Spectaculator, ZX Spectrum Emulator app for iPhone and iPad

4.2 ( 3552 ratings )

Games Adventure Arcade
Developer: Jonathan Needle

2.99 USD

Current version: 7.0, last update: 7 years ago
First release : 03 May 2011
App size: 27.49 Mb

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
    - Batterys 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, Wizards 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!] Doomdarks Revenge
    - [NEW!] Everyones a Wally
    - [NEW!] KWAH!
    - [NEW!] Redhawk
    - [NEW!] Skool Daze

Pros and cons of Spectaculator, ZX Spectrum Emulator app for iPhone and iPad

Spectaculator, ZX Spectrum Emulator app good for

to have got such a good Spectrum emulator in my smartphone is fascinating. I would like to have file loading support, too, e.g. running files that were downloaded from WOS would be mega-fantastic! :-)

Great emulator, thank you! Please, add support of dsk, scl, trd games and demos.

I loved PC Spectaculator emulator, now i have it on my mobile devices... The controls have a great design, better than the Elite Collection!... I only have a wish to ask to Jonathan Needle: is it possibile to have a function to load our .z80 files from personal collections?

Some bad moments

The fact that you have to purchase other games despite already paying for this emulator which, to be honest, doesnt have games i myself could call classic, seems like a huge let down. Sorry developer, but if possible, could i please have a refund? Thank you.

Next to impossible to enter a basic program no matter What that other reviewer said. Does not work at all no less saying its better. Dont waste your money on this useless misrepresented app. Its cow flop.

have no custom tap or tzx images? what this emulator for in this case? sorry, need refund.

This is great for not just fans of the computer but fans of 80s computing. The app is worth every penny but I wonder why the software available on the free version isnt available on the paid version, I hate having two apps installed of the same program.

Best One Yet. I got the other one but this one is truly a ZX. Good Job. Plus its a Universal app. thanks! Save feature Rocks.

This is the best designed emulator I have ever seen on iPhone. A zx speccy in every way and with me living in the US now I can play this from anywhere. One thing it needs is more games! 5/5zeds.

Write review