Knot in 3D: Speed, space, and the humble Spectrum

Knot in 3D. The short, simple title printed on the side of this game’s case is both a neat little pun as well as the entire premise of the experience residing on the tape within. I am going to make a knot. In 3D. But it’s also not actually in 3D, in the digitally constructed visual sense. Clever stuff. But that can’t be it, surely? That has to be something more, some little trick or neat idea waiting to be discovered, some hidden depth to be revealed. Ah, no. The “manual”, all single side of generously spaced cassette tape card of it, confirms that really is all there is to the game. Bar a pause function, charmingly mapped to H (for hold) and S (for… restart), I’m here to make a knot in 3D. Within a few seconds of play I’ve experienced everything the game has to offer. This immediacy comes across as a bit of a treat, the game pushing me through the usual “What does this button do?” and “How does this work?” parts in the blink of an eye, allowing me to get stuck straight into the…