to be given a mention — varied and familiar, all performed fantasically with the AY 128K chip. Good fun, but the engine needs a little tweaking, just to make the game a little less frustrating to play.

Chris Wilkins

COMMENTS

Control keys:

Redefinable.

Joystick:

Sinclair, Kempston.

Graphics: Very brightly coloured and a great variety of sprites.

Sound: An excellent 128K soundtrack.

General rating: A nice concept with unexciting level design.

Use of Computer 80% Graphics: 80% Playability: 70%

Getting started: 72% Addictive Qualities: 70% Overall: 72%