Chase H.Q. (Ocean) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

The gameplay is superb; tough enough to keep you glued to your screen as you race after the elusive next car, yet highly addictive as you always seem to get just a little bit further with every go.

F29 Retaliator (Ocean) (Amiga 500)

F29 Retaliator is the absolute apex in flight simulations, and sets the standard by which others will be judged. Fly it and believe it.

Seven Gates Of Jambala (Grandslam) (Atari ST)

Another game jumping on the Super Mario bandwagon. But there's enough here to satisfy most lovers of the genre with its addictive pick up 'n run action.

Twin World (Ubisoft) (Amiga 500)

A great combination of platform and arcade adventure action... Overall, one of the best 16-bit exploration games around.

Galaxy Force II (Activision) (Atari ST)

Although the graphics and 3D routines are excellent, the gameplay severely lacks challenge and it's very easy to go all the way through the game in one sitting.

Cabal (Ocean) (Spectrum 48K/128K/+2/+3)

A fab conversion of a playable, if socially unacceptable, arcade machine.

Future War (Delphine) (Amiga 500)

Brilliant graphics and sound effects are let down by niggling faults in the Cinematique system. Even so, if you like mind-taxing puzzles or you've enjoyed the Lucasfilm adventures, take a look.

Bushido (Firebird) (Commodore 64)

A good oriental arcade adventure, just lacking the extra challenge that would put it in the same league as The Last Ninja 2.

Commando (Elite) (Amiga 500)

Super Wonder Boy (Activision) (Spectrum 48K)

This is quite fun... It's not the strongest licence this year by any means, but that shouldn't stop fans snapping it up.

Sporting Triangles (CDS Microsystems) (Spectrum 48K/128K/+2)

It's one of the most playable quiz games since Trivial Pursuit, but it's strictly for fans of the series and of sport generally.

Dragons Of Flame (Strategic Simulations Inc.) (Amiga 500)

An extremely fine RPG which offers many months of rewarding and highly enjoyable entertainment.

Pictionary (Domark) (Amiga 500)

Dire, monotonous sound effects and purely functional graphic presentation wouldn't matter if the basic game was addictive. The board game is. This conversion isn't.

Fist II (Mastertronic Plus) (Spectrum 48K/128K/+2)

An enjoyable beat-'em-up containing weighty adventure overtones, resulting in a more satisfying challenge that its predecessor.

Kelly X (Mastertronic) (Amiga 500)

A mediocre 3D shoot-'em-up, lacking any lasting interest due to a mixture of poor presentation and tedious gameplay.

Road Blitz (Mastertronic) (Atari ST)

It looks good, it sounds good, but it plays very badly indeed with the end result that the game lacks any addictive qualities whatsoever.

Chain Reaction (Encore) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

Awful colour, ineffective 3D and dull gameplay... A pile of old waste matter.

Drum Studio (Mastertronic) (Amiga 500)

Want to produce the next number 1? It's doubtful you'll do it with Drum Studio, but you'll have a lot of fun trying.

Lost Caves (Players Premier) (Amstrad CPC464)

A sub-standard Boulderdash clone which lacks any improvements over earlier, better attempts at this game style.

Joe Blade II (Mastertronic) (Atari ST)

Similar to the prequel but nevertheless Joe Blade II contains all the addictive qualities of the previous game... with generally better graphics to boot.

Joe Blade (Mastertronic) (Atari ST)

An enjoyable arcade collect-'em-up.

Speedboat Assassin (Mastertronic) (Atari ST)

A very naff Roadblasters-type game based on water. It looks colourful, but the 3D doesn't work very well and the gameplay is very poor indeed.

Thanatos (Encore) (Spectrum 48K/128K/+2)

Play itself is rather samey, but if you fancy the idea of taking on the guise of a mythological creature, battling against the odds on a mission of mercy, you could do worse than this.

Harrier Attack (Encore) (Spectrum 48K/128K/+2)

This crumbly old title has aged badly. Its simplistic gameplay, utterly dire graphics and appalling sound effects make it one to avoid at all costs.

It Came From The Desert (Cinemaware) (Amiga 500)

Superb graphics, sound and gameplay are all part and parcel of this stunning Cinemaware masterpiece... Don't miss this under any circumstances.

Darius Plus (The Edge) (Amiga 500)

It's pretty addictive stuff, but, myself, I continued playing more to see the graphics than to relish the destructive delights of the gameplay. And that's not quite the way it should be, I think.

Indy 500 (Electronic Arts) (PC (MS-DOS))

The best race game you'll see outside of an arcade. If you haven't got a PC, consider buying one. If you have, get your hands on this at all costs.

Operation Thunderbolt (Ocean) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

A great conversion with more shootables on screen than ever before. Very tough, but highly addictive.

Dynamite Dux (Sega) (Sega Master System (EU Version))

Beautifully-drawn sprites, great backdrops and addictive gameplay all come together to make a brilliant Sega game which will appeal to beat-'em-up and shoot-'em-up fans alike.

Dead Angle (Sega) (Sega Master System (EU Version))

What could have been an addictive, fast-action Mafia shoot-out blots its copy book with jerky scrolling which many will find unacceptable. To use a much-loved cliche, try before you buy.

Basketball Nightmare (Sega) (Sega Master System (EU Version))

Psycho Fox (Sega) (Sega Master System (EU Version))

Psycho Fox features superb graphics and tons of tough, but highly addictive, platform action which should keep you occupied for some considerable period of time.

Rambo III (Sega) (Sega Master System (EU Version))

Rip-roaring combat game with loads of blasting to get your teeth into.