Rygar (US Gold) (Commodore 64/128)

If Rygar sold for £1.99, it would be a poor piece of budget software by today's standards. To release it as a full-price top-of-the-range coin-op conversion is just a bad joke.

Skate Or Die (Electronic Arts) (Commodore 64)

A good sim and well worth a look.

Combat School (Ocean) (Commodore 64/128)

As a conversion, Combat School is just what companies should be looking at. Nothing here overstretches the computer and, whilst the graphics in one or two places could have been improved, the gameplay is varied and absorbing.

Cosmic Causeway (Gremlin) (Commodore 64/128)

Spend the whole of Christmas playing this. Stop only for food, sleep and any alcohol offered by drunken relatives.

Star Wars (Domark) (Commodore 64/128)

This was an excellent game in the arcades but not I'm afraid on the C64. Vector graphics have never worked as well on the Commodore as they have on other bigger machines.

Freddy Hardest (Imagine) (Commodore 64)

Not the most original game I've ever played, and probably not one of the most captivating either. Still, if anyone feels like a little arcade fun, you could do worse.

Mean Streak (Mirrorsoft) (Commodore 64)

It hasn't got that addictive punch that an arcade game needs and neither has it the complexity needed for an arcade adventure, so it's left there oscillating with an ego crisis.

Maniac Mansion (Lucasfilm/Activision) (Commodore 64/128)

One of the best around... It's Psycho, Friday 13th, the Adams Family and Rocky Horror Show all rolled into one; a story of chainsaws, shower-curtains, obscene phone calls, microwave ovens and mondo stereo.

Xor (Logotron) (Commodore 64/128)

The best thing that I can find to say about it is that it's "OK, but nothing special". My mate Malcolm liked it, but then he's from Newcastle and wears a bright yellow waterproof.

Jack The Nipper II: In Coconut Capers (Gremlin) (Commodore 64/128)

With many sequels all you seem to end up with is a mixed and diluted version of the original. This sadly is the fate of Coconut Capers. It simply doesn't have the spunk of the original. Witty gameplay has been forsaken for a more conservative, mediocre approach.

Buggy Boy (Elite) (Commodore 64/128)

Buggy Boy is good, probably one of the most accurate conversions to date. If you're a fan it's a must; if you're not, it's a must.

Passengers On The Wind 2 (Infogrames) (Commodore 64/128)

I can't possibly think of who might want to buy this. Owners of the first game will obviously stay well clear, and no-one else will have the slightest idea of what is going on!

Superstar Ice Hockey (Databyte/Mindscape) (Commodore 64/128)

International Soccer is a prime example of how to capture the flavour of a sport in a computer game - the emphasis is on atmosphere and playability, not accuracy.

Mad Balls (Ocean) (Commodore 64)

Keyboard and joystick control is responsive and realistic, simulating very well the unpredictable rebounds and bounces.

Beat It (Mastertronic) (Commodore 64/128)

The animation's cool, and the graphics are really neat... and for all you wimps out there it's got an infinite lives cheat.

Kromazone (Mastertronic) (Commodore 64/128)

The nasties are graphically impressive, there's a good tune and a two-player option. But none of those can compensate for the tedium of the gameplay.

Starlifter (Mastertronic) (Commodore 64/128)

I liked Starlifter. It's well up to Mastertronic's cheapo standards.

Bobsleigh (Digital Integration) (Commodore 64)

It's just the 'bob standard' Cresta Run style display! I was expecting something new and this just didn't cut the ice.

Gunboat (Piranha) (Commodore 64)

A very dated product in every respect, and it sadly lacks the playability and polish of previous Piranha releases.

Airborne Ranger (MicroProse) (Commodore 64/128)

A very enjoyable game, with a challenge as tough as you'll get anywhere.

Athena (Imagine) (Commodore 64)

An uninspiring soundtrack, no sound effects to speak of and background graphics like you used to draw with a big wax crayon when you were five. Need I say more?

Power Struggle (PSS) (Commodore 64/128)

Ideal for power hungry Communist meglomaniacs or plain strategy freaks.

Zig Zag (Mirrorsoft) (Commodore 64/128)

One of the most inventive variants on a well-worn theme, Zig Zag is like a breath of fresh air.

Tetris (Mirrorsoft) (Commodore 64)

Very entertaining for fifteen minutes, but when you've seen all there is to see there's, er, nothing left to see.

Spore (Bulldog) (Commodore 64/128)

This type of game may be a little dated now but they still can't be beaten for sheer manic blasting.

Survivors (Atlantis) (Commodore 64/128)

I can't say I enjoyed Survivors. There's really nothing to commend it, owing to its severe lack of anything approaching originality.

Mask (Gremlin) (Commodore 64/128)

Even if you're not a slipper-slinging, watch-wearing MASK fan reserve a space in your stocking for it.

PHM Pegasus (Electronic Arts) (Commodore 64)

As wargames go, Pegasus succeeds very well.

Ubik's Music (Firebird) (Commodore 64/128)

This really is a very extensive sound/music editor and there's no doubt that, at three quid, you're getting a lot for your money. But user-friendly is one thing it sn't.

Micro Rhythm+ (Firebird) (Commodore 64/128)

If Micro Rhythm was a bargain, that makes this version an absolute giveaway. Make sure you get a copy.

Grand Prix Simulator (CodeMasters) (Commodore 64/128)

If not a contender for biggest rip off of the year, Grand Prix Simulator has to take the title of most frustrating 'beat-your-head-against-an-iron-anvil' award.

Dark Castle (Mirrorsoft) (Amiga 500)

This is truly an excellent piece of software, impeccable in every detail.

The King Of Chicago (Cinemaware) (Amiga 500)

The graphics are superb, amusing, incredibly detailed and painstakingly accurate in their historical details ... But, most of all, it's the game's sheer playability that makes it exceptional.

Western Games (Magic Bytes) (Amiga 500)

Well designed, produced and executed, a sure fire winner pardner.

Garrison (Megaware) (Amiga 500)

Garrison is quite simply brilliant. It is the most playable game I've seen so far this year.

Leviathan (English) (Amiga 500)

The Amiga is desperately short of decent shoot-'em-ups so the launch of a new one is an encouraging sign. It has amazing sound... and it looks great... but I can't see it keeping me up until the small hours.

Not A Penny More Not A Penny Less (Domark) (Commodore 64)

Awful graphics, worse speech, this game mostly had me gasping in disbelief at the obvious ignorance of its programmers.

Nord And Bert Couldn't Make Head Or Tail Of It (Infocom) (Commodore 64/128)

Full marks to Infocom for branching out with something highly original, and extremely cleverly put together. But don't play Nord And Bert if English isn't your native tongue.

Zodiac/The Secret Of Life (Incentive) (Commodore 64/128)

Zodiac is a simple adventure, ideal for beginners, but without any mystery or imagination. As for The Secret Of Life, though, it has some odd bugs and, try as I might, I found the game unplayable!