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Despite the fact that the next Olympics won't take place for another three years, I'm sure that Ocean Software's Daley Thompson for the Amstrad will sprint into as many homes as the Spectrum and C64 versions.

I think that this game, above all the others I have seen for the Amstrad, proves its undoubted superiority over the Spectrum and Commodore computers.

The background graphics are superb and the animation of Daley as he runs and jumps across the screen is brilliant. His sulky expression after he fails to qualify for an event adds a little comic humour to a perfectly executed simulation which looks, and plays, more like the arcade game Track & Field than the game's previous versions on other machines.

Instead of an indistinguishable blob for the main character of the game, a very realistic representation of Daley has been produced - which doesn't exactly run across the screen, perhaps "minces" is a better word!

To make Daley run, you move the joystick from side to side very rapidly.

The faster you move the stick, the higher the power meter rises and the more energy Daley has to run, jump or throw a shot.

The game simulates the Decathlon exactly. There are ten events to be completed over two days, including the 1,500 metres and the shot putt.

In each event there is a qualifying time or score which you must beat to accumulate points on your way to an Olympic medal. I'm afraid I'm going to have to go into some fairly hard training before I can collect my winner's medal. Many of the events, including the high jump and shot putt, were beyond me - I just couldn't get the correct angle to get a high enough score.

I'll just have to give up fags, booze and playing that strip poker game until 4 o' clock in the morning!

A gold medal for Ocean, once again?

I don't think I need to answer that!