Spectra (Xbox One) reviewed by LethalThreat74

As I launched Spectra for the first time the main menu appeared and an adrenaline fuelled retro soundtrack thumped out of the speakers assaulting my ears. My first response was to reach for my remote and hit the volume + button. Looking down at the bottom of the screen the obligatory "insert coins" title was there. This was enough to fill my head with visions of my eight year old self, standing in my regular seaside arcade staring in wonder at all the latest arcade machines, pockets full of change, heart full of excitement and face full of smiles. Enough reminiscing lets get back to the review.

Spectra is an 8-bit space racer styled game, simplistic in its control system with solid retro looking gameplay. Right from the off your spaceship his hurtling through space on a narrow winding track your aim is simple, stay on track!. Not as easy as it sounds as there are randomly placed blocks dotted along the track. Hitting the blocks causes them to explode but will also knock you off course and possibly off the track entirely causing the race to end, steer your ship close enough to the blocks and you get some nice points bonus but its risky business.


Points are also earned by picking up smaller collectable blocks and getting big air bonuses. There are also some speed boosts to help you string some of those bonuses together, be warned though more speed equals less handling.

In total there are ten individual tracks to unlock and race, each with its own awesome soundtrack. With each track raceable on two different difficulty levels you're going to be racing twenty tracks.


In game controls consist of simply steering your ship left and right, having said that the control of the ship feels solid and intuitive. Making Spectra instantly playable and enjoyable to all levels of gamer. Playing Spectra bought to mind playing a SNES game called F-zero, unfortunately though Spectra doesn't have the option to compete against either AI or friends. An option to add the ghost of a friends fastest lap would of added a whole new dimension and longevity to the game.

Visually Spectra does the business, Its retro styling's are polished and well done, the audio in game is awesome and gameplay is responsive, fast paced and challenging enough for the average gamer (like myself). The only negative thing I could say about Spectra is the games longevity, it is an easy game to pick up and thoroughly enjoyable, however the lack of multiplayer or online play won't have you revisiting after all the achievements are done. With that in mind it's not an easy 1000g for your average gamer, also Spectra is very reasonably priced and not by any means a full priced release.

With this in mind Spectra is a solid game at a good price that will bring back some great memories and nostalgia, Therefore I award Spectra a SPACETASTIC ! 8 out of 10.

Good review mate!

Looks like a must buy at that price

Well done mate. Nicely written. Wouldn't mind a blast of this for that price.

Yeah to be honest its a good buy at the right price. Thanks guys.

Currently has a glitches achievement it seems.

92 people on TA have the cheev for acquiring all cheevs but there's one cheev that nobody has due to it not popping despite meeting the criteria.

Nice review mate.