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About eight months ago, US Gold said they were going to release Leaderboard on the Spectrum. An impossible task I thought, but after numerous delays they have finally done it. Not only have they done the impossible, but they also get full marks on this fantastic conversion.

Considering the limitations of the Spectrum, US Gold has produced the best sports simulation ever seen on this machine. The gameplay of Leaderboard has not changed from conversion to conversion and is very easy to get to grips with. I have been hooked on Leaderboard ever since my first stroke of the ball and now I enjoy playing all four versions of it, soon to be five when the Amstrad version is released.

Leaderboard is a golf game which gives a true three dimensional perspective view of the course from behind your man. There are four courses included each consisting of eighteen holes, so those of you who bought Konami Golf, throw it away and rush out for the number one choice.

The club selection is from a 1W down to a PW. When you have chosen your club the strength of your shot has to be judged by means of a rising gauge. After the strength comes the hook or slice which is the hardest bit to judge as the gauge falls so fast. Once you are on the green, you are given a putter and have to judge the slope of the green by means of a stick in the ground and a shadow. The putter can hit the ball up to a maximum of 64 feet but can be more downhill.

When everyone has holed out a score card is displayed for each player one after the other to chart your progress, then it is on to the next hole. Full marks have to go to US Gold on this excellent conversion of a C64 classic which could have easily turned out to be utter rubbish.