Great games have appeared from Thalion of late - their latest, Enchanted Lands, earned a coveted Format Gold. This four game compilation offers the chance to test out their earlier stuff.
Chambers Of Shaolin
Chambers Of Shaolin is a slick Kung Fu game. You are an apprentice at the local Shaolin temple and must complete six tests, from dodging fireballs to balancing on moving poles, before you can start fighting. Then you can enter the combat screens. Graphically and aurally, Shaolin is great. What's more, it isn't let down on gameplay. This one's a real tester.
Warp
In Warp, you whizz your craft around a tiny screen, shooting the aliens and their emplacements. A very average shoot-'em-up that looks extremely dated.
Leavin' Terramis
Leavin' Terramis is very reminiscent of Paradroid. You must fight your way to the other end of the spaceship Terramis before it blows up. It might not look very original, but it plays well, offers plenty of levels and is above par graphically.
In The Seven Gates Of Jambala, the fore-runner of Enchanted Lands, you control a wizard who has to excavate his way through a fantasy land of lizards and dragons. The control method is a bit tough and the screen area is quite small, but Jambala's a lot of fun and certainly looks original. Except for Warp, these are good games and the pack is good value.