The Level 9 Compilation is an unofficial compilation of all of Level 9 Computing's text adventure and multiple choice games for the ZX Spectrum Next. All in all, there are 19 games: 16 text adventure games and three multiple choice games.
The compilation includes the latest version of each game (to my knowledge), uses the Level 9 interpreter for Spectrum Next, has the game files packaged to suit this particular interpreter and has the graphics converted to Spectrum Next format. It is provided as a convenience since it can be difficult to find complete versions of some of the games nowadays. All games in the compilation except the multiple choice games have been tested with their walkthrough test scripts.
Note: The Level 9 games are copyright by Level 9 Computing. This compilation is not official and its curator is not affiliated with Level 9 Computing. The compilation is done in loving memory of Level 9 and their classic masterpieces and without any monetary gain involved. A big thank you to Mike Austin (one of the Level 9 founders) for his informal approval of this compilation!
Note: Some of the games will require the original manual for looking up words as part of the games' built-in copy protection scheme.
The compilation is provided in two versions: one that auto-boots from an SD card and another containing just the games.
Here are instructions on how to create your own physical edition of The Level 9 Compilation. Note that the PDF to be printed contains three pages: the outer cover (page 1), the optional inner cover (page 2) and the SD card label (page 3). If you just want to display the cover without the crop marks for printing, you can download case-cover-display.pdf and open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Thanks to Richard Hallas for creating this beautiful cover!
Prerequisites: Case and an empty pre-formatted SD card.
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Go to specnext.com and download the latest lightweight version of the System/Next distribution (the Spectrum Next system software) and unpack it on an empty pre-formatted SD card.
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Download level9-boot.zip and unpack it in the root directory of the same SD card. This is an auto-bootable System/Next overlay that contains all the games and which will overwrite the default SPUI file with a newer version and add an autoexec.bas file for launching a start menu where you can select which of the games you want to play.
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Download case-cover-print.pdf and open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you can print double-sided, select pages 1 (outer cover) and 2 (inner cover) and print them using "short-edge binding" on glossy A4 paper in landscape mode with scaling set to "actual size". If you can only print single-sided, select page 1 (outer cover) and print it on glossy A4 paper in landscape mode with scaling set to "actual size". Cut out the printed cover according to the crop marks.
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Select page 3 (the SD card label) and print it on glossy self-adhesive paper with scaling set to "actual size". Cut out the printed label with the help of the crop marks. If you are using a microSD card with an SD card adapter, cut the bottom of the label at the crop marking "microSD adapter trim".
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Insert the printed cover into the case and stick the label on the SD card by aligning its white area with the padlock symbol and arrow with the locking slider on the SD card.
That's it! Now you have your own physical edition of The Level 9 Compilation!
This compilation is provided in two versions: one version that auto-boots from an SD card and another containing just the games. The games in the compilations use the Level 9 interpreter for Spectrum Next which is also available in two versions: level9_256.nex, which uses the standard Spectrum mode (256 x 192) for displaying the text, and level9_512.nex, which uses the Timex hi-res mode (512 x 192).
Note: When updating the compilation to a newer version, if you have save files that you still want to use, just copy those save files to the new game folder(s).
Skip steps 1 and 2 if you have already followed the equivalent steps in Create Your Own Physical Edition.
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Go to specnext.com and download the latest lightweight version of the System/Next distribution (the Spectrum Next system software) and unpack it on an empty pre-formatted SD card.
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Download level9-boot.zip and unpack it in the root directory of the same SD card. This is an auto-bootable System/Next overlay that contains all the games and which will overwrite the default SPUI file with a newer version and add an autoexec.bas file for launching a start menu.
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Insert the SD card into your Spectrum Next computer and start it.
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This will bring up a start menu where you can select which of the games you want to play, and in what screen resolution. Documentation in NextGuide format is available from the start menu.
Note: The first time you boot the SD card, you will see the NextZXOS test screen and have to select which video mode to use (HDMI/VGA/RGB and 50/60 Hz refresh rate). Your selection is then stored in the machines/next/config.ini file on the SD card. This is standard procedure for any auto-booting SD card for the Spectrum Next.
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Download level9.zip and unpack it on an SD card containing the Spectrum Next system software.
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Insert the SD card into your Spectrum Next computer and start it.
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Highlight the level9.run runnable directory in the NextZXOS Browser and press Enter. This will automatically launch its run.bas program, which will bring up a start menu where you can select which of the games you want to play, and in what screen resolution. Documentation in NextGuide format is available from the start menu.
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Alternatively, hold Symbol Shift when pressing Enter to manually open the level9.run directory to access its contents. Then go to the desired game directory and run its level9_256.nex or level9_512.nex program.
The compilation can also be run in the CSpect and ZEsarUX emulators.
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Install the latest version of the CSpect emulator.
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Make sure CSpect.exe is in your PATH or set the CSPECT_HOME environment variable to the directory where it is located.
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Download level9.zip and unpack it on your PC.
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Run the batch file level9.run/<game>/run_cspect.bat to start the selected game.
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Install the latest version of the ZEsarUX emulator.
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Make sure zesarux.exe is in your PATH or set the ZESARUX_HOME environment variable to the directory where it is located.
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Download level9.zip and unpack it on your PC.
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Run the batch file level9.run/<game>/run_zesarux.bat to start the selected game.
Below is a list of the games included in this compilation. Click on a game to read more about it.
- Jewels of Darkness trilogy
- Silicon Dreams trilogy
- Time and Magik trilogy
- Emerald Isle
- The Saga of Erik the Viking
- Knight Orc
- Gnome Ranger
- Gnome Ranger II: Ingrid's Back!
- Lancelot
- Scapeghost
- Multiple choice games
The game screen is divided into two sections. The top section shows the graphics for the current location and the bottom section is the text area which accepts user input at its prompt. When there are too many lines of text to display on the screen at once, the message "<MORE>" will appear at the bottom left of the screen. Pressing any key will continue the scrolling of the text.
The last entered line of input can be edited by pressing the EDIT key.
The graphics can be scrolled up and down using the up and down arrow keys to make more or less room for the text. If a PS/2 mouse is connected to the Spectrum Next, it can also be used to scroll the graphics up and down by dragging it with the mouse or using the mouse wheel.
The text colour can be changed by cycling downwards or upwards through a palette of 32 colours by pressing TRUE VIDEO and INV VIDEO, respectively. The default text colour is light grey.
The table below shows the special keys used in the games:
| Spectrum Key | PS/2 Key | Description |
|---|---|---|
| EDIT | SHIFT + 1 | Edit last entered line of input. |
| UP | SHIFT + 7 | Scroll graphics up. |
| DOWN | SHIFT + 6 | Scroll graphics down. |
| TRUE VIDEO | SHIFT + 3 | Change text colour by cycling downwards through a palette of 32 colours. |
| INV VIDEO | SHIFT + 4 | Change text colour by cycling upwards through a palette of 32 colours. |
| Mouse | Mouse | Scroll graphics up and down by dragging or by using the mouse wheel. |
The Level 9 interpreter and parser is quite advanced and supports a rich vocabulary. Below is a list of useful commands if you're new to text adventures, a list of special commands and a list of commands provided by the interpreter and not the game itself. Some commands are only supported by certain game versions, as indicated in parentheses.
Useful commands:
- north (n)
- south (s)
- west (w)
- east (e)
- northwest (nw)
- northeast (ne)
- southwest (sw)
- southeast (se)
- up (u)
- down (d)
- in
- out
- exits (V3/V4)
- go to <previously-visited-location> (V4)
- run to <previously-visited-location> (V4)
- follow <character> (V4)
- look
- wait
- wait for <character> (V4)
- wait for <number-of-turns> (V4)
- wait until <time> (V4)
- inventory (inv)
- take | get <object>
- drop <object>
- examine <object>
- find <previously-found-object> (V4)
- say <something> (V2/V3)
- <character>, <commands-to-character> (V4)
Special commands:
- save - Save the current game position to file.
- restore - Restore a previously saved game position from file.
- ram save - Save the current game position in RAM memory. (V3/V4)
- ram restore - Restore the latest saved game position from RAM memory. (V3/V4)
- undo/oops - Restore the game position as it was before your last command. (V3/V4)
- restart - Restart the game. (V3/V4)
- help - Print help or hints.
- brief/verbose - Select location description mode. (V3/V4)
- exits on/off - Automatically report exits on or off. (V4)
- words/pictures - Turn pictures on or off.
- score - Print the current score.
- again (a) - Repeat the last command.
Interpreter commands:
- #save - Like the save command but bypasses any disk change prompts.
- #restore - Like the restore command but bypasses any copy protection schemes.
- #quit - Quit the game.
- #picture <number> - Test command for showing the picture with the given <number>.
- #seed <number> - Test command for setting the random number seed to the given <number>.
- #play - Test command for playing back a script file as the input to the game.
The multiple choice games are played by repeatedly selecting one of up to three given choices by pressing key 1, 2 or 3. Pressing the 4 key will open a command mode where you can enter one of the following commands:
- save - Save the current game position to file.
- load - Load a previously saved game position from file.
- restart - Restart the game.
- pictures on/off - Turn pictures on or off.
- help - Print general help or help for the given command.
A big thank you to Mike Austin (one of the Level 9 founders) for his informal approval of bundling this game compilation with the Level 9 interpreter for Spectrum Next. Thanks Mike for making this possible!
The Level 9 interpreter is licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 and is copyright (C) 1996-2011 by Glen Summers and contributors. Contributions from David Kinder, Alan Staniforth, Simon Baldwin, Dieter Baron and Andreas Scherrer.
The Level 9 interpreter porting to ZX Spectrum Next is copyright (C) 2021 by Stefan Bylund.
The QLStyle font is copyright (C) 2018 by Phoebus Dokos.
The start menu is created with SPUI, copyright (C) 2020 by Stale Pixels.
The case cover and SD card label were designed by Richard Hallas in 2023.
The documentation in NextGuide format was written by Richard Hallas in 2024.
Jewels of Darkness trilogy is copyright (C) 1986 by Level 9 Computing.
Colossal Adventure is copyright (C) 1982, 1986 by Level 9 Computing.
Adventure Quest is copyright (C) 1982, 1986 by Level 9 Computing.
Dungeon Adventure is copyright (C) 1982, 1986 by Level 9 Computing.
Silicon Dreams trilogy is copyright (C) 1986 by Level 9 Computing.
Snowball is copyright (C) 1983, 1986 by Level 9 Computing.
Return to Eden is copyright (C) 1984, 1986 by Level 9 Computing.
The Worm in Paradise is copyright (C) 1985, 1986 by Level 9 Computing.
Time and Magik trilogy is copyright (C) 1988 by Level 9 Computing.
Lords of Time is copyright (C) 1983, 1988 by Level 9 Computing.
Red Moon is copyright (C) 1985, 1988 by Level 9 Computing.
The Price of Magik is copyright (C) 1986, 1988 by Level 9 Computing.
Emerald Isle is copyright (C) 1985 by Level 9 Computing.
The Saga of Erik the Viking is copyright (C) 1985 by Level 9 Computing.
Knight Orc is copyright (C) 1987 by Level 9 Computing.
Gnome Ranger is copyright (C) 1987 by Level 9 Computing.
Gnome Ranger II: Ingrid's Back! is copyright (C) 1988 by Level 9 Computing.
Lancelot is copyright (C) 1988 by Level 9 Computing.
Scapeghost is copyright (C) 1989 by Level 9 Computing.
The Archers is copyright (C) 1985 by Level 9 Computing.
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ is copyright (C) 1985 by Level 9 Computing.
The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole is copyright (C) 1987 by Level 9 Computing.