Structured Programming On The Amstrad Computers CPC646, 664 And 6128 (Micro Press)

The book concentrates almost entirely around one central program and idea. It's little more than an attempt at teaching a limited set of Basic commands... Sadly it's a failure as a teaching aid.

Your First Amstrad Program (Sybex)

A book is full of illustrations... Delightful to work from.

Yie-Ar Kung Fu (Imagine)

I prefer this one to Way Of The Exploding Fist but would have dearly loved the option of having the second player control the foe instead of taking turns at the same game.

Fighting Warrior (Melbourne House)

A nice game to keep the kid brother quiet when he comes round, but not enough excitement around to bring me back to it too often.

Match Point (Psion)

A realistic and well-programmed simulation of the game tennis.

Strangeloop (AMSOFT)

While I don't see people going ape over the graphics in the same way as they did for Sorcery, the actual gameplay is actually better and closer approaches the complexities of a text adventure.

Cauldron (Palace)

A likeable game. It uses ye olde XORed graphics routines, which are the messiest ways of doing sprites that there is. Fortunately, you can get away with it if you have characters and backgrounds as lively as these.

Nightshade (Ultimate)

Sheer programming brilliance helps but it is that undefinable something which draws me to this game.

Don't Panic (Firebird)

This is one of your bog standard, everyday platforms-and-ladders shoot-'em-up games... and not a very inventive one at that. But it's cheap, so, well, you get what you pay for.