Fortress (Pace Ltd) (BBC Model B)

All the original features of Zaxxon are there... and the sound effects are reproduced faithfully.

City Attak (K-Tel) (Commodore 64)

The game is very playable - but I'm not sure about its lasting appeal to the seasoned victims of many alien assualts.

Ad Astra (Gargoyle Games) (Spectrum 48K)

If you want a plain and simple space shoot-'em-up for your Spectrum, you won't find anything better than Ad Astra.

Psytron (Beyond) (Spectrum 48K)

It's well worth the asking price, but - be warned - it's not a game which you will conquer in a single sitting.

Invasion Force (Micromania) (Spectrum 48K)

A fairly enjoyable game... but the graphics are only of average standard for the Spectrum.

Fighter Pilot (Digital Integration) (Spectrum 48K)

After playing around with Fighter Pilot for about ten minutes, I realised that it would take a considerable length of time to become reasonably proficient at the game. I was also surprised at how addictive a flight simulation could be.

BC Bill (Imagine) (Commodore 64)

The game's originality is matched, if not bettered, by the graphics. The character of Bill actually looks like a stocky caveman dressed in animal skins and the whole game has a cartoon image rather than the crude jerky graphics we've all seen too many times.

Hard Hat Mack (Electronic Arts) (Commodore 64)

The game includes all the ingredients that are vital for a climbing game, but has so many added features, inventive twists and original and refreshing ideas that the game has an extra dimension that sets it apart from any I have seen before.

Night Gunner (Digital Integration) (Spectrum 48K)

The game's fast graphics more than make up for the difficulties I had playing it for the first half hour.

Slurpy (Creative Sparks) (Commodore 64)

I think this game is great. There are remnants of other hit games in there, but the overall theme is different enough not to be called a rip-off.

Jammin' (Taskset) (Commodore 64)

It exploits the C64's sound chip to the full, but if you're after a decent game for your Commodore 64, you'll have to look elsewhere.

Eskimo Eddie (Ocean) (Spectrum 48K)

I know the Arctic isn't a very colourful place being, for the most part, covered in white! However, I do feel that more colour could have been used throughout the game.

Orange Squash (Merlin) (Commodore 64)

This is almost a good game - pretty graphics, lots of screens... but it's impossible to play.

Trafalgar (Squirrel) (BBC Model B)

A game for the younger wargame addict. The graphics don't really make use of the BBC's capabilities - but all the same Trafalgar is a good combination of arcade action and strategy which will while away some rainy Sunday afternoons quite happily.

JCB Digger (Acornsoft) (BBC Model B)

The wait was not worth it... this really is a poor Acornsoft title. I found that the digger frequently refused to pick anything up, even though I was driving straight across it. This is just very frustrating.

Eagle (Salamander) (BBC Model B)

Though not the most original game ever to emerge from the Salamander stable, it is surprisingly addictive.

Aviator (Acornsoft) (BBC Model B)

Not only is this one of the best flight simulators I've seen, but it also comes with a map, keyboard chart and a 28-page flying manual. This is very well written and explains all the controls.

3D Tank Battle (Dynabyte) (BBC Model B)

If you liked Battle Zone, then you could try your luck with this game. If not, then you can leave 3D Tank Battle firmly on the shelf.

3D Lunattack (Hewson Consultants) (Spectrum 48K)

Although 3D Lunattack churns out the same tired old scenario of shooting down the aliens (what's wrong with aliens anyway?), it does have some original features. The best of these is the recorded soundtrack which starts after the game has loaded.

Fire Ant (Mogul) (Commodore 64)

A joystick only game that, frankly, isn't terribly exciting. In fact, it's rather slow, and the claim that it's a fast action machine code game is not, in my opinion, true.

Carnival Massacre (Thorn EMI) (Atari 400/800/XL/XE)

Fun to play and nice graphics, though I am not sure how long the challenge of the game will last.

Games Designer (Galactic) (Commodore Vic 20)

If the three free demo games which accompany the program are anything to go by, then it seems that Galactic Software has a potential winner on its hands.

Killer Gorilla (Micro Power) (Acorn Electron)

I'm sure the Electron version of Killer Gorilla will be as big a hit as the Beeb game proved to be.

Tower Of Evil (Creative Sparks) (Commodore Vic 20)

One of the best games I have come across for the Vic 20.

Rocky (CBS Electronics) (Coleco Vision Games System)

An excellent attempt at turning boxing into a video game.

Zaxxon (CBS Electronics) (Atari 2600)

At last, a good version of this arcade classic for the Atari.

Polaris (Tigervision) (Atari 2600)

Baseball (CBS Electronics) (Coleco Vision/Adam)

Splendid graphics and hours of fun.

Super Action Controller Set (Coleco) (Coleco Vision Games System)

If you take your game playing seriously, you won't want to be without these new joysticks.