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Phew! I'm exhausted by this package - probably the most extensive American football simulation possible on a micro. It seems unfair to call it just a game. You play the part of a football coach whose ambition is to win the Superbowl - well, why not? To do so you must guide your team, the Schoburg Franklins, through training camp, the pre-season, the season and the post-season play. At each stage the amount of detail available is staggering - each team in the League has full statistics available for all players, for example. Play in the games is minimal but exciting - no real graphics, but a representation of the play position on the field. Before each play (offensive or defensive) you choose between twenty or more particular plays - will you attempt a shotgun? Or maybe a hail mary? Should the defense be 3-1-7 or 5-4-2? The computer then analyses the play and gives the result - 18 yard gain; incomplete pass, field goal; whatever.

It might be though that the lack of graphics at this stage would be a real disadvantage, but it's not true. The excitement level stands high and, as the season progresses, you gain confidence about the use of special teams, team selection, play decisions and so on. As the season continues, the package saves your rise (or fall!) in the League to disc, ready for next time. In fact, Coda make a point of stressing that the game should follow the season though, updating data every game. They actually supply a new data sheet for players twice a year. So you could, for example, use the package to keep track of real games throughout the year.

But it would be a great shame to miss out on the play. As the game progresses the teletype results of other games and the worry about player and team suitability and fitness increases the excitement.

A lot of love and care has gone into this package and I'm conscious that I've only just skimmed the surface of its capabilities. It you have any interest at all in American football, then this game is a 'must have'.

Now then, I wonder if I can field a whole team of 'Refridgerators'?

Dave Reeder