To view an epic film, however good, on TV after having seen it in true shape and size on the big screen is often something of a disappointment. The same is true of versions of real games mimicked by computer, Linkword and Darts are cases in point.

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Linkword is computerised Scrabble; Darts is self evident.

In real Scrabble, you make your own destiny - you choose the tiles; you try to outguess your opponent. The factor which gives most satisfaction in the game is physically handling the letters, arranging and rearranging them on your stands. Keeping the score also gives little Johnny something to do between his turns.

Now much of this is denied to players of Linkword. Your letters are chosen by the computer and displayed on the screen for all to see. Your score is automatically added to your total and the double and triple letter and word squares automatically accounted for.

Now all of this does add up to some neat programming. Letters can be placed on the multi-coloured board via a cursor, and options exist for players to exchange any number of letters for others unseen in the pool. End-game facilities are strong.

Even so, all of this adds nothing that cannot be had from a £5.99 'real' scrabble. There is no "acceptable word set" which would delineate the words you are allowed to use (obviously for reasons of memory) and no check is made to allow illegal moves (a new word not connecting with any already on the board, for example). The game does feature a delay so that opponents can object to a move, however.

Linkword seems to be an excellent program, with much enjoyment to be had from it - but it's not a patch on the real thing.

My caveat about Darts is much the same. A hi-resolution dart board is at the mercy of a cross between Jocky Wilson and a Dalek, whose right arm is under your control. The flight of the released dart is shown, and its hit point on the target shows up as a dot.

The hardest part of playing real darts - the subtraction - is taken care of by the computer.

The on-screen player can be moved to any part of the screen for better trajectory. The normal rules for darts are adhered to, including the need to end on a double or bull's eye.

The PMODE4 graphics are fine, the speed of the program is OK and the players can have some fun. The variables involved in aiming a dart amount to much more than could ever be simulated in a program.

Once again Computerware has produced some excellent coding maxmising the features of the Dragon in all respects. But the games themselves are but pale imitations of the real things.