Afghan Attack (Southern)

If you grow tired of the traditional adventure and can overlook an obstinate vocabulary then this program is well worth the (rather considerable) effort required to unravel what is a very complicated plot.

Alien (Argus Press)

A hard game to win... The menus are very well thought out, and I rarely found myself wishing I had more options available than were listed.

Alien 8 (Ultimate)

Excellent graphics and keyboard response is very finely tuned. The single colour per room allows for good line graphics.

Animated Strip Poker (Knightsoft)

To get Mindy beginning to undress is quite hard work, since both of you start with £150 and only when that has gone will she start shedding at the rate of £50 per article.

Casino Royal (OCP)

The graphics are very pleasing, they are helped by a subtle use of colour. The prompt and input system has been well thought out and is very simple to use.

Chiller (Mastertronic)

The one glaring omission is the Thriller music, but that's all history now since the row about its use on the CBM64 version!

Connect 4 (Atlantis)

If the computer wins it simply says so and plays a little jingle offering you a choice of another game. The routine is exactly the same if the player wins, only the message is different.

A Day In The Life (Micromega)

The game is responsive, but finicky in movement whilst sound consists of continuous but jerky beep music.

Dead At The Controls (Artic Computing)

Artic have produced a passable adventure which sports super graphics but is lacking in those ingredients that go to make a memorable game.

Death Star Interceptor (System 3)

One of the best space shoot-'em-up games in 3D ever.

The Designer's Pencil (Activision)

A curious piece of programming, which should keep anyone intrigued for at least a couple of hours.

Disease Dodgers (Sinclair/MacMillan)

The pupils who tested this program for me quite enjoyed the arcade format, but at the end of it all, they had learned very little.

The Dukes Of Hazzard (Elite)

Scoring is by distance travelled and by the removal of hazards as well as a bonus score for each stage.

Funhouse (Pacific)

An amusement park is a super setting and you do get the feeling of having the run-around of a park and all that entails.

Highway Code (CRL)

In itself the idea isn't bad, and Highway Code could well prove useful as a revision guide for the most asked questions.

The Hollow (Gilsoft)

One of the better "Quilled" games from the plethora of lookalikes. The instructions and storyline are full, coherent and imaginative.

Intermediate Level Maths (Scisoft)

This package, which has been approved by teachers, is really very good value, and would be useful for home as well as school use.

Nicotine Nightmare (Atlantis)

It is fun to play, if slightly frustrating on the first few screens. An unusual game.

Psychedelia (Llamasoft)

The best way to learn is by experimentation... Play with the values to see what happens just like you would tinker with a synthesiser. Blow minds with it, freak out your granny. Be creative!

Pud Pud (Ocean)

When he dies, the rotund hero explodes into colourful bits and sinks to the ground as a dressed chicken.

Raid Over Moscow (US Gold)

The screen displays are varied, but below the playing area are all the necessary telltales, lives and, most importantly, time to impact of a Soviet missile fired at the States.

Sam Stoat Safebreaker (Gremlin)

Some excellent animation and drawing... You also have one life and an energy (Bloodometer) level.

Sea Battles (Atlantis)

Improves on the original by having land targets but it loses out by not being able to place the targets on any plane except the horizontal.

Software Star (Addictive Games)

Most screens are very attractive, but due to extensive error checking input tends to be slow.

The Solar System (Eaglesoft)

The layout of the program is neat though unspectacular.

Space Scan (MacMillan)

A useful package which produces maps to demonstrate the shape and position of any one of fifteen constellations.

Starsphere (Eclipse)

The program is very simple to use as all the options are menu-driven and the one touch system makes the selection of options pleasant and quick.

Stay Kool (Bug-Byte)

A responsive game with good use of colour and above average graphics.

The Thinker (Atlantis)

l don't know whether The Thinker is more difficult than Rubik's Cube, but with only one face instead of six I think it must be easier, although the time limit can become quite drastic.

Toy Bizarre (Activision)

There are a few nice touches to the game which should help to keep you interested.

The Tripods (Red Shift)

I gather that The Tripods was going to be the game that would revive its ailing publisher. I have the feeling that it may be its death warrant instead.

Video Pool (OCP)

Shot selection and taking is simply done and reasonably fast to accomplish.

Village Underworld (Orpheus)

Clearly the adventure has been designed with an eye on just how players might go about tackling it.

Wriggler (Romantic Robot)

A responsive game with lively, well drawn, superbly animated graphics and good tunes.

Yacht Race (Hill MacGibbon)

The program is very good value and would be enjoyed by seasoned sailors as well as by complete beginners.