Vegetables ZX Spectrum

You can buy the game on cassette at: https://doublesidedgames.com/shop/sinclair/zx-spectrum/vegetables-deluxe-zx-spectrum/

This game must be played on a real ZX Spectrum 48k or an emulator (I recommend FUSE). Some game modes crash on real hardware 128k +2 models - but the game works on any machine under emulation. if you have a WonderAY sound chip add-on or play using an emulated 128k Spectrum card then you will get title screen music as well as beeper sound effects.

Coding, music and vegetables by Mike Richmond

Title screen and background graphics by Andy Cashmore

Controls:

Use Kempston joystick or (redefinable) keys. While playing, press M to pause the game. Press Q from pause mode to quit to the menu screen.

Playing Instructions

On the menu screen, use number keys to select game mode, R to redefine keys or 0 for credits. Press 0 to start the game.  

Default keys are 6, 7, 8, and 9 (cursor arrows/cursor joystick) for directions and 0 for fire

The object of the game is to make lines of three or more matching vegetables. To do so, you can swap the position of any two vegetables on the play screen by pressing fire then pushing in a direction. Pressing fire again "unlocks" the cursor. When there are no valid moves left then the board is shuffled – until you run out of shuffles, then it’s game over!

Match three vegetables and they are removed from the board, with new shapes dropping down to replace them. Occasionally an immovable block will be dropped. These can only be removed by strategically dropping them until a line of three or more immovable blocks is made. Match four shapes in a row to destroy a full row or line and match five to destroy all matching shapes and get an extra shuffle.

Game Modes

There are four game modes, offering a gradually increasing level of challenge.

Casual

In casual mode, the emphasis is on a relaxing game, with very few immovable blocks being dropped. It is still possible to run out of moves, so don’t get too complacent!

Classic

In classic mode, immovable blocks are periodically dropped, making it gradually harder to make matches. 

Shopping

The objective of shopping mode is to make the number of matches indicated on the left hand side of the screen. At first you need to match 3 of each shape to beat the level, with the number of matches you need to achieve increasing each time

Countdown

Countdown mode is the biggest challenge of all. You have a short time to make a match before the timer runs out. If you fail to match before then, you lose a shuffle. In this mode, you do not lose a shuffle when there are no valid matches – only when the countdown timer runs out.