After Shock (Interceptor Micros)

This is something special... The storyline, and pictures which illustrate it, are really fine things to behold at a time when good new adventures are thin on the ground.

Asterix And The Magic Cauldron (Melbourne House)

A responsive game with very bold and pretty colourful graphics, without clashes. Attractive scenery, no sound and fifty screens.

Bombscare (Firebird)

Once all four lives have gone the game is over and you can enjoy the planet's destruction from the safety of the control room.

Bump, Set, Spike (Mastertronic)

Volleyball comes to the Spectrum! The computer opponent is no slouch: if you get in the lead, it suddenly starts to play a bit better, so just when you thought you had the hang of the game, things get a whole lot harder.

Captain Kelly (Quicksilva)

A 2D flat view game with a funky little tune at the beginning and spot effects throughout.

Conquestador (Melbourne House)

Some cute graphics, neat animations and a jolly little tunette at the start.

Crack It! Towers (Mirrorsoft)

A nicely written Visitors' Guide Book accompanies the game, giving hints on how to solve the puzzles and introducing the characters.

Deactivators (Ariolasoft)

Should a bomb explode, then both the room and the clumsy droid are eliminated which could mean the game becomes impossible to complete.

Dragon's Lair (Software Projects)

The Spectrum version, while remaining true to the arcade on lots of counts, still lacks an element of playability, which makes it unaddictive.

Fat Worm Blows A Sparky (Durell)

It's so good to see something this original. It's just like nothing else. This is going to set a new standard for solid 3D.

Fletcher's Castle (Fernleaf)

Children will love this game, and the teacher or parent will find it fascinating to observe the group dynamics.

The Giddy Game Show (Mirrorsoft)

This is a very enjoyable little game which motivates young children to succeed.

Glider Rider (Binary Design)

I found it very hard to get anywhere in Glider Rider and I suspect it will need a lot more practice to complete it than I have time for.

The Happiest Days Of Your Life (Firebird)

Pretty locations but lots of colour clash. Graphics are in the Wally Week style.

Hardball (Advance)

A very impressive baseball simulation and I'm sure it will do wonders for promoting the sport.

HRH (8th Day)

It is long, well-written, and sufficiently devious to hold your attention for hours at a time.

Intermediate Level Geography: Environmental Studies (Scisoft)

Provides a good balance of content and activity.

Kai Temple (Firebird)

A mediocre game. The graphics are adequate but not good, the characters are small and undetailed and the backgrounds are mediocre.

Lightforce (Faster Than Light)

Easy to get into and contains all that the average shoot-'em-upper would like, with a play area which scrolls smoothly and contains lots of things to blow up.

Miami Dice (Bug-Byte)

Very boring to play - even if you're playing a four player game.

Moron (Atlantis)

A game that has some nice touches... I really enjoyed playing it.

Music Machine

Represents excellent value for money.

Napoleon At War (Cases)

Apart from designer's and historical notes, the game includes a couple of useful battle maps and some new features such as the reorganisation of depleted units to maintain a coherent fighting force.

Nightmare Rally (Ocean)

This game has a lot to offer both fans of racing car games and arcade players.

Ole, Toro (Americana)

As for playability, it fairs well, but I got very bored quickly. The graphics are reasonable, but the animation isn't up to much.

Olli And Lissa (Firebird)

Although the monochromatic layout may be a bit old hat, Olli And Lissa is a perfectly acceptable platform game.

The Perfume Hunter (Fernleaf)

A useful little program which children will enjoy.

Prodigy (Electric Dreams)

Once mastered, the game is exciting to play and quite addictive.

Pub Games (Alligata)

I found Pub Games great fun to play. I didn't even mind the multi-load.

Return To Oz (US Gold)

I have one major complaint to level at this program so let's get it over with here: some of the printing is bugged with print split at line ends and some lines begin with full stops.

Storm (Mastertronic)

Contains very little worth experiencing.

Storymaker (Arnold-Wheaton)

The screen text is clear and easy to read, and if a ZX printer is attached, a print-out of the plan can be obtained.

Street Hawk (Ocean)

Despite not being in the top grade category, I enjoyed playing it, and despite the bad feeling that was obviously created by the long delay between advertising and game release.

Thingy And The Doodahs (Americana)

Very unoriginal fare. As far as I'm concerned, Thingy can keep his Doodahs, because I don't want them, that's for sure.

Thrust (Firebird)

This was an extremely playable game on other machines. The Spectrum version is, to me, just as good.

Time Trax (Argus Press)

I felt that the game was instantly addictive but the appeal soon wore off after a few games.

Trailblazer (Gremlin)

A fast, addictive original game that'll soon have you hooked.

Treasure (Fernleaf)

This is a very useful strategy program which provides a practical stimulus for learning multiplication tables.

TT Racer (Digital Integration)

Not for the casual arcadester. A fair bit of effort is required before you get to grips with it - the mark of any competent simulation.

L'Affaire Vera Cruz (Infogrames)

A much more promising release than Infogrames' last (Mandragore) but it fails just as much in presentation.

Video Poker (Mastertronic)

Video Poker is not really a game of skill at all. The whole game is based on luck - most of it bad!