Athlete (Buffer Micro)

I became bored quite quickly with this one. The running is controlled from the keyboard or joystick on a fast, slow, jump basis, but it simply isn't as much fun either.

Atlantis (M&J)

A competent game, Atlantis provides many difficult and sometimes peculiar problems which will take weeks to solve.

Black Hawk (Creative Sparks)

This has got to be the best shoot-'em-up game I've seen for an age.

Block Buster (Compusound)

A great game for one or two players... Can be recommended as a family game.

The Complete Machine Code Tutor

The best machine code tutor for the Spectrum... No serious Spectrum programmer should learn machine code without it.

Conquest (Cheetahsoft)

This simply isn't the kind of programming that should be on sale today at this sort of price.

Decor Wreckers (Scorpio Software)

A very early Spectrum type game with improved graphics. The concept is so very simple that it can't possibly hope to hold anyone's interest for very long.

Election (Mastertronic)

I really can't see this being thought of as exciting - after all, it is a simulation, not reality, and therefore has little of the real excitement attached to an election, and no justification for the long wait.

The Fall Of Rome (Argus Press)

The Fall Of Rome is quite educational, a reasonable amount of fun at first, but not really exciting enough in the end to appeal all that widely.

Formula One (Spirit)

A barely average-looking 3D race game with built-in unplayability.

The Inferno (Richard Shepherd)

The game features graphics at every location, an interesting and enjoyable storyline and the puzzles, lightened with a useful HELP command, are not too difficult.

Match Point (Psion/Sinclair)

Calls for considerable skill in placing the ball where you want just as in the real thing, and I can't imagine anyone becoming bored with it very quickly.

Micro Olympics (Database)

Graphics are very well animated and coloured; general colour and sound has been put to good use. Your computer opponent is pretty good, but he can be beaten.

Planetfall (Argus Press)

The display is well thought out and laid out in an easy to see manner. If you want a trader game, this is definitely one to buy.

The Hulk (Adventure International)

A truly marvellous adventure with super graphics and a theme familiar to everyone.

Rainy Day (Cases)

Reasonable value for money, but not generally recommended unless you particularly enjoy puzzles.

S.O.S. (Visions)

Quite addictive. I particularly like the way your rescued colonist falls out of the shuttle if you fail to dock accurately with the mother ship! Very painful.

Spectipede (Mastertronic)

For once, a low price provides a good version, but I think the price also reflects the age of the game itself.

Spoof (Runesoft)

As a satirical piece, Spoof is often amusing and would suit a jaded and very experienced adventurer.

Stagecoach (Creative Sparks)

The presentation and instructions on the inlay are very detailed, and the overall control seems to work very well when you get used to the perspective.

Tank Trax (Mastertronic)

The graphics are very simple, although the tanks are quite nicely drawn and it is a very static type of game.

Voyage Into The Unknown (Mastertronic)

In my opinion, this is a total waste of time and I wouldn't even both rating it.

Warrior's Revenge (Video Force)

For 'a game of skill and determination' this program has much dependency upon luck!

White Lightning (Oasis)

White Lightning proves to be more than just a high level graphics development system. At £14.95 it includes a fast and efficient Forth language, the graphics sub Ideal and a versatile Sprite Creator all accompanied by an excellent beginners and reference manual.

Zapper (Anco)

Fast and rather pointless, but fun for a while certainly.