Road Runner (U. S. Gold) (Atari ST)

Road Runner scores all the way as a game... The graphics are of superb cartoon quality.

Pirates Of The Barbary Coast (Cascade) (Commodore 64/128)

A mediocre game formula. Commodore strategists may enjoy it for a few hours but the ST version, which performs in low-resolution graphics mode, makes a mockery of the 16-bit power.

Solomon's Key (U. S. Gold) (Spectrum 48K)

An ideal mixture of Bombjack and that all time fave Pengo.

Re-bounder (Gremlin Graphics) (Commodore 64/128)

Re-bounder is bound to have many hidden secrets - only to be unlocked by prolonged play. Take our advice and catch a copy today!

Superior Collection (Superior) (BBC B/B+/Master 128)

For what you could have paid for just one game in the past, you can now have a whole library of games. And they're all first rate ones.

Squeakaliser (Bug Byte) (BBC/Electron)

The action is held up for too long when you lose a life, and when you've lost one life, you've often lost the lot - when the game restarts, your opponent is still right by you and it's extremely difficult to get away.

Micro Power Magic II (Micro Power) (BBC B/B+/Master 128)

There are enough solid offerings here to make this disk excellent value.

Centurions (Reaktor) (Commodore 64)

You'll need to play Centurions as an arcade adventure, which requires mapping, if you're to get the most out of it.

Star Paws (Software Projects) (Commodore 64)

There is a great title screen, brilliant super-smooth Parallax-scrolling, and a great Rob Hubbard tune... This game is one of the best.

Ninja Hamster (CRL) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

Ninja Hamster doesn't add much to the martial arts theme - except to generate a bit of humour.

Star Fox (Reaktor) (Amstrad CPC464)

Star Fox is a repeat of so many games, Starion and Elite being the favourites - but it contains enough style of its own to make players who pant after this type of game sit down and take note.

Mega Apocalypse (Martech) (Commodore 64/128)

All you need for Mega Apocalypse is skill, and plenty of it, because it's a very, very hard game.

Barbarian (Psygnosis) (Amiga 500)

At last we've got a Psygnosis hit, great graphics, brilliant sound and for once, excellent gameplay.

Battleships (Encore) (Commodore 64/128)

So simple it's brilliant.

Catch 23 (Martech) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

A good looking, well produced and thoughtful game.

Game Over (Imagine) (Amstrad CPC464)

The Giant Guardian at the end of the game is a devil to destroy and makes up for all the puny aliens in the other parts of the game.

Blitzkrieg (Ariolasoft) (Commodore 64)

The game designer has provided a lot of frills, but has lost sight of the need for a clear, simple, well-explained playing mechanism, with a readable map.

Golden Path (Firebird) (Atari ST)

Looks good, but gameplay is disappointing. If Firebird had paid as much attention to plot as it has to graphics and sound, the game might have been a success.

Auto-Duel (Origin) (Commodore 64)

A varied, ingenious and entirely believable world in which it is possible to lose yourself for hours.

Scary Monsters (Firebird) (Commodore 64)

You'll probably give up long before you've found Conny. There is no menace as great as looming boredom!

Traxxion (CRL) (Spectrum 48K)

A huge game and reasonably addictive too - although after a while playing it you might just start thinking "What's the point?".

World Grand Prix (Sega) (Sega Master System (EU Version))

World Grand Prix is an ace race action game. Great graphics and sound. The crashes are spectacular.

Hang-On (Sega) (Sega Master System (EU Version))

I thought Hang-On would be just the bike version of World Grand Prix but I was wrong. Speed merchants who fancy a head to head challenge against the clock go for Hang-On.

Golf (Nintendo) (Nintendo (US Version))

If you're just after a good time, Golf will probably be enough, but if you want a no holes barred simulation you'll have to look to the Commodore or Spectrum computers.

Wild Gunman (Nintendo) (Nintendo (US Version))

It would have been better if the game action was more varied - gunmen on horses for instance - but you can't have everything when you're trying for coin-op realism, even if it is antiquated action.

Pinball (Nintendo) (Nintendo (US Version))

Nintendo's ball blazer provides an excellent alternative to the real thing.

Excitebike (Nintendo) (Nintendo (US Version))

This race game has the advantage of a course designer and a large range of objects.

Rigel's Revenge (Bulldog) (Spectrum 48K/128K/+2)

Buy it! If Mastertronic continue to release adventures of this quality at this price, they could well revolutionise the cassette-based adventure market.

The Three Musketeers (Computer Novels) (Commodore 64/128)

Not an orthodox adventure... There is a terrible dirge that accompanies the whole game, but this can easily be turned off, and probably will be.

Inferno (Vanadis) (BBC Model B)

With a few humorous moments, on the whole Inferno is one of those serious adventures. And there is a bug in part two - do not press COPY!

Dusk Over Elfinton (Skyslip) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

Not exactly my cup of tea, but a good problem-solving exercise.

Treasure Island (Mastertronic) (Commodore 64/128)

The inlay expands, and has comprehensive instructions, but sadly you need a magnifying glass to read them!

Knight Orc (Rainbird) (Amiga 500)

Here is an adventure that is like nothing you've ever played before!

The Lurking Horror (Infocom) (Commodore 64/128)

I put The Lurking Horror on the same level as Infocom's earlier Stationfall, although, preferring science-fiction to horror, purely as a matter of personal taste, I found this slightly less enthralling.

Road Runner (U. S. Gold) (Spectrum 48K/128K/+2/+3)

Both backdrops and sound are excellent and there's even the cartoon's jingle when you lose your last life.