Corrections for games
incompatible with the ZX Spectrum +2A/+3
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Latest update: 15.07.2023
Modifications to the ULA circuitry of the +3 and later +2A (and +2B) Spectrums carried out by Amstrad in 1987 caused incompatibility problems with a wide range of pre-existing games. Here follows a list of corrections for them, divided into three parts.
Links on the games' names point to the corresponding entries in the World Of Spectrum archive except where otherwise stated.
Official discussion on the World Of Spectrum forum
Official discussion on the Spectrum Computing forum
1. Alternative official versions compatible with the +2A/+3, available from the WOS/SC archives
| Arkanoid | Hit Squad |
| Batman | Erbe |
| Battle Of Britain | Classic Conflicts |
| Bedlam | IBSA/Sinclair User Six Of The Best 4 |
| Blasteroids | MCM |
| Bomb Jack | MCM |
| Bubble Bobble | Hit Squad (without music)/Musical 1 (with music) |
| Cobra | Hit Squad (*) |
| Cyclone | Sinclair User Megatape 14 |
| Frightmare 128K | Zafiro |
| Geoff Capes Strong Man | Sinclair Game Compilation P15G (*) |
| Hysteria | A Year After Mix |
| Knight Tyme 48K | Sinclair User Megatape 10 |
| Mikie | Hit Squad |
| Paperboy | Encore/MCM |
| Pole Position | IBSA (*) |
| Rambo | Hit Squad |
| Rommel's Revenge | Zeppelin Games (renamed Tank Busters) (*) |
| Short Circuit 128K | Hit Squad |
| Skyfox | Dro Soft (*) |
| Spellbound 48K | Sinclair User Megatape 10 |
| Terra Cresta | Sinclair User Double Hits 1 |
| Tomahawk | Byte Back |
| Top Gun | Hit Squad (without music) (*) |
| Tornado Low Level | Sinclair User Ten Pack #111 |
(*) Cobra: here a compatible version including the correction for the bug that might be triggered at the end of the third and final level. It combines corrections by Bandit, zxbruno, jpnz and Einar Saukas.
(*) Geoff Capes Strong Man: the compilation containing the working version is unavailable due to the presence of one single game (out of 100!) which distribution is denied, namely Xcel by Activision. I extracted the game data from the TZX file with Tapir and uploaded them here.
(*) Pole Position (IBSA): works despite the initial menu being invisible, the options are there (K - Keyboard, Z - ZX Interface 2, X - Kempston, C - Cursor, S - Start). Note: Nuggetreggae provided corrections for all of the three versions.
(*) Rommel's Revenge: Ast A. Moore made a compatible version of the original Crystal release.
(*) Skyfox (Dro Soft): localized in Spanish. jpnz made a correction for the original English release.
(*) Top Gun: I made a compatible version with music, in both TZX and TAP format - the former is based on the Erbe re-release, the latter on the file downloaded from the WoS archive.
2. Games for which there is an unofficial correction available
| Title | Problem found | Author | File |
| Anaconda 128K | Crashes a short while after game start | Goodboy/A. Grussu |  |
| Advanced Soccer Sim | Freezes after team selection | Velesoft | |
| Ali Baba | Freezes at game start | Metalbrain | |
| Amaurote 128K | Error C Nonsense in BASIC, 2:9 after second data block | Velesoft | |
| Arc Of Yesod 48K | Crashes at game start | jpnz | |
| Archeo | System reset after game over | Nuggetreggae | |
| Aztec Hunt For The Sun God | Reset upon loading | A. Grussu | |
| Austerlitz 128K | Error C Nonsense in BASIC, 1500:3 after first data block | A. Grussu | |
| Bad Dream | Freezes upon loading | Velesoft/A. Grussu (turbo) | |
| BC's Quest For Tires | Freezes upon loading (*) | Nuggetreggae | |
| Boovie 2 | System reset upon loading | Metalbrain | |
| Camelot Warriors (Ariolasoft) | Initial menu restarts continuously (*) | Ast A. Moore | |
| Chickin Chase | Corrupted graphics | Velesoft | |
| Chimera | System reset upon loading | jpnz | |
| Comet Game, The | Freezes upon loading (*) | jpnz/A. Grussu | |
| Confuzion | System reset at game start | Zup/A. Grussu | |
| Cylu | Freezes upon loading | jpnz | |
| Deus Ex Machina | System reset at the end of the initial countdown | Velesoft/Nuggetreggae | |
| Donald's Alphabet Chase | System reset when picking up letter L | Velesoft | |
| Duet | Freezes upon loading | Velesoft | |
| Empire | Freezes upon loading | jpnz/A. Grussu | |
| Enterprise | System reset upon loading | Nuggetreggae | |
| Fairlight 128K | Crashes after start screen | Nuggetreggae | |
| Fairlight II 128K | Freezes upon loading | Nuggetreggae | |
| F.I.R.E. | Unspecified | Velesoft | |
| Fire On The Water | System reset upon loading | Nuggetreggae | |
| Flight From The Dark | System reset upon loading | Nuggetreggae | |
| Fourth Protocol, The | System reset upon loading | jpnz | |
| Frank Bruno's Boxing | Crashes after initial screen | Velesoft/Nuggetreggae | |
| Galactic Gunners | Unspecified | Velesoft | |
| Gallipoli 128K | Error C Nonsense in BASIC, 22:1 after loading screen | A. Grussu | |
| Gerry The Germ | System reset at game start | jpnz | |
| Grumpy Gumphrey Super Sleuth | Crashes upon loading | Velesoft/A. Grussu (turbo) | |
| Gryzor 48K | System reset at start menu | jpnz/A. Grussu | |
| Gyroscope | System reset upon losing a life | jpnz/A. Grussu | |
| Head Over Heels | Possible crashes during game play | jpnz/A. Grussu | |
| Hectic | Freezes at the screen with the game's title | A. Grussu | |
| Heist 2012 | System reset upon loading | A. Grussu | |
| Hexagonia | System reset upon loading | Velesoft/Nuggetreggae | |
| Hybrid | Freezes at game start | Metalbrain/A. Grussu | |
| Impact | System reset at game start | Velesoft | |
| Jamski Heroj/Pecinski Heroj | Freezes at game start | Metalbrain | |
| Jail Break | Freezes at game start | Nuggetreggae | |
| Jet Man Silly | System reset upon loading | Velesoft/Nuggetreggae | |
| Kidnap | Freezes at the screen with the game's title | A. Grussu | |
| King Arthur's Quest | System reset after the initial music | Metalbrain | |
| Kliatba Noci/Curse Of The Night | Crashes at game start | Nuggetreggae/Pavero | |
| Koky | System reset upon loading | Nuggetreggae | |
| Komando II/Commando II | Crashes at game start | Velesoft/A. Grussu | |
| Krtek A Auticko | Freezes upon loading | Velesoft | |
| Kung Fu | System reset at game start | Velesoft | |
| Level 5 | Freezes upon loading | Nuggetreggae | |
| Locomotion | System reset upon loading | Nuggetreggae | |
| Mah Jongg | System reset upon loading | Velesoft/Nuggetreggae | |
| Mega-Buck$ | System reset when opening options menu | Nuggetreggae/A. Grussu | |
| Metro-Cross | System reset after the start of round 5 | Ast A. Moore | |
| Music Logic | Freezes upon loading | Velesoft/Nuggetreggae | |
| NATO Assault 128K | Error C Nonsense in BASIC, 50:1 after the third data block | Nuggetreggae | |
| Nipik 2 | System reset at life loss | Metalbrain | |
| No. 1 | System reset at game start | A. Grussu | |
| Ole Toro | Keyboard inputs not recognized | Velesoft/Nuggetreggae | |
| Omega One | System reset upon loading | Nuggetreggae | |
| Para Academy | Freezes upon loading | Velesoft | |
| Perestrojka | Corrupted graphics, system reset upon losing a life | Velesoft | |
| Phantom F4 | System reset upon loading | Metalbrain | |
| Phantom F4 II | System reset upon loading | Metalbrain | |
| Play It Again Sam | Freezes at game start | A. Grussu | |
| Prva Akcia | System reset upon loading | Velesoft/Nuggetreggae | |
| Quadrax | System reset upon loading | Velesoft | |
| Rats, The | Does not load | jpnz | |
| Renegade 128K | No music during game play | Hikaru | |
| Ricochet | Freezes at game start | Goodboy/A. Grussu | |
| Road Runner (US Gold) | System reset upon loading | Velesoft/Nuggetreggae | |
| Robin Of The Wood 48K | Freezes at game start (*) | jpnz | |
| Runestone | System reset upon loading | jpnz | |
| Run For Gold | System reset upon loading | Nuggetreggae | |
| Sbugetti Junction | Freezes at game start | Metalbrain | |
| Scaramouche | Freezes at game start | Goodboy | |
| Sherwood | Unspecified | Pavero | |
| Silvestrovska Pecka | System reset upon loading | Velesoft/Nuggetreggae | |
| Solar Fire De Luxe | Error C Nonsense in BASIC | A. Grussu | |
| Spike | Freezes upon loading or at game start when loaded in 48 BASIC | Metalbrain | |
| Starfox | System reset upon loading | Metalbrain | |
| Starglider 48K | Missing text and graphics | Velesoft/A. Grussu | |
| Starstrike II | System reset upon loading | Metalbrain | |
| Star Trader | Freezes erratically | Metalbrain | |
| Street Hawk | Freezes upon loading | Velesoft | |
| Strike | System reset upon loading | Velesoft | |
| Sweevo's Whirled | Corrupted graphics, system reset after start | Nuggetreggae | |
| Swords Of Bane 128K | Error C Nonsense in BASIC, 10:11 after second data block | A. Grussu | |
| Telefony | System reset at options menu | Pavero | |
| Thanatos 128K | System reset upon loading | A. Grussu | |
| Their Finest Hour | System reset upon loading | Velesoft | |
| They Call Me Trooper | Corrupted graphics, system reset after start | Nuggetreggae | |
| Three Weeks In Paradise 128K | System reset upon loading (*) | Nuggetreggae | |
| Thunderbirds (Firebird) | Corrupted graphics, freezes after start | jpnz | |
| Tinny | System reset upon loading | Velesoft/Nuggetreggae | |
| Utok Bile Mysky | System reset upon loading | Velesoft/Nuggetreggae | |
| Vesele Velikonoce | System reset upon loading | Velesoft/Nuggetreggae | |
| Video Olympics (Mastertronic) | Keyboard inputs not recognized | Velesoft/Nuggetreggae | |
| Willow Pattern | System reset when pressing a key upon loading | jpnz | |
| Xcel | System reset upon loading (*) | Nuggetreggae | - |
| Yacht Race | System reset upon loading | A. Grussu | |
| Yie Ar Kung Fu 128K | System reset when pressing CAPS SHIFT or after the first level | Nuggetreggae | |
(*) BC's Quest For Tires: the correction works with all 128K Spectrums since the game runs natively on the 48K/+ only.
(*) Camelot Warriors (Ariolasoft): this version is different from all the others in some details, e.g. the lack of the green enemy in the initial screen. This makes a specific correction necessary.
(*) Comet Game, The: correction made by me by applying a patch by jp. The colored bars seen while loading are correctly displayed on the 48K/+ only.
(*) Robin Of The Wood 48K: the file available for download is a patch to load before the game; it is not possible to download a version including such correction because the distribution of the game has been denied.
(*) Three Weeks In Paradise 128K: the correction also works on the +2, where the same problem occurs.
(*) Xcel: for both editions (original by Activision and Mastertronic re-release) there are corrected versions made by Nuggetreggae, but I cannot let them be available for download because the distribution of the game has been denied.
3. Other games
NOTE: there is no need to type USR0 at the BASIC command prompt if you are loading the games by means of a DivIDE/DivMMC interface, since they already work under such mode.
Albatrossity: type USR0 at the +3 BASIC prompt before loading the game in order to enable the 128K features. It will run in 48 BASIC but without sound.
Blizzard's Rift: type USR0 at the +3 BASIC prompt before loading the game.
Doombase: keyboard inputs are not recognized. Zup proposed a correction, which however does not seem to work.
Dragonia: type USR0 at the +3 BASIC prompt before loading the game, or use this version made by Velesoft.
Iron Soldier: type USR0 at the +3 BASIC prompt before loading the game, or use this version made by me.
Elite 48K: system resets after Lenslok acknowledgement. Use the Joystick Club version (available here in TZX format) as it does not have such protection. jpnz also provided a custom version of the original Elite release, that while being compatible with the +2A/+3 keeps the protection.
Ghosts 'n' Goblins: incompatible with the +2A Spanish version. Load this patch made by Bob Stains before the game.
Karlos Und Schatze Der Azteken [.TAP file version]: type USR0 at the +3 BASIC prompt before loading the game.
Konami's Ping Pong: the game loads but the CPU racket shows some graphic corruption. Nuggetreggae provided a version free from this fault.
Kuiper Pursuit: type USR0 at the +3 BASIC prompt before loading the game.
Lode Runner 48K: freezes after start. The (unofficial) TAP version available from the WOS archive does not show such problem.
Mystery [Spectrum Computing]: type USR0 at the +3 BASIC prompt before loading the game.
Prince Of Persia: the .TAP file hosts some blocks in the wrong order and loads only under USR0 mode. I made a working version that can be immediately loaded from the start menu.
Rally Bug: graphics corruption reported from level 3 on. According to Nuggetreggae, a POKE 24090,8 entered while running the game can fix it, although there could still be problems under some very specific circumstances.
Shao-Lin's Road: load only under +3 BASIC.
Sidewize: freezes after choosing the planet. Ast A. Moore created a working version, but I cannot distribute it due to copyright issues. (If you wish, you can look for it on his website.)
Tau Ceti Special Edition: type USR0 at the +3 BASIC prompt before loading the game.
Terramex: type USR0 at the +3 BASIC prompt before loading the game in order to enable the 128K specific features.
Travel With Trashman / Zombie Zombie: jpnz provided a patch for the Rapid Loading system implemented in both games. The patched files are available here (TWT) and here (ZZ).
Treasure Island Dizzy [Spectrum Computing]: Ast A. Moore made a version that loads correctly under +3 BASIC and fixes the distortion of the initial spoken message.
Trojan (pre-production only): system resets upon loading. Will run by issuing a SPECTRUM command in +3 BASIC before loading.
Wanderers Chained In The Dark [Spectrum Computing]: type USR0 at the +3 BASIC prompt before loading the game, or use this version made by me.
Yumiko In The Haunted Mansion: load only under 48 BASIC.