Assembler Math (Stainless) (TI99/4A)

All the exercises could be performed equally easily using pencil and paper; the program doesn't do that much to warrant its high price tag.

Copy Cat (Dromeda) (TI99/4A)

I failed to feel enthusiastic about this... and find it hard to believe that the youngsters for whom it is intended would either.

Searchword (Temptation) (Dragon 32)

Pretty dull... You would really have to be very keen on word puzzles to find it enjoyable.

Lost (Virgin Games) (Spectrum 48K)

After every few moves, the map disappears to show a status display and a colourful weather report... Very tiresome.

The Quest For The Holy Grail (Epic) (BBC Model B)

The game and type of problems it poses are, by now, fairly standard - not necessarily predictable, but very enjoyable for all that.

Fruit Machine (Christine Computing) (TI99/4A)

Moderately good graphics, no documentation, and terrible on-screen instruction... You need to be a Maigret or a Holmes to understand some of the options.

Super Fruits (DK'Tronics) (BBC Model B)

Although this is a well-produced piece of software, I found it got rather boring after a short time.

Birdie Barrage (Computasolve) (BBC Model B)

At times it was difficult to see where the ball was - rather a handicap!

Cricket Captain (Allanson Computing) (Spectrum 48K)

A very amusing game and a fairly realistic simulation.

Golf (Gem) (Camputers Lynx)

An interesting simulation for golf addicts, but there's not much there for us ordinary mortals.

Sword Of Hrakel (Romik) (Commodore Vic 20)

The text formatting is fair and there are no obvious bugs.

The Hobbit (Melbourne House) (BBC Model B)

Fifteen pounds seems a bit steep... but The Hobbit will give rich adventure fans many hours of brain-racking fun.

House Of Death (Tansoft) (Oric 16K)

There are no graphics as such apart from an introductory picture, and I found the screen scrolling a little annoying since not much information is available to view at any one time.

Runner On Treiton (Lantern) (TI99/4A)

At any time during the game, providing you have enough strength, you may enter one of the time warps on the map and be transported to another era on Treiton, where everything has changed position.

The Man From Granny (Vectis) (Commodore 64)

The instructions are very brief - you learn what you are doing as you play the game. I feel this is a drawback of the program.

Apostrophe (Sinclair Research) (Spectrum 48K)

Though some use is made of large characters and even a user-defined apostrophe, when the exercises are printed, it's in the normal Spectrum character set, and the apostrophe is all but lost on the Spectrum's shimmering screen.

Mr. T's Alphabet Games (Ebury) (BBC Model B)

This is an amusingly animated program, but in my opinion has only a limited use.

Wild Words (Longman) (Spectrum 16K/48K)

If you win, the program describes you as "magic"... And that's just how my children described this game.

Mr. T's Measuring Games (Ebury) (BBC Model B)

The children enjoyed playing the games and found no difficulty in operating them.

Robot Runner (Longman) (Spectrum 16K/48K)

A nicely thought and original game, with superb graphics and good use of sound, Robot Runner should give hours of constructive pleasure.

Mr. Frog (SP Software) (TI99/4A)

The instructions say "land slightly to the right"... You can jump into the bank itself to the right of the home and be awarded points for a safe landing, whereas landing to the left actually in the home leads to instant death!

Squash A Frog (Alligata) (Commodore 64)

A promising start from a new software company, Alligata.

Exterminator (Silversoft) (Spectrum 48K)

Because everything was happening so fast, and the graphics were so tiny, I could hardly make out what was what, and if I took time to look I got killed by something.

Snapman (Saturn) (Commodore 64)

If you don't have a copy of Pacman, this version is worth a look.

Trogman (Stainless) (TI99/4A)

This isn't a bad implementation of Pacman, but didn't hold my interest for very long, because it's so slow - probably the only unfavourable aspect of the game.

Monaco (Alligata) (BBC Model B)

The instructions state that the game is for the over-11 age group, but I know of at least one five year old who would disagree.

Deathchase (Micromega) (Spectrum 16K)

Its appeal is in its straightforwardness - possibly so much so that lack of variety might eventually make it pall.

Rider (Virgin Games) (Spectrum 48K)

Rider is good fun... I recommend it.

Road Racer (Thorn EMI) (Spectrum 48K)

Other keyboard players may find, as I did, that the game crashes (no run) unless any Sinclair printer is detached first.

Speed Duel (DK'Tronics) (Spectrum 16K)

Beware the accelerator... I think it has been borrowed from Concorde.

Ugh! (Softek) (Dragon 32)

Fast and accurate responses... A game with good variety and added interest.

Sir Slurp-A-Lot (Christine Computing) (TI99/4A)

Select the time from 45 seconds to three minutes then race Sir Slurp-A-Lot through the maze, imbibing the various drinks as he goes.

Dare Devil Dennis (Visions) (BBC Model B)

Graphics are great... There are many levels of difficulty too, all amusingly named - Oscar Nominee, Oscar Winner and Ace, to name but a few.

Outback (Paramount) (Commodore Vic 20)

Fair graphics... And use of colour and sound is good.

Apple Jam (Visions) (Spectrum 16K)

I liked the option to re-allocate the control keys to suit your taste of joystick.