Comparison

Spectaculator vs Starseed

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Spectaculator

Relive the golden era of 8-bit gaming with this emulator. Play over 150 licensed classic ZX Spectrum games, with more available through in-app purchases. Features include save states, cheat codes, game hints, and authentic 1980s visual simulations.

Highlights
  • Play over 150 licensed ZX Spectrum games
  • Save game progress with multiple slots
  • Enter cheats and lookup game hints
  • Authentic 1980s TV screen simulation
  • Virtual and external keyboard support
  • iCloud save syncing across devices
  • Program in Sinclair BASIC
Features
Read full description

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     - Battery's 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, Wizard's 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     - Doomdark's Revenge     - Everyone's a Wally     - KWAH!     - Redhawk     - Skool Daze

About

Starseed

Features
Read full description

ACCOLADES: 9/10 - TouchArcade 9/10 - AppAdvice Bronze Award - PocketGamer SCENARIO: Pilot the Starseed and perform attack runs on massive dreadnoughts in the depths of space! Each vanquished dreadnought brings forth a new Starseed form and new weapon types! FEATURES: - Nine playable Starseeds! - Nine huge dreadnoughts to defeat! - Old-skool arcade presentation and effects! - Game Center Leaderboards and Achievements! - Nine amazing chip tunes from @FracturesAudio! - Risk/reward bullet-grazing combo system to master! - Absolutely NO Ads or IAPS CREDITS: Developed by @egvroom EPILEPSY WARNING: This game contains flashing images that could potentially trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy.

Screenshots

Spectaculator4 screens
Starseed4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Starseed at none against Spectaculator's 24. Starseed also leads on price ($1.99 vs $2.99) and iOS requirement (8.1 vs 11.0). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Spectaculator costs $2.99 and Starseed $1.99 up front. Spectaculator sells 21 one-off in-app purchases. Starseed asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Spectaculator versus Starseed: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpectaculatorStarseed
Price$2.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.7 (39 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews63.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings39 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS11.08.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB40 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperJonathan NeedleThalamus Digital Publishing Ltd.

In-app purchases

21 purchases

Spectaculator

One-time21
  • Wheelie$0.99
  • Realtime Games Pack$0.99
  • The Lords Of Midnight$0.99
Show 18 more
  • Skool Daze$0.99
  • Strike Force Cobra$0.99
  • Doomdark's Revenge$0.99
  • Splat!$0.99
  • Rex$0.99
  • Dynamite Dan 2$0.99
  • Frank N. Stein$0.99
  • Design Design Anthology$1.99
  • Gremlin Pack 1$1.99
  • Vortex Anthology$1.99
  • Odin Anthology$1.99
  • Alternative Software Pack 1$1.99
  • Gremlin Pack 2$1.99
  • Alternative Software Pack 3$1.99
  • Gremlin Pack 3$1.99
  • Zenobi Adventures Vol. 2$1.99
  • Zenobi Adventures Vol. 3$1.99
  • Zenobi Adventures Vol. 1$1.99
None

Starseed

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Spectaculator free?
Spectaculator costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Starseed free?
Starseed costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Spectaculator or Starseed have ads?
Neither Spectaculator nor Starseed shows ads.

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