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Take one chess-like board, give the squares changing properties, add a set of strange, varied-power pieces, throw in a combat sequence and you'll have a rough idea of Archon. A graphical game that combines arcade action with strategy, Archon depicts a struggle between forces of Light and Darkness.

The game is played on two screens. On the first, the strategy screen, you and your opponent (or the computer) takes turns to move your pieces using a joystick. When a piece lands on an enemy occupied square the action switches to a second screen, the combat arena, where the two animated pieces battle for supremacy.

The strategy screen is filled with a board of 72 shaded squares. The darker the square, the more powerful it is to the forces of Darkness, and vice versa. The squares constantly change their colours, and thus their properties, throughout the game. Ranged on either side of the board, just like the start of a chess match, are the two forces each with 16 different pieces.

Each creature has different properties and is at its strongest when on a square of its own colour. Each has its own method of fighting. These include hurling boulders, lightning bolts or fireballs, sword or club swinging, breathing fire, screaming, creating a whirlwind, etc. Fighting is always one against one on the combat screen which is an open area containing various obstacles or barriers.

The wizard and sorceress can also cast spells which summon elements to do battle in their place, heal wounds, teleport, exchange places, shift the flow of the board's colour-change cycle, imprison an enemy or revive a lost piece.

There is a wealth of detail, action, strategic interest, and variety in this game, providing hours of entertainment. Highly recommended.

Mazes are a favourite setting for computer games. Serpentine is one of the better ones, though Caterpillar might have been a better title since that's what the snakes most closely resemble.

Controlling a short, blue, segmented serpent you must manoeuvre around a maze avoiding your longer, pink cousins who are out for their morning slither. If a pink one touches your blue boa, it's goodbye to the latter. In this world it's snake eat snake, and if you can get behind one of your pink brethren you can nibble away at its tail segments - each such segment gobbled will increase the length of your own snake.

Emitting a deep-throated 'Ribbit' a lovely, goggle-eyed green frog goes hopping around the maze. Whichever snake gets to eat him becomes longer and stronger. All snakes, including your own, can lay eggs which will hatch unless eaten by another snake or frog. When a screen of antisocial serpents is cleared the game advances to the next level where there's a new maze and a fresh supply of enemies.

Smooth graphics and fast action make this a compulsive game. I can't think why the snakes make a noise like a steam train though (probably puff adders).

Just like in the TV series with a similar name, the sheriff is after you for some unspecified offence. The only way to shake him off is with a bit of dare-devil driving through one of the Hazard Runs.

There's Chicken Run (the shortest), Walton Pond, Bryan's Pond, Hell's Canyon (the longest), and Rainbow Run to choose from. To the sound of a police car siren you jump into your car and race off. An aerial view shows part of the course, mostly dirt tracks set amidst plenty of trees. The car revs up and moves smoothly forward, the screen scrolling down to reveal more of the countryside ahead.

Should you sideswipe a rock or tree, your car flips onto its side - riding along on two wheels is very useful for squeezing through some tight passages. You can flip back to four wheels with a touch on the joystick but if you flip the wrong way, you'll end up turning the car right onto its back.

When you head straight for a bridge, creek or pond the first few notes of 'Dixie' are played and the screen shows a side-on view of your leap across the water. Hit the near-side bank at too slow a speed and your car won't make it to the far side. The pursuing police car will go into the drink, even if you don't.

Neat stylised graphics, responsive controls and fun sound make Hazard Run a testing and entertaining game.

The official game of the film, E. T. Phone Home from Atari is more suitable for the younger player. ET needs several pieces of equipment to build his phone. The only one who can help him collect them is Elliot.

Elliot must rush round the town in search of the objects, avoiding scientists and agents who may try to take them away from him and hide them. Once Elliot has returned all the pieces to his house you are rewarded by the sound of ET speaking those famous words "ET phone home" - he sounds just like he did in the film.

The final phase has ET running to find his ship's landing site in the woods. When he does, the ship arrives and ET gets to go home.

A simple game made charming by the presence of ET. Younger fans of the lovable alien will adore it.

All games available from Silica Shop, Sidcup, Kent. Tel: 01-301 1111