Toy Bizarre (Activision) (Spectrum 48K)

The game is quite interesting, but is little more than another ladders and levels clone.

Show Crazy (Ssoft) (Commodore 64)

As a first attempt using The Quill, it's quite good... At £2.95, you can pay a lot more for a lot worse program.

Bumble Bee (Micro Power) (Commodore 64)

It's quite fun to play, but perhaps more suitable for newcomers to arcade games than for the real experts.

Knightmare (Romik) (Commodore 64)

Nice one, Romik! When you're really stuck, there's even a helpline to phone.

Hellion (Orpheus) (Oric 48K)

A very high quality program... Ridiculously fast and mean.

Hunchback 2 (Ocean) (Commodore 64)

In many ways, I consider this to be better than part one. It's certainly more original.

Blue Max (US Gold) (Commodore 64)

An attractive and interesting game, but not one that I found hard to stop playing.

Mr. Wiz (Superior) (Commodore 64)

I found it boring after a while, but I'm sure real arcade fans will love it.

Kong Strikes Back (Ocean) (Commodore 64)

The use of graphics is colourful and neat and the rag background music is most enjoyable.

Battle Through Time (Anirog) (Commodore 64)

The graphics and sound are well up to standard... It should keep you zapping happily for several hours.

Trouble In Store (Orpheus) (Oric 48K)

The idea might be new, but the concept has appeared in other games.

Black Knight (Simulated Interdisc) (Commodore 64)

With such brilliant graphics it could be a winner, but there are hoards of irritating details putting you off.

Hard Hat Mack (Ariolasoft) (Commodore 64)

Quite good, although slightly overpriced.

Tapper (US Gold) (Commodore 64)

It starts hard but not impossible, and then gets tougher, so that you feel as if you have been running through the bars.

Fruity Frank (Kuma) (Amstrad CPC464)

Another superb program from Kuma Computers, who really have set an industry standard for quality software.

Curse Of The Seven Faces (Imperial) (Spectrum 48K)

You get the option to save a game... I can't imagine many wanting to ever come back to it!

Raid On Bungeling Bay (Ariolasoft) (Commodore 64)

The instructions are not good enough - they tell you how to partially destroy a factory, but not how to fully destroy it.

Havoc (Dynavision) (Spectrum 48K)

A very crude "conversion"... Bears no relation to the claims on the package... Very, very disappointing.

War Zone (Cases) (Amstrad CPC464)

Overall, this is well designed and fun... It doesn't have arcade graphics, but it doesn't need them.

Choplifter (Ariolasoft) (Commodore 64)

The game could have been improved by having a 3D tape background to give it depth; it is very plain as it is.

Number Painter (ASK) (Acorn Electron)

A lighthearted way of learning an otherwise notoriously difficult subject.

Bingo (Tynesoft) (Commodore 64)

I can't see the point in this program. Anyone wanting to play Bingo can find a live game nearby, with instant prizes.

QL-Chess (Sinclair Research) (Sinclair QL)

The pack insert claims without modesty "QL-Chess is an outstanding program in every way". I can't disagree with that!

Prediction Birthday File (Blandford Press) (Commodore 64)

An expensive waste of time.

PCW Games Collection (Century) (Commodore 64)

Crammed with games... Everyone should be able to find something to their taste; mine were a version of Yahtzee, a dice game, and a new game called Splash.