The Empire Strikes Back (Domark) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

A great conversion of the coin-op... Presentation is excellent throughout, and there's an on-screen Rebel instruction manual which can be accessed before play to display all enemy craft.

The President Is Missing (Cosmi) (Commodore 64/128)

Despite a few undocumented features, this is an extremely large and impressive program, well thought out and thoroughly researched, offering many hours of intrigue and investigation.

Dream Warrior (U. S. Gold) (Commodore 64/128)

A game that's original both in terms of scenario and concept, with some extremely nice graphics and sound... Yet the game is only a mediocre one.

Giganoid (Swiss Computer Arts) (Amiga 500)

Entirely unoriginal, basically an Arkanoid clone, but great fun and smoothly programmed.

Virus (Firebird) (Spectrum 48K)

Virus is simply incredible. I've never played a game that has felt so real.

Night Raider (Gremlin Graphics) (Commodore 64)

A thoroughly enjoyable game to play.

Hoppin' Mad (Elite) (Amstrad CPC464)

Pretty much unplayable. Elite should stick to what it's good at, arcade conversions.

Chubby Gristle (Grandslam) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

With a price tag of nearly nine quid, I'd expect a little more for my money than the archaic and unoriginal platform action on offer here.

Skate Crazy (Gremlin Graphics) (Commodore 64)

An enjoyable, varied game that still looks perfectly good alongside such other fine skating games as Skate Or Die.

Desolator (U. S. Gold) (Spectrum 48K/128K/+2)

An average game that offers a reasonable amount of entertainment - take it or leave it.

Barbarian II (Palace) (Commodore 64/128)

An incredible-looking game. The graphics are absolutely superb, with amazing sprite animation and visual effects.

Salamander (Imagine) (Commodore 64/128)

This doesn't look as good or play as well as I.O., but the programming is a little slicker.

Mindfighter (Abstract Concepts) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

All versions have graphics... I played the Atari ST version, and found most of the pictures dismal but effective. But then the whole mood of the game is dismal.

Uninvited (Mindscape International Inc) (Amiga 500)

An excellent haunted house thriller with plenty of puzzles and surprises, a user-friendly mode of operation and some very detailed graphics.

Wiz Biz (Alternative) (Commodore 64/128)

It's fairly ordinary with acceptable graphics, some humorous replies, and reasonable problems. But I liked it all the same.

Quest For The Golden Eggcup (Mastertronic) (Amstrad/Spectrum)

A professionally produced, totally irreverent and comic adventure, that doesn't offend, at a wonderful price!

Cloud 99 (Marlin Games) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

A recommendable budget adventure, that is a lot better than many commercial adventures available for the same price.

The Sentinel (Firebird) (BBC Model B)

You might find the strategy and fast thinking involved in The Sentinel fascinating, or you might find it stunningly boring, but the fact is that you will probably never finish it.

The Fury (Martech) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

Although it all sounds jolly exciting in theory, it is in fact very dull in practice. I was very unimpressed with the graphics of the cars.

Bionic Commando (Go!) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

A tough, yet highly enjoyable arcade conversion... Well worth buying.

Shackled (U. S. Gold) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

The Amstrad CPC version is almost (but not quite) as poor as the Commodore 64; the characters are bland, the sound effects unimaginative and the backgrounds similarly afflicted by big blank blocks.

Tracksuit Manager (Goliath Games) (Spectrum 48K)

If you like football, get it. If you like strategy, get it. If you want one of the best 8-bit games around at the moment, get it.