Game Of The Year Awards (Spectrum 48K/128K)

Game Of The Year 1985

Gyroscope (Melbourne House) (Commodore 64)

Lord Of The Rings might be the game everyone's talking about, but Gyroscope is the one that everyone's playing.

Lord Of The Rings (Melbourne House) (Commodore 64)

A worthy successor to The Hobbit and, in my opinion, Melbourne House's best adventure to date... A flawed classic, but a classic nonetheless.

Causes Of Chaos (CRL) (Commodore 64)

The game will stand and fall on whether or not the multiplayer aspect appeals. Personally, I find it awful.

The Worm In Paradise (Level 9 Computing) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

You'll find the challenge well worth the effort.

Philosopher's Quest (Acornsoft) (Acorn Electron)

Don't be put off by the somewhat strange logic needed to play this game, as it is without doubt one of the finest adventures ever written for the BBC, and is therefore highly recommended.

Masquerade (US Gold) (Commodore 64/128)

A good adventure which makes a pleasant change from monster bashing and alien zapping.

Rambo (Ocean) (Commodore 64)

The choice of weapons and the scenario of rescuing prisoners (rather than just fighting through screens) makes Rambo the tough-guy of this new type of shoot-'em-up game.

West Bank (Gremlin) (Spectrum 48K)

The game sounds almost too simple but is ridiculously addictive... Will guarantee that you will have 'just one more game'.

The Eidolon (Activision) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

A good game, but perhaps a little bit slow.

Koronis Rift (Activision) (Commodore 64)

Evil Crown (Argus Press) (Commodore 64)

I feel that, deep down, there is a good game trying to get out here. Nevertheless, the combat sequences are rather unsatisfactory.

Death Wake (Quicksilva) (Spectrum 48K)

Not one of Quicksilva's better games. It lacks the excitement of Beach-Head and you can't help but feel that you've seen it all before.

Brainstorm (Bubble Bus) (Spectrum 48K)

Bright, colourful and fun to play. My only quibble is that it is too easy to get killed.

Olympic Decathlon (Alligata) (BBC Model B)

If you are daunted by games that at first seem impossible, then don't go for it, but I'm hooked.

Space Doubt (CRL) (Commodore 64)

Simple, but effective. The thread of humour that runs through the game is very good and the game itself is quite good and colourful.

Yabba Dabba Doo (Quicksilva) (Commodore 64)

Great graphics, great concept, but disappointing due to a few small design errors.

Transformers (Ocean) (Spectrum 48K)

Although you can keep the Decepticons at bay with your blaster, it's best to head for a defensa pod to recover and continue the game with a different transformer.

The Way Of The Exploding Fist (Melbourne House) (BBC Model B)

A highly enjoyable game.

Their Finest Hour: The Battle Of Britain (Lucasfilm/US Gold) (Spectrum 48K)

An excellent game that will be played for months to come.

Fight Night (US Gold) (Commodore 64)

A game which offers one or two little extras... which may give it an edge in what is rapidly becoming an overcrowded market.

Tornado Low Level (Vortex) (Amstrad CPC464)

A good flying game, with all the boring bits of flight simulators taken out and some good graphics thrown in.

Mercenary (Novagen) (Commodore 64/Plus 4)

An excellent game with the quality of Elite, but with a totally different theme. Well worth buying, in fact - excellent.

Scalextric (Virgin/Leisure Genius) (Commodore 64)

Altogether a very good game. Most of the main Grand Prix tracks are represented, though I would like to have seen more British tracks.

Battle Of The Planets (Mikro-Gen) (Spectrum 48K)

A brilliant game, well worth having although do note that the joystick up and down controls are upside-down.

Barry McGuigan's World Championship Boxing (Activision) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

A very playable game complemented by nice graphics.

Mikie (Imagine) (Spectrum 48K)

A pleasant enough game to play but I doubt it has lasting appeal.

Raiders Of The Lost Ring (Arcade Systems) (Spectrum 48K)

Don't waste your money on this rubbish.

Gunfright (Ultimate) (Spectrum 48K)

N.O.M.A.D. (Ocean) (Spectrum 48K)

Definitely a game that you will play again and again.

Myla Di'Kaich (Global) (Spectrum 48K)

There are some quite nice ideas in this game... but the screens just look too bright and messy and the overall feeling is one of confusion.

Cosmic Wartoad (Ocean) (Spectrum 48K)

Wild Ride (Interceptor Micros) (Commodore 64)

A jolly, addictive little game, with reasonable graphics and sound.

Winter Sports (Electric Dreams) (Spectrum 48K)

I can't really fault the game's value for money... but you're still left with the feeling that overall the game is "all right". I doubt you'll load it in again.

Robin Of The Wood (Odin) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

An excellent arcade adventure. If you like chasing through huge mazes and mapping them whilst performing various mini-quests, then this is the game for you.

Adventure Games For The Amstrad CPC464 (Collins) (Amstrad CPC464/664)

I like the tone of this book, it is light and humorous without being empty and waffly.

Atari 130 XE Games Book (Melbourne House) (Atari 130XE)

There are lots of good old classics here, with enough help and advice to make the hard work a bit easier. I'd recommend it.

Games And Graphics Programming On The Amstrad Computers (Micro Press) (Amstrad CPC464/664)

Well written and well produced. The book is clearly laid out with helpful diagrams and distinct listings that don't make keying in more of a headache that it need be.