Track & Field 1 & 2 (Micro Peripherals) (MSX)

If you liked Track & Field at the arcades, then this is the software you'll want to get for your MSX.

Antarctic (Micro Peripherals) (MSX)

I recommend this family game to anyone who has an MSX computer. It'll be remembered as a classic.

Beamrider (Activision) (MSX)

Activision had plenty of time to improve but the graphics are just the old versions - poor. Really I don't know why they bothered to release this.

River Raid (Activision) (MSX)

Another terrible game from Activision. It's boring and unoriginal. It should sink in the river and never surface again.

Decathlon (Activision) (MSX)

This game offers a lot for just one cassette but is spoilt by not utilising the MSX's graphics and sound capability to the full.

Eric And The Floaters (Kuma) (MSX)

If Kuma improved the graphics and speed and made it a little bit more complex, I think they'll have themselves a winner. However, in this state, the game rather resembles those mediocre maze games found on the Spectrum.

Circus Charlie (Micro Peripherals) (MSX)

Simple and playable, yet unusual. Why the British software houses can't think of an original game like this I really don't know.

Comic Bakery (Micro Peripherals) (MSX)

I have played this game more than any other. I'm an addict. So will you be.

Avalon (Hewson Consultants) (Spectrum 48K)

The game is fun to play, pretty to look at and challenging too.

Election Trail (Braingames) (Commodore 64)

While this game may go down well in a politics lesson, I wouldn't actually buy it unless I was interested in the subject.

Enduro Racer (Activision) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

Enduro Racer is guaranteed to get you coming back for more. The controls - either keyboard or joystick - are extremely responsive.

Falcon Patrol II (Virgin Games) (Commodore 64)

Virgin's best game yet.

The Perils Of Willy (Software Projects) (Commodore Vic 20)

Not as good as the original Manic Miner or Jet Set Willy, but it is one of the best platform games I have seen on the Vic 20.

Traffic (Quicksilva) (Commodore 64)

You move a cursor around with the joystick. Then, when you've selected which set of lights you want to switch, press the fire button to make the connection. Fairly simple and fairly boring.

Pi-In-Ere (Automata) (Spectrum 48K)

The graphics are good, especially the loading screen which has some cute pictures of the characters from the game. Sound effects are average though.

Elite (Acornsoft) (BBC B/B+/Master 128)

Elite must be the most complex game released for the Beeb, if not the most complex program of all... and it's all set to become a classic.

Piromania (Automata) (Spectrum 48K)

It's one of Automata's better games, but it still has an awful Pi-Man single on the other side of the tape!

Crawler (Watford Electronics) (BBC Model B)

What saves this game from being ordinary is the sound - it's loud, fast and exciting!

Terrahawks (CRL) (Spectrum 48K)

An extremely well thought out and executed bit of programming.

Frank 'N Stein (PSS) (Spectrum 48K)

The graphics and movement routines are smooth and sound effects only help the game.

Bird Mother (Creative Sparks) (Commodore 64)

An attractive original game which should keep those of you who enjoy non-violent games happy for hours.

Storm Warrior (Front Runner) (Commodore 64)

This warrior should brew up a storm amongst games players everywhere. Definitely worth buying.

Gumshoe (A 'n F) (Commodore 64)

The game is great. Graphics are good and you can even have a fight on the staircase.

Pyjamarama (Mikro-Gen) (Spectrum 48K)

A little gem which will keep you amused for weeks if not months. Here at C&VG we liked it so much that we're sticking it in our Hall of Fame.

Zenji (Activision) (Commodore 64)

A fairly dull game. The graphics are very Atari VCS-like although the sound effects make better use of the C64.

Odyssey Of Hope (Martech) (Spectrum 48K)

This is an illogical adventure and I concluded that it was merely 'competent', its saving grace being the spectacular speed of its graphics.

Devil's Island (Gilsoft) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

Not a great game. I rate it as just a little better than average amongst all the dross that is available for the Spectrum.

Danger Mouse In Black Forest Chateau (Creative Sparks) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

Simply great fun to play.

Waster (Harddata) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

This is the worst so-called adventure I have ever seen!

The Code (Soft Concern) (Spectrum 48K)

Although the game has a number of good features, such as a quick response and well-written text that is grammatically correct, it just lacks any imaginative flair.

Escape From Traam (Adventure International) (Atari 400/800/600XL/800XL/130XE)

Traam is not full of mind-blowing problems with agonising decisions to make. Rather it's a badly put together mish-mash of ideas and method.

Ruby Runabout (Scorpio Software) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

Typical of poor quality adventures that, for some reason or other, tend to flock to the Spectrum more frequently than other computers.

Quest For The Holy Grail (Dream) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

The amusing short story introduction provided with the tape was by far the most enjoyable part of this game. Although Monty Python fans, well, they may well find it hilarious.

Stranded (English) (Commodore 64)

Hmmm, I discovered that I could climb a tree in one forest location, but not in an almost identical one. If this is deliberate bafflement, then the author is going the wrong way about it - anyone can devise cheap illogical tricks like that.

Infidel (Infocom) (Commodore 64/128)

This would serve a newcomer to Infocom games very well, perhaps as an introduction to the range. And it has surely one of the most original adventure endings to date, if not of all time.