Between 1990 and 1992, Codemasters launched the Quattro Series — a collection of 14 game compilations for the ZX Spectrum (with similar releases for Commodore and Amstrad machines), each bundling four titles onto a single cassette. These weren’t just filler packages; they were a curated blend of past arcade hits, simulators, platformers, and quirky originals that had defined budget gaming for a generation.
At a retail price of £2.99 to £3.99, the Quattro tapes offered exceptional value. Distributed widely through Woolworth’s and other UK retailers, they became a staple in the collections of Spectrum owners seeking variety without breaking the bank.
| Quattro Title | Year | Included Games |
|---|---|---|
| Quattro Adventure | 1990 | Ghost Hunters, Super Robin Hood, Dizzy, Vampire |
| Quattro Arcade | 1991 | Advanced Pinball Simulator, 3D Starfighter, Grand Prix Simulator 2, Fruit Machine Simulator |
| Quattro Cartoon | 1991 | Little Puff, Wizard Willy, Frankenstein Jnr., Ollie & Lissa 3 |
| Quattro Coin-Ops | 1991 | Advanced Pinball Simulator, Fruit Machine Simulator, Pub Trivia, Fast Food |
| Quattro Combat | 1991 | Death Stalker, SAS Combat Simulator, Ninja Massacre, Arcade Flight Simulator |
| Quattro Fantastic | 1992 | Fruit Machine Simulator, Pub Trivia, Wacky Darts, Monte Carlo Casino |
| Quattro Fighters | 1992 | SAS Combat, Guardian Angel, Kamikaze, Soviet Fighter MiG 29 |
| Quattro Firepower | 1991 | MIG-29 Soviet Fighter MiG 29, Operation Gunship, Terra Cognita, 3D Starfighter |
| Quattro Megastars | 1992 | CJ’s Elephant Antics, Sky High Stuntman, Bigfoot, Little Puff |
| Quattro Power | 1990 | Moto X, Twin Turbo V8, Pro Powerboat Simulator, ATV Simulator |
| Quattro Racers | 1991 | ATV Simulator, BMX Simulator 2, BMX Freestyle, Championship Jet Ski Simulator |
| Quattro Skills | 1991 | Pro Skateboard Simulator, 11-a-Side Soccer, Pro Tennis Simulator, International Rugby Simulator |
| Quattro Sports | 1990 | BMX Simulator, Grand Prix Simulator, Professional Ski Simulator, Professional Snooker Simulator |
| Quattro Super Hits | 1990 | Super Stuntman, KGB Superspy, Super Tank, Super Hero |
Reception
While not every game was a gem, several titles within the Quattro series received strong reviews and accolades when they were originally released:
- BMX Simulator, from Quattro Sports, received 5 out of 5 from Sinclair User and was awarded a Monster Hit by ZX Computing.
- CJ’s Elephant Antics, featured in Quattro Megastars, was praised for its animation and humour, often scoring 80%+ in magazines like Your Sinclair and Crash.
- Bubble Dizzy, part of Quattro Arcade, was a spin-off of the popular Dizzy series and received positive reviews for its originality and underwater mechanics.
- Super Stuntman and KGB Superspy, found in Quattro Super Hits, were noted for their fast-paced action and scored in the 70–80% range in contemporary reviews.
- Wacky Darts appeared in Quattro Fantastic and received Best Sports Game in the 1990 Crash Readers Awards.
Though not all titles fared well — Twin Turbo V8, for example, scored just 28% in Crash Issue 65 with the reviewer stating that he ‘couldn’t fall asleep fast enough‘.
Sales
The Quattro packs were sold at two different price points. After the first batch of releases at the initial £2.99 price, Premium-Budget releases, with better or more well known games, were charged at £3.99:
| Quattro Titles | Retail Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure, Cartoon, Combat, Fire Power, Power, Racers, Sports, Skills, Super Hits | £2.99 | Ultra-budget strategy to attract mass buyers |
| Arcade, Coin Ops, Fantastic, Fighters, Megastars | £3.99 | Price increase reflected stronger branding and more popular games or characters |
While exact sales figures scarce, given the wide retail distribution and low price point, it’s reasonable to estimate that each Quattro compilation sold tens of thousands of units, especially those featuring Dizzy, CJ, or Seymour — characters with strong fan followings.
Compilation Breakdown
Each Quattro tape was themed — Adventure, Combat, Cartoon, Sports, etc. — and included a mix of original Codemasters titles and rebranded budget games. This strategy allowed Codemasters to extend the shelf life of older titles while introducing new ones under a unified brand.
The most popular compilations included:
- Quattro Megastars – CJ’s Elephant Antics, Sky High Stuntman, Bigfoot, Little Puff
- Quattro Arcade – Pinball Simulator, 3D Starfighter, Grand Prix 2, Fruit Machine Simulator
- Quattro Combat – SAS Combat, Ninja Massacre, Death Stalker, Arcade Flight Simulator
Impact
The Quattro series helped cement Codemasters’ reputation as the kings of budget gaming. It re-introduced many players to now-iconic characters and gameplay styles, and its packaging — often bold, cartoonish, and instantly recognisable — and helped the company to remained a gaming staple well after its 8-bit peak in the 1980s.
Quattro wasn’t just four times the fun — it was a masterclass in budget publishing.
You can find more information about Codemasters, their games and their legacy by checking out the excellent Codemasters Archive.
