Shark Attack (Romik) (Spectrum 16K/48K)

Try throwing yourself on the sharks... the graphics and sound effects for a 'kill' are quite good!

Hop It! (Lantern) (TI99/4A)

What lets this program down very heavily is the appalling keyboard response, giving delays of up to a second.

River Rescue (Thorn-EMI) (Spectrum 48K)

Incredibly fast and furious, but there is no skill level adjustment, which I rate as a disadvantage.

Ship Of The Line (Richard Shepherd) (Commodore 64)

A good idea which lacked imagination and thought.

Angler (Virgin Games) (Spectrum 48K)

It is so difficult to catch the fish that you tend to lose interest quickly - a bit like real-life fishing.

House Of Bugs (Temptation) (TI99/4A)

While plastering is in progress the bugs go wild, so whether it's you or those bugs that are hopping by the end of the game depends on how fast those reactions are!

Road Toad (Audiogenic) (Commodore 64)

Anyone who likes Frogger will find this version extremely satisfying.

Storm Arrows (Dragon Data) (Dragon 32)

The graphics are smooth and fast and the game is fun to play and addictive.

Barreldrop (Games Machine) (Spectrum 48K)

Younger children or inexperienced gamers would enjoy this game.

Laser Snaker (Poppy Soft) (Spectrum 48K)

Not too fast, and not too slow, I found it a very playable game.

Bitmania (Virgin Games) (Commodore 64)

In this day and age, programs like this are just not on... Virgin has done better, so why does it have to push this on to the market?

Cylon Attack (A 'n F) (BBC Model B)

Look out for the Tardis as you manoeuvre, and don't shoot the Doctor (he doesn't score anyway!).

Brain Damage (Silversoft) (Spectrum 16K)

This game takes some skill to play, not just another 'fire like mad and you might make the twenty-seventh level' game.

Robopods (Virgin Games) (TI99/4A)

Very entertaining... A good, well-programmed game with excellent graphics and sound.

Star Trek 3000 (DK'Tronics) (Spectrum 48K)

With practice, I believe you could become quite adept at controlling the ship and perhaps somewhere in the program, there might be a compliment from Spock waiting to get out!

Memory Game (Stour Computing) (Oric 1/Oric Atmos)

Simple, but fun, this game would appeal to the younger members of the family.

Puzzler (Shards) (Dragon 32)

If mental geometry is your thing, then this might be for you - otherwise, buy a jigsaw.

White Knight Mk. II (BBC Soft) (BBC Model B)

Most impressively, White Knight Mk II beat level 1 Sargon playing white, after 60 moves.

Gangsters (Cases) (Spectrum 48K)

Excellent sound and graphics throughout.

It's Only Rock 'N Roll (Ktel) (Spectrum 48K)

If you are intent on making a million then don't invest your first £7 in this.

Black Tower (Lantern) (TI99/4A)

I found this game quite enjoyable, though once solved, that's it.

2003: A Space Oddity (DK'Tronics) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

Makes for light relief in the serious world of space blasters and hyper-drives.

The Island (Virgin Games) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

Successful navigators reach the island, but beware the swamp!

Kraal's Kingdom (Buntasoft) (Commodore Vic 20)

A little dry and lacking humour.

Tomb Of Dracula (Ktel) (Spectrum 48K)

There is nothing new here in concept or execution, so I think it must join a legion of similar programs that are something less than top flight.

First Steps With The Mr. Men (Mirrorsoft) (BBC/Electron)

The package contains a 24-page full colour book of Roger Hargreaves' stories to explain, and interest the children in the games, plus a direction key template.

Pathfinder (Widgit) (Spectrum 48K)

Well done, Widgit! A real application for a home computer, cleverly executed and which doesn't cost the earth.

Fun To Learn (Shards) (BBC Model B)

It is a good example of how educational software should be written, but some of the games lack imagination.

Quick Thinking (Mirrorsoft) (Spectrum 48K)

Robot Table practises tables in sequence, but then we use them out of sequence in everyday life... It needs a random element.

School Maze (Dragon Data) (Dragon 32)

My children and their friends liked this game.