PSSST… listen up! How the heck this one passed us by I have no idea, but Retro-Spec released a remake of the well known 16K Ultimate game from the Speccy a little while ago now and I’ve only just realised. I am truely lax in my duties, but it would have been nice if one of the RS doods had come and told us about it. Do we have to give people a Cookie for submitting news or something? This was probably one of the first racing games I ever played at home due to having a 16K Spectrum for many
Tranz Am is a ZX Spectrum video game made by Ultimate Play The Game in 1983.
The game involves driving around America, much reduced in size, collecting eight trophies, avoiding natural hazards and kamikaze cars which attempt to crash into the player. Other hazards include a limited supply of fuel, which can be topped up by driving over petrol pumps. The game was written by Chris Stamper and Tim Stamper.
Introduction
Typically for an Ultimate release, players are given a tantalising introduction :
“
The year is 3472 and all that remains on Earth are the remnants of a once great continent, a barren land, a desolate place of sand, rocks and boulders.
But... life adapts quickly and brings with it a New Age, a time ruled by cars and trophies, a land where petrol replaces gold and esteem is possession of the 8 Great Cups of Ultimate.
Possessed for too long by the 'Deadly Black Turbos', the 8 cups remain hidden throughout the land, their strange inscriptions long since forgotten and their locations reverently protected.
Your chance...
A Super Blown Red Racer equipped with technology far advanced. A last chance with a weapon, whose power far surpasses any Black Turbo.
One press and the massive engine thunders into life, the shrill rumble from the exhausts and the hypnotic whirr beckon the Deadly Black Turbos. The noise reaches crescendo and in one sudden lurch the Red Racer spits forward across the land at incredible speed, in the last great battle of your life.
Use your skill to outwit and crash the Deadly Black Turbos and the instruments to locate and collect the 8 Great Cups of Ultimate before you run out of fuel.
â€
Images
Trivia
This game was one of the very few Spectrum games also available in ROM format for use with the Interface 2.
External links
Tranz Am at Ultimate Wurlde
Tranz Am at World of Spectrum
Tranz Am at MobyGames
A walkthrough (drive through?) video of Tranz Am on the ZX Spectrum
