This is yet another four-game compilation from Superior. It makes me wonder where they keep finding the material to keep this popular 'greatest hits' series going. Here we are at Play It Again Sam 16.

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First off we have Hostages, a mixture of commando action and strategic planning in an effort to become the hero of the hour. The scene is set with terrorists taking over an embassy. Your task is to gain entry to the building by abseiling down from the roof and smashing through a window to begin the search for the terrorists and their hostages.

Gripping stuff but no easy task, as the interior of the embassy is a veritable maze of rooms and corridors. You must be careful to identify the terrorists quickly as they appear, and prevent them from killing the hostages before you can get to them.

Good graphics and sound combine with an interesting and challenging scenario to provide a worthwhile and involving game. Gameplay is not always that easy though. For example, getting into the embassy through the window can be a bit tricky and at first almost seems impossible. Don't be put off though, this is an excellent game.

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Vertigo is a version of the old favourite called Marble Madness, and has already been done on the Beeb by The 4th Dimension in the shape of Inertia. Nevertheless, Superior's implementation on this compilation is a good and playable version of this rather addictive game.

Vertigo requires you to control a diamond shaped 'puck' that careers across a tiled and platformed landscape. The object of the exercise is to navigate your way to the gem on each screen, whilst avoiding falling off the edge of the 'world'. It's tricky, but it is certainly fun and very compulsive. To add to the challenge all the screens have time limits, and some are very tight indeed.

A nice feature of this 50 screen game is the ability to skip levels and enter at another level by means of a password. Some of the levels are very easy and it would be tedious to have to work your way through them time and again. All in all, Vertigo is a worthwhile part of this compilation and should provide hours of fun and sometimes quite maddening frustration. Good stuff.

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Perplexity is a mixture of Repton and Pacman set in a 3D landscape, and has certain similarities with Pacmania on the Arc. The aim of the game is to collect all the diamonds on each screen to move on to the next. Some are visible but others are only revealed as you push apart the boulders. Naturally there are hazards to avoid and it is all too easy to get yourself locked in somewhere with no escape route.

Graphics in Perplexity are good and take advantage of most of what is available on the Beeb. Control of the game is simple and will obviously appeal greatly to the younger members of the family.

I liked this game a great deal, and found it as compulsive as the others in this compilation. A worthy inclusion indeed.

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Finally, we have Pipemania, a game that started in the arcades and has seen the light of day on just about every micro there is. This is a puzzle game (as is Tetris) in which you are offered various bits of pipe which you must use to construct a pipeline. Time is not on your side and you must act quickly to get your pipe built before the ooze begins to flow.

This is again one of those relatively simple games that can be amazingly addictive. Nice graphics and simple controls all add to the quality and appeal. I like it.

So there you have it. A really good collection of games at a cheap price and sure to please most people. One of the best Play It Again Sams yet.