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Sometimes a game comes along that takes your breath away with its verve, originality and technique. Such games are rightly awarded high marks in Computer Gamer. Other games are unplayable; again, the marks reflect this. What can you say about a game that deserves reasonable marks *despite* being virtually unplayable, having state-of-the-art circa 1983 graphics and doesn't scroll, now usual in sports simulations, but instead uses three switchable screens? I suppose you'd just have to say that it is Bug Byte's Ice Hockey.

It's a strange game. There is little detail, virtually no control over the player you want to control and every shot leaves the screen before entering the next screen a moment of two *before* the players appear on the ice! Yet, it is very addictive, partly because of its faults!

Ricocheting off the sides of the rink, the puck develops a fair speed and it is amusing to watch the program trying to keep up with it!

I like Ice Hockey despite its obvious flaws. It is, after all, a budget game and, I suppose, we should not really expect too much. Whatever it is though, it is not an adequate ice hockey simulation and really its release does not do Bug Byte any favours.

It is cheap, though, and worth some attention - you might enjoy it. After all, someone at Bug-Byte thought enough of the game to release it...