After Burner (Activision)

I'm amazed! The speed is fantastic. Each level of the game is a different colour monochrome with small but well-defined jets flying by and brilliant graphics at the beginning and end of each level.

Artura (Gremlin Graphics)

The hero can get stuck in certain parts of the landscape, with escape an impossibility. This annoyance epitomises the general lack of any playability - even mapping fans should leave this well alone.

The Devil's Hand (Compass)

The well-drawn, colourful pictures enhance the enjoyment of this competent little adventure.

2D Game Maker (CRL)

Although fun for a while, the designer just isn't flexible enough to enable the creation of original games... You get the feeling that you're only making superficial alterations rather than really designing your own game.

Laser Squad (Target Games)

The original concept of Rebelstar was elegant and addictive, and Laser Squad takes it much further without losing any of its playability.

Last Ninja 2 (System 3)

Last Ninja 2 is worth buying for the excellent 3-D graphics, but if you have a short patience I won't see you liking the controls.

Live And Let Die (Imagine)

It's fun to play - until you get irritated by the toughness.

Mini Putt (Accolade/Electronic Arts)

A refreshing change from the Leader Board-type golf games... It should keep you, and some friends, alternately giggling and cursing that darn elephant's trunk.

Operation Wolf (Ocean)

Blasting sound effects are fine and help make this a really playable arcade conversion.

Pac-Mania (Grandslam)

This is one of the most playable games I've seen - even if it is only a souped-up version of Pac-Man.

Peter Beardsley's International Football (Grandslam)

In this game, even the players themselves don't seem that impressed... They either turn their backs, or wander off in the opposite direction to the ball!

R-Type (Electric Dreams)

Presentation is highly polished with excellent title and loading screens, plus a multitude of levels for you to blast through.

Rex (Martech)

A great looking and highly playable blast-'em-up which is very addictive.

Robocop (Ocean)

One of the best films of 1988 had made one of the best Spectrum games as well. Congratulations, Ocean!

The Runestone Of Zaobab (Eric Stewart)

Initially intriguing but eventually a disappointment.

Savage (Firebird)

While well presented, with good tunes and FX, there's nothing that really grabs you and keeps you playing.

Super Sports (Gremlin Graphics)

One of the better sports simulations around.

Thunderblade (US Gold)

A technically impressive conversion from the brilliant coin-op and has inherited the great playability and high-flying atmosphere of the original arcade machine.

Typhoon (Imagine)

From F-14 to chopper, it's non stop arcade action all the way! The stages get harder as you fight your way through each wave of dogfights, until it is almost impossible to stay alive for more than a few seconds!

The Beast (Marlin Games)

Neat presentation with a legible, redefined character set and a Rainbird-style location title at the top of the screen.