The Inheritance (Infogrames) (Amstrad CPC464)

I am sure that anyone who buys this will find that the cost is outweighed by the enjoyment.

L' Affaire Vera Cruz (Infogrames) (Amstrad CPC464)

This mystery may not be be everyone's cup of tea, but I for one will be continuing to search for the solution to the crime.

Beyond The Forbidden Forest (US Gold) (Commodore 64)

The graphics of the main characters are very chunky and may not appeal to everybody but the 3D effects work well.

Psycastria (Audiogenic) (BBC/Electron)

Fans of fast-moving, addictive shoot-'em-ups will be drooling over their keyboards for weeks! Buy this!

Impossible Mission (US Gold) (Amstrad CPC464)

The conversion to the Amstrad loses very little that the game originally had, and if anything the graphics look slightly improved.

Who Dares Wins II (Alligata) (BBC Model B)

The gameplay is easy to get into and the standard movement patterns of the enemy soldiers do mean that movement up the field of battle can be quite easy; provided you don't try to go too far too fast.

Danger Mouse In Making Whoopee (Creative Sparks) (Spectrum 48K)

Awful... The graphics range from poor to bad. Like the subject matter, this game is a load of hot air.

Kai Temple (Firebird) (Spectrum 48K/Plus)

Every so often you come across a game that is so bad that it defies description. Such a game is Kai Temple.

Submarine Commander (Sparklers) (Atari 400)

It's easy to get the hang of, though it's going to be murder to master completely.

Rescue On Fractalus (Activision) (Amstrad CPC464)

A very good conversion, but a bit of an old game.

Olli & Lissa (Firebird) (Spectrum 48K)

The characters are cute and nicely animated, and the castle backdrops are excellent.

Ghostbusters (Activision) (Atari 800/XE/XL)

With all the excitement and hype of the film behind it, this game did very well. A year or two later, with some truly excellent games to compete with, I think that this is set to be flop

Jeep Command (Bug Byte) (Commodore 64)

A simple, frustrating, fun game.

Miami Vice (Ocean) (Commodore 64)

A few more elements would make this a lot more exciting, but it's not such a bad little game, though I feel it will rely more heavily on the TV programme's charisma for mass appeal than on the gameplay itself.

Desmond's Dungeon (Sparklers) (Atari 400)

The graphics and animation are up to standard and it is a nice, simple game, but if you are expecting a game of any quality - don't bother.

Spiky Harold (Firebird) (Spectrum 48K)

Spiky Harold is a pleasant enough game to play, although it can hardly be said to be addictive.

Monty On The Run (Gremlin) (Commodore 16/Plus 4)

Of all the platform games I've seen on the C16, I'd say this was the best example so far and the game deserves to be a massive hit.

Iridis Alpha (Llamasoft/Hewson) (Commodore 64)

Another Minter blockbuster. Even when you feel too limp to continue, you don't have to load a new game because the Pause mode is a game in itself!

Pacific (PSS) (Amstrad CPC464)

Pacific is no more than an average game... The whole thing feels like Sabre Wulf in slow motion, and without the exciting bits.

Parallax (Ocean) (Commodore 64/128)

The code-cracking elements lift the game from being just a crude shoot-'em-up and the strategy element makes this a challenge worth accepting.

Joust (Aardvark) (BBC B/B+/Master 128)

If you can track down a copy, this should be snapped up at once. Deserves to be top of the software charts!

Deactivators (Ariolasoft) (Commodore 64/128)

I was totally absorbed by this game; it's highly addictive and if you're not careful it will suck you in and spit you out unceremoniously.

Rebel Planet (US Gold) (Acorn Electron)

An excellent adventure and further help and guidance can be gained by buying the original Fighting Fantasy Gamebook by Robin Waterfleld.

Arcana (New Generation/Virgin) (Commodore 64)

A highly addictive, well-worked arcade adventure.

Droids (Anglosoft) (Commodore 64)

An average sort of game, not bad for a first release but a bit uninspiring. It is highly reminiscent of Impossible Mission but nowhere near as good.

Doors Of Doom (Amsoft/Gem) (Amstrad CPC464)

No more than an average arcade adventure.

HRH (8th Day) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

The humour is in Spitting Image style... If you enjoy the portrayal of the Royals in the TV programme, then you will enjoy the game.

Golden Path (Amsoft) (Amstrad CPC464)

The gameplay lacks any real sort of cohesion and the fact that you have to sit around waiting for things to load doesn't exactly add to the atmosphere.

Moron (Atlantis) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

A jolly little romp through space.

The Trap Door (Piranha) (Spectrum 48K)

The attention to small details is amazing, and the satisfying feeling of solving a problem before the angriometer reaches maximum is the main hook to this game.

Dan Dare: Pilot Of The Future (Virgin) (Commodore 64/128)

The gameplay is simple enough to lull you into the mistaken belief that it will be a cinch to reach your goal very quickly. This is the hook which leads you to game after game and I spent hours of frustration when reviewing this dastardly fiendish game.

Mindstone (The Edge) (Spectrum 48K)

A brilliantly executed game which will appeal to adventurers and non-adventurers alike.

Nightmare Rally (Ocean) (Spectrum 48K)

Apart from the visual appeal of this game, you also get a lot more to think about than in any other car race that I've seen.

Twin Pack (Audiogenic) (BBC Model B)

International Megasports is average for the genre, though compulsive sports fans may find it of interest. The Genesis Project, on the other hand, is really dire.

Olympiad '86 (Atlantis) (Spectrum 48K)

This is an Olympiad with the emphasis on limp... I can't comment on all of the games, and I can't say I care.

Ninja (Entertainment USA) (Atari 800XL/130XE)

The graphics are extremely good and the animation is equally impressive, as is the sound. You can't go wrong here.

International Karate (Endurance Games) (Amstrad CPC464)

Endurance Games can probably think up a dozen reasons why this game is better than all the other combat games on the market - but I can't. Mind you, it isn't any worse.

The Fourth Protocol (Century/Ariolasoft) (Amstrad CPC464)

Highly recommended... The icons are very easy to use and mean that you don't have to go searching for the right word or phrase and the atmosphere created really gives the feel of a harassed man working desperately against the clock.

Johnny Reb II (Lothlorien) (Spectrum 48K)

Easy to control, challenging to play... The use of icons makes it ideal for beginners and the fact that it is a skirmish rather than a full blown battle also helps.

Trivial Pursuit (Domark) (Amstrad CPC464)

An excellent game living up to the Trivial Pursuits ethos with some added dimensions as well.

Tobruk (PSS) (Amstrad CPC464)

An extremely well presented game... Will provide an excellent challenge to strategy fans, without being too complicated to put off the relative newcomer.

Desert Fox (US Gold) (Amstrad CPC464)

Despite appearances, this game will appeal more to arcade players. There is very little strategy involved to interest the dedicated wargamer.

Collapse (Firebird) (Atari 400/800/XL/XE)

A fun and puzzling game, though a bit on the simple side when it comes to gameplay.

Psi Chess (The Edge) (Spectrum 48K)

Unless you are specifically looking for the strongest program currently available, I would recommend that you have a good look at Psi Chess.