With 48 basic video games built-in to the system, the Spectrum White Version is out now.
The Spectrum White Version evaluate (Picture: RETRO GAMES) This text incorporates affiliate hyperlinks, we’ll obtain a fee on any gross sales we generate from it. Be taught extra
From the NEOGEO AES+ to the Evercade Nexus, 2026 is shaping as much as be an excellent yr for retro gaming followers. And the excellent news is that you do not have to attend till Christmas to get your basic gaming kicks, as a result of Retro Video games and Plaion Replai have simply launched a model new model of The Spectrum, full with a snazzy white color scheme. Whereas this will likely seem like a comparatively easy palette swap, the story behind the white Spectrum is definitely fairly fascinating. As legend has it, ZX Spectrum inventor Clive Sinclair was gifted a one-of-a-kind white Spectrum throughout a manufacturing facility go to to Dundee again within the early Eighties. The notorious white ZX Spectrum was supposedly commissioned to have fun one million gross sales of the enduring dwelling pc, however was by no means made obtainable to the general public… till now.
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The Spectrum White Version
£129.99 View Deal
The Spectrum White Version comes with 48 built-in video games, a Joystick, a USB Stick and a replica of Crash Journal.
In contrast to the ultra-rare unique, you do not have to be filthy wealthy or a genius inventor to get your fingers on The Spectrum White Version, though it does value greater than the mannequin launched again in 2024.
When you can decide up the usual black model for £90 or much less within the UK, the newly launched white version has a beneficial retail worth of £129.99.
This may occasionally look like an extreme worth improve, however The Spectrum White Version does comprise a handful of extras to tempt new and returning clients.
Not solely does it pay homage to the notorious white Spectrum with its trendy new color scheme, however the newest mannequin is bundled with an identical white Joystick and a branded USB stick for including your personal video games. That is on prime of white HDMI and USB-C energy cables – although sadly no AC adaptor.
It additionally has the identical 48 built-in video games as the unique Spectrum launched again in 2024, and a particular copy of Crash Journal with details about the video games line-up and different well-known titles, each previous and new.
Barring textual content adventures like The Hobbit, the bundled Joystick is a much better strategy to expertise nearly all of video games than the keyboard, even when it isn’t my favorite controller.
Color scheme apart, it is truly the identical microswitch joystick bundled with the C64 Mini Black Version. It is completely purposeful and does an honest sufficient job, however very like its C64 counterpart, it’s totally loud and clicky, and does not scream premium high quality.
Whereas I do not hate it as a lot as some folks appear to, I might suggest maintaining the joystick within the field and buying an alternate controller, just like the superior Quickshot II. Higher but, Plaion has simply launched a white model of The GamePad for £20. Not solely is the white color scheme a great match for the brand new Spectrum, but it surely’s only a a lot better retro gaming controller general, and can be utilized for different consoles just like the A500 Mini, Atari 400 Mini and C64.
In fact, the purists on the market could choose to make use of the console’s absolutely functioning keyboard, which has the basic ZX Spectrum design and iconic rubber keys, albeit in white.
The keyboard feels nice to make use of, though the bizarre placement of the Area bar and enter inconsistencies between every sport does take some getting used to in case you’re new to the ZX Spectrum.
In case you actually cannot take to the keyboard irrespective of how laborious you strive, then worry not, as a result of you may also entry a digital keyboard by urgent Begin and Choose concurrently.
The on-screen keyboard is joined by different trendy conveniences like rewinds and save states, and the flexibility so as to add your personal video games by way of USB.
The 8GB bundled USB stick is greater than large enough to your complete library of Speccy classics, and the white color scheme and Spectrum branding ensures that it does not stick out like a sore thumb.
In case you’ve beforehand dabbled in online game emulation, then including video games to The Spectrum is fairly easy. There are many tutorials obtainable on-line, and the whole course of should not take for much longer than 20 minutes.
When it comes to suggestions, you may’t go improper with the Dizzy video games, to not point out the likes of Bomb Jack, Chase H.Q, Deathchase, Robocop and Jetpac. In case you get pleasure from built-in sport Manic Miner, then you definately also needs to take a look at Jet Set Willy.
As you may see from the checklist under, there are many built-in video games to maintain you busy in case you do not intend so as to add any of your personal.
1. Alien Lady (Skirmish Version)
2. Ant Assault
3. Military Strikes
4. Auf Wiedersehen Monty
5. Avalon
6. Bobby Bearing
7. Cosmic Payback
8. Devwill Too ZX
9. Exolon
10. Fairlight
11. Firelord
12. Soccer Supervisor 2
13. Freddy Hardest
14. The Nice Escape
15. Head Over Heels
16. Freeway Encounter
17. The Hobbit
18. Horace Goes Snowboarding
19. Jack the Nipper
20. Knot in 3D
21. The Lords of Midnight
22. Manic Miner
23. Match Day II
24. Film
25. Nodes of Yesod
26. Penetrator
27. Phantis (Sport Over II)
28. Pheenix
29. Pyracurse
30. Quazatron
31. Robin of the Wooden
32. Saboteur! Remastered
33. Shovel Journey
34. Skool Daze
35. Snake Escape
36. Spellbound
37. Starquake
38. Starstrike II
39. El Stompo
40. Stonkers
41. Goal: Renegade
42. TCQ
43. Technician Ted – The Megamix
44. Tenebra
45. Trashman
46. The Method of the Exploding Fist
47. Wheelie
48. The place Time Stood Nonetheless
Manic Miner is my favorite of the bunch, however I additionally actually like Exolon, Trashman and El Stompo.
Even the video games that have not aged notably effectively are form of fascinating in their very own proper. The ZX Spectrum has a definite graphical model that lends a sure appeal and sense of identification to its video games, even when there are technically superior variations elsewhere.
For instance, the ZX Spectrum model of R-Sort (which is not built-in, however could be added by way of USB) is not the perfect port of the basic shooter, however there’s one thing about its hanging color scheme that makes it extra interesting to me than another dwelling console ports from the identical period.
It is simply fascinating to see what expert builders and beginner coders had been capable of squeeze out of the system, and to find video games that took dangers and weren’t so formulaic.
R-type on the ZX Spectrum (Picture: IREM)
Practically 18 months after the launch of The Spectrum in 2024 and my opinion hasn’t actually modified. I beloved it then and I nonetheless like it now.
It is one of many extra fascinating retro consoles available on the market, and one which I’ve completely loved attending to grips with.
The Spectrum White Version is a extra aesthetically pleasing model of the console, whereas the addition of a joystick and USB stick provides you all the things you’ll want to get most enjoyment out of the field.
Admittedly, I might have favored a barely higher joystick and would suggest shopping for a separate GamePad, however given the selection between the unique Spectrum from 2024 and this new white model, I might most likely stump up the additional money and select the latter, because it appears to be like higher and feels a bit extra particular.
Whichever model you decide, The Spectrum is a implausible retro gaming console with dozens of nice video games, so be sure to test it out.
VERDICT: 5/5
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