What's this? Kids Pack? It's great that Alternative are marketing games for the younger Commodore owner, but they won't drum up main sales by calling them "kids". I suppose we can forgive them if the games are up to scratch though, so let's check them out...

One for the mappers, methinks! This interesting Jet Set Willy-alike has you marching round your mansion (or maybe hobbling around your house would be more accurate) in search of your troublesome toy collection. Standing in your way are various nasties that won't let you pass until they're placated - give them what they're after and you can trundle around at will. Look out for the sub-games too!

Huxley Pig's not a bad game, but the lack of any real obstacle will frustrate hardened collect-'em-uppers. The graphics are colourful enough, but the animation's pathetic - Ol' Hux hardly moves his legs!

The heart of the game is in getting to grips with the layout of the house rather than any amazing arcade action, but that's fair enough - younger players won't be disappointed.

On the other hand, I can't see Fireman Sam appealing to anyone. Drive your fire engine (which looks suspiciously like a matchbox!) round a boring, featureless maze (which, whatever the intention, looks nothing like a town!) and play a few irritating sub-games where you put out fires, retrieve rogue kites, etc.

There's nothing here that hasn't been done hundreds of times before (usually better) and will only appeal to die-hard fans of the TV show [Who they? - Ed].

Aha, this is better - guide Pat round Greendale delivering letters, helping people out and generally being an all-round nice guy. A big white arrow (on the map) shows where to make the next delivery, but watch out for the 'magpie' hens who pinch his letters! Better be quick too - Pat's a lazy git at heart, and if his tea meter runs out (Tea meter? Ha ha ha!) he'll be too tired to carry on.

Again, the game is aimed at the younger audience, but this time it's interesting enough to standard with crisp, clear graphics and an accurate (if irritating) rendition of the theme tune, but the animation at the top of the screen is largely redundant and the big white arrow above Pat's head best ignored.

Postman Pat 2 is a worthy purchase for the younger player.

The first chapter in the Popeye saga, and in the words of the playground rhyme it's "first the worst". Huge, badly animated sprites with lots of colour clash, coupled with slow, flickery update kills what gameplay there is. Not that there was much anyway.

Can't say I'm a great fan of Bangers And Mash (the game, not the grub!), and for once I can't see the younger gamer going for it either. A (largely) vertically-scrolling platformer, there's just not enough here to hold your interest - jump from platform to platform collecting fruit and dodging baddies, and that's it!

You'd expect a budget title to be a bit shallower than your average tenner-a-time release, but this is going too far. Also, the younger gamer won't like falling half a dozen screens when they miss certain jumps.

A bit of a mixed bag - not bad value for C64-owning young adults (hence the condescending and financially suicidal title), but it won't hold the experienced gamer for long. Buy it for your little brother.