Spectaculator, ZX Spectrum Emulator 9+

Jonathan Needle

Designed for iPad

    • £2.99
    • Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description

Now over 150 licensed ZX Spectrum games available!

In April 1982, Sir Clive Sinclair launched what was to become one of the most popular home computers ever made - the Sinclair ZX Spectrum.

Spectaculator takes you back to the 1980s - to the golden era of 8-bit gaming!

Play the following 22 officially licensed classic ZX Spectrum games:
    - 3D Starstrike by Realtime Games Software
    - Auf Wiedersehen Monty by Gremlin Graphics
    - Avenger by Gremlin Graphics
    - Bounder by Gremlin Graphics
    - Cyclone by Vortex Software
    - Dark Star by Design Design
    - Dynamite Dan by Rod Bowkett/Mirrorsoft
    - Forbidden Planet by Design Design
    - Halls of the Things by Design Design
    - Highway Encounter by Vortex Software
    - Jack The Nipper by Gremlin Graphics
    - Krackout by Gremlin Graphics
    - Jekyll & Hyde by Zenobi Software
    - Metabolis by Gremlin Graphics
    - Monty On The Run by Gremlin Graphics
    - On The Run by Design Design
    - Revolution by Vortex Software
    - Tau Ceti by Pete Cooke/CRL
    - The Way Of The Tiger by Gremlin Graphics
    - Albatrossity by Jonathan Cauldwell
    - Battery's Not Precluded by Jonathan Cauldwell
    - The Fantastic Mister Fruity by Jonathan Cauldwell

... with more available from the in-app shop.

Spectaculator gives you the most authentic ZX Spectrum experience available on your iPhone, iPod and iPad, and comes with lots of additional features:

• Universal App - runs on iPhone, iPod and iPad.
• Supports iPhone 5 and iPod touch 5th generation screen.
• Play in portrait or landscape orientations
• Save your game progress (four saved game slots + one iCloud saved game slot per game).
• Save your progress to iCloud from one device (e.g. iPod) and load to continue playing on another (e.g. iPad).
• Enter pokes (cheats) for infinite lives, shields etc.
• Lookup game hints, tips and maps
• Play in black and white with TV screen simulation for the ultimate 1980s experience!
• Battle to the top of the (Game Center) leaderboards!
• Type on a virtual ZX Spectrum keyboard
• Use an external Bluetooth keyboard for playing adventure games
• Choose authentic cassette loading or fast play
• Program in Sinclair BASIC
• Enjoy high resolution graphics on Retina screens
• Play using an external arcade controller (iCade or iControlPad)

Additional Game Packs
-------------------

The following games packs are available from the in-app shop:

Design Design Games Pack
    - 5 Games. Includes Halls of the Things, Dark Star, Forbidden Planet

Gremlin Graphics Vol. 1
    - 6 games. Includes Wanted! Monty Mole, Skate Crazy, Thing Bounces Back

Gremlin Graphics Vol. 2
    - 6 games. Includes Jack The Nipper II: In Coconut Capers, North Star, Grumpy Gumphrey, Supersleuth

Gremlin Graphics Vol. 3
    - 6 games. Includes Switchblade, Trailblazer, Super Scramble Simulator, Percy The Potty Pigeon

Odin Computer Graphics Anthology
    - 9 games. Includes Nodes Of Yesod, Robin Of The Wood, Heartland

Realtime Games Pack
    - Starstrike II
    - 3D Tank Duel

Stephen Crow Anthology (Free!)
©1983-2013 Stephen Crow. All rights reserved.
   - 5 games. Includes Firelord, Starquake, Wizard's Lair

Vortex Anthology
    - 6 games. Includes Alien Highway, Deflektor, T.L.L. (Tornado Low Level)

Zenobi Adventure Pack Vol. 1
    - 6 games. Includes Aura-Scope, The Gods of War, Leopold The Minstrel

Zenobi Adventure Pack Vol. 2
    - 6 games. Includes The Khangrin Plans, The Krazy Kartoonist Kaper, A Murder Mystery Weekend

Zenobi Adventures Vol. 3
   - 5 games. Includes The Apprentice, The Bardic Rite, Jester Quest, Knight Life, Mutiny!

The following single games are available from the in-app shop:
    - Carrier Command
    - Dynamite Dan II
    - Frank N. Stein
    - Laser Squad
    - Lords Of Chaos
    - The Lords Of Midnight
    - [NEW!] Bear Bovver
    - [NEW!] Doomdark's Revenge
    - [NEW!] Everyone's a Wally
    - [NEW!] KWAH!
    - [NEW!] Redhawk
    - [NEW!] Skool Daze

What’s New

Version 7.0

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

Now over 150 licensed ZX Spectrum games available!

• Updated for iOS 9
• Added an additional 20 licensed games:
    - Splat! (1987)
    - Strike Force Cobra (1986)

    - Julian Gollop Anthology:
• Chaos
• Laser Squad
• Lords Of Chaos
• Rebelstar
• Rebelstar 2
• Rebelstar Raiders

    - Cronosoft: Bob Smith Anthology:
• Farmer Jack - Treasure Trove
• Farmer Jack and the Hedge Monkeys
• Farmer Jack in Harvest Havoc
• splATTR
• Stranded 2.5
• W*H*B

    - Cronosoft: Jonathan Cauldwell Anthology:
• Egghead 4: Egghead Entertains
• Egghead 5: Egghead Round the Med
• Gamex: The Games Exchange
• Loco Bingo
• Quantum Gardening
• Slubberdegullion

Miscellaneous bug fixes.

Ratings and Reviews

4.0 out of 5
115 Ratings

115 Ratings

Philbir ,

Great emulator - facility to load original tape games

I’ve been using speculator for quite a few years now on an off and I think it is possibly the very best spectrum emulator available, being an 80s teenager it’s a been a dream come true, with first the windows versions and now iPad &iphone. Great all around.
But one thing I miss on the iPad version is being able to load original tape versions of games. Especially ones that aren’t available to download such as Knightlore and other “ultimate play the game” games. And I’ve noticed lately that this facility doesn’t work so well on the pc versions of speculator ether, which is a bit disappointing as it definitely used to. But otherwise fantastic stuff.
Really like some of the newer games being created. Cool.

Claws Mcginty ,

My 80s dream come true

This is a superb emulator. I have been happily writing a couple of basic games, enjoying playing some old games I remember and discovering new games I missed first time round. Some of the games available here are even only a few years old as people refuse to let the old girl die!

I always wanted a portable spectrum to be released back in the day. To finally have one with a full keyboard that's exactly as I remember it is just amazing.

Fantastic app. Many thanks to the author for producing this.

ZX20GOTO10 ,

Controls are terrible

Any potential enjoyment you may gain revisiting the retro games included with this emulator is destroyed by the terrible controls. You are forced to use on screen buttons akin to a mini tracker pad and fire button. The tracker pad is almost impossible to control with any accuracy which immediately negates the gameplay. I’ve played other 48k spectrum games online via iPad using a Bluetooth keyboard with no issue so cannot understand why the app hasn’t been updated to accommodate for this option. Extra star given for the 128k BASIC programming option which isn’t perfect but does allow for programs to be inputted and run. Some introductory Sinclair BASIC instructions re keyboard setup/ shortcuts/etc would be useful for the uninitiated. Time for an iOS update, especially as this is not freeware. Could do better.

App Privacy

The developer, Jonathan Needle, has not provided details about its privacy practices and handling of data to Apple.

No Details Provided

The developer will be required to provide privacy details when they submit their next app update.

Supports

  • Game Center

    Challenge friends and check leaderboards and achievements.

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