Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The first hour with Select 1 is about browsing. You are not committing to a single premise or chasing one extended campaign; you are choosing among twelve separate games and seeing which one catches your attention. That simple structure gives the compilation a pleasantly low-pressure rhythm. A game that fails to grab you does not become a night wasted, because there are eleven more waiting.

The lineup has enough contrast in its titles to make the act of selection part of the fun. Hunchback, Space Intruders, Kong, Transversion, and Missile Defence sit alongside Mr. Wimpy, Pool, Denis Through the Drinking Glass, Moon Buggy, Spectres, Meteor Storm, and Time-Gate. That breadth is the package’s best argument: it lets you follow your mood instead of asking one game to satisfy every kind of evening.

The trade-off is that there is no single through-line to pull you forward. If you want a game that builds momentum over many hours, this format can feel scattered. But if you enjoy the old-school habit of loading up something different after a few attempts, Select 1 has a stronger payoff than a one-note release. Treat it as a rotating selection, not a game to rush through from start to finish.

Graphics

As a ZX Spectrum compilation, Select 1 moves between twelve distinct games rather than presenting one unified set of characters or locations. The changing game selection is the visual hook: each choice gives you a different screen and a different tone instead of another variation on the same theme.

Story

There is no shared story binding Select 1 together. The collection’s identity comes from its range of games, not from a central hero, setting, or narrative goal.

That absence is not a flaw in a compilation built for quick variety. You pick a title because its name or mood interests you, then move on when you want a different kind of challenge. The lack of connective tissue keeps the focus on sampling rather than on dramatic investment.

If you need a strong plot to stay engaged, this will naturally feel slight. If you are happy making your own evening out of a handful of separate Spectrum games, the open-endedness becomes a virtue: there is no story obligation preventing you from jumping straight to the title that interests you most.

Overall Experience

Select 1 is a straightforward value-minded compilation whose best feature is its range. Twelve full-priced games in one release is a substantial stack, and the split between Side 1 and Side 2 gives it the feel of two batches of options rather than one narrow collection.

Its weakness is equally clear: compilations live and die by personal taste. Not every game will land for every gamer, and the package does not offer one defining experience to carry the whole thing. You are buying the chance to find several favourites, not a guarantee that all twelve will become regular picks.

For a ZX Spectrum enthusiast, that is still a worthwhile proposition. Choose Select 1 if you enjoy variety, short sessions, and the pleasure of testing out a broad selection of period games. Skip it only if you would rather spend your time mastering one focused game than rifling through a dozen possibilities.

Retro Replay Score

6.2/10