Retro Games Ltd The Spectrum review: a retro plug-and-play TV console done right

Let me start this review with a confession: I was a Commodore 64 kid. Yes, I know: boo, hiss, etc. But I did have friends who adored Sir Clive’s rubber-keyed wonder. And I’ve since come to appreciate the machine more fully and how it was a hotbed of creativity during gaming’s formative years. I like it so much that I have a framed one on my office wall. And now, courtesy of Retro Games Ltd, I have a second ZX Spectrum: The Spectrum.

If you’re wondering where the ‘ZX’ has gone in the new machine’s name, presumably licensing. That aside, this newcomer looks the spit of the original. But does it play like one? And should the Spectrum (and The Spectrum) have stayed back in 1982? Let’s dig in, as I don dayglo socks, leaf through a dog-eared copy of Crash magazine, and have the original Mad World blast out of the stereo. Because, let’s face it, you’d have to be a bit mad to play games using rubber keys in 2024.

Design: little box of magic

The Spectrum isn’t a mini-console – although it is compact. Like the original hardware, this remake lacks the chonk factor of a breadbin C64 or a BBC Micro. Branding aside – swapping out ‘Sinclair’ for ‘Retro’ and ‘ZX’ for ‘The’ – this newcomer looks almost identical to its forebear. Moreover, it feels almost identical – quite the achievement. 

There’s proper heft to the unit, because Retro Games Ltd bolted bits of metal inside the case to ensure it didn’t feel absurdly lightweight. And the dead-flesh rubber keys move and squish in a familiar manner. There’s a little more give, but that’s fine, given that keys are the default way to play.

Around back, authenticity takes a break. Instead of the original expansion slot and inputs/outputs for a TV, a cassette deck and 9V DC, there’s HDMI out, USB-C power, four USB-A slots for controllers and storage devices, and buttons for power and ‘Home’. Note there’s no plug adapter in the box, but The Spectrum worked fine when plugged directly into a USB port on my TV.

Controls: keys are good

There’s no controller in the box either, because the original Speccy didn’t have one. Instead, you mashed those rubber keys to coax tiny digital heroes to victory. And that’s going to feel weird to many modern gamers, bar the odd few wedded to keyboard-based PC gaming.

It might be my old-gamer biases kicking in, but everything felt really nice with The Spectrum. I got properly into playing ancient games while sitting on a cushion in front of the TV, The Spectrum on my legs. It was almost like I was 10 again, while a friend impatiently waited for me to unwittingly kill off Miner Willy three times.

I did have issues with cables – whatever you plug in for HDMI and power dictates how far from your TV you can sit and may get in the way. Although, you know, authenticity. And if you hate the idea of prodding keys, you can always plug in a controller. Retro Games Ltd would recommend its own. I wouldn’t – they’re mostly terrible. I ended up plugging in a ratty old Buffalo SNES-like pad, and… it just worked.

Games: Spectrum 48 play

Conservative estimates put the Spectrum games catalogue at around 15,000 titles. This unit bundles 48 of them. So your favourites won’t all be here. Still, I reckon this is the most successful selection found in a Retro Games Ltd console. It’s geared towards the classics, and includes several of the most important and best games to grace the platform. 

A few examples, then. Isometric exploration puzzler Head Over Heels. Fast-paced platformer Saboteur, in ‘remastered’ form. Quazatron, the Speccy’s answer to thinky C64 shooter Paradroid. Ambitious turn-based strategy effort Lords of Midnight. Seminal (and insanely difficult) platformer Manic Miner. And the very English Trashman, which has you empty bins against the clock.

You might be surprised to hear people are still creating new games for the original hardware, and several of them are included. Standouts for me were brutal overhead shooter Alien Girl, artsy platformer TCQ and the fantastic Tenebra. And every game played without issue, although I’m sure keener eyes than mine will spot the odd emulation snafu. And then post a three-hour YouTube video about it.

Interface: extra life

Whether you’re an old-hand or a newb, you’ll today find many Spectrum games throw your ego into a shredder. Having managed to kill Miner Willy more times than was reasonable, I was glad to discover a 40-second rewind feature for any game. And save states are even better, because who has time to finish Head Over Heels in a single sitting?

You can also shove a USB stick packed with Speccy games into this console’s rear. And that isn’t all about going yo-ho-ho and fearing the fuzz breaking down your door and slinging you into a cell next to Monty Mole. People are still selling new Speccy games. So I very much appreciate being able to play crackers like Alter Ego on The Spectrum.

There are plenty of config options as well. You can decide which Spectrum model is being emulated (128k games tend to have superior audio). One setting provides accurate loading, meaning you can listen to the sound of a virtual tape screeching for several minutes while you rethink your life choices. And there’s good stuff like controller remapping, to banish the horror of ‘up to jump’ (because 8-bit micros predate the ubiquity of gamepads) when avoiding rubber keys. Fab.

The Spectrum Verdict

Let’s be honest: the quality of old games tends to be in the eye of the beholder. The Spectrum won’t convert anyone. The audience is people who were there at the time, or those who wish they were and want to explore gaming’s past. Even if you were there, you might be shocked to find some of the games you loved aren’t so impressive in the light of modern day.

But if you are in that core audience, you’re more likely in for a treat. Sure, purists might grumble that you should use ‘real’ hardware. And full-fledged Spectrum geeks would point at the superb (if near-impossible to source) ZX Next as the superior option. For me, The Spectrum hits a sweet spot: it’s affordable, expansible, authentic enough, and by far the most complete, coherent and consistent Retro Games Ltd remake to date.

Yes, way better than The C64 Mini. I guess the Speccy gets the last laugh after all.

Retro Games Ltd The Spectrum technical specifications

Connectivity	USB-C (power), 4x USB-A, HDMI (720p at 50Hz or 60Hz)
Keys	Rubber
Dimensions	230mm (W) x 144mm (D) x 32mm (H), 516g