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Exactly one year after the C64 game (Issue 44, 49%) comes the 16-bit version of The Games: Summer Edition. And as usual with Epyx, it's being released out of season - what do you mean you thought December was the height of summer? Well, only in the southern hemisphere!

Anyway, it's time to slip off your wellies and duffel coat again to play eight very summery events. One or two players can practise or compete in the extremely exhausting uneven parallel (asymmetric to most people) bars, rings, hammer throwing, diving, 400m hurdles, pole vault, cycling and the slightly more leisurely archery.

As usual with Epyx, the presentation of The Games: Summer Edition is very good with different music for each event and some nice graphics touches.

Sadly, as in the C64 version, the events themselves are very simplistic, requiring very little input from the player. Although this makes The Games: Summer Edition very easy to get into, its long term appeal is severely impaired.

There may well be some nice graphical touches, but unlike Phil I was generally disappointed with presentation which looks more like a nice PC product than an Amiga one.

Gameplay is improved, and it's a real shame there's not more head-to-head two-player options. I've never really been a fan of these sort of games, and this certainly hasn't converted me at £25.

Presentation 62%
Okay intro and outro sequences, but heavy disk accessing.

Graphics 45%
Good vector graphics on cycling, but otherwise disappointing.

Sound 60%
Mellow Californian MOR tracks for each event.

Hookability 53%
Ability to practise any of the events makes it instantly accessible...

Lastability 38%
...but few of the events are much to write home about.

Overall 46%
A mediocre C64 sports game is little improved on the Amiga.