What To Read In Microcomputing (Gower) (Spectrum 16K)

It's quite a costly book, but it does put the micro book market into perspective, and may save its price.

Legal Care For Your Software (Addison-Wesley) (Spectrum 16K)

I would recommend this book only to the most serious of people. Even then, it should be used in conjunction with a lawyer.

Choosing A Microcomputer (Granada) (Spectrum 16K)

If you need some rough guidelines before reaching for your chequebook, Choosing A Microcomputer isn't bad value.

Computer Languages And Their Uses (Granada) (Spectrum 16K/48K/BBC A/BBC B/Electron)

The book is written in so light and easy a way that even new users will get a broad understanding of what they can do with their micros.

Basic Programming On The BBC Micro (Prentice Hall) (BBC Model B)

This book is well worth the investment. Chapter 9, Animation for Games, had me glued to the spot, learning how to create animated snakes and bouncing balls.

Star Trek (Salamander) (Dragon 32)

A good game for both beginners, because it's challenging, and for experts because it is so complicated, you will spend a long time trying to figure out all its angles.

Frogger (A 'n F) (BBC Model B)

A good implementation of the classic amphibian video game. The controls could perhaps be more responsive than they were.

Up, Up And Away (Pulsar) (Atari 400/800)

A nice simple game without too much violence.

Kaktus (Audiogenic) (Commodore Vic 20)

The concept of acid-dropping insects, armed gophers and marauding moles must be ranked among the more inventive introduced for games on the Vic 20.

Flight (Tansoft) (Oric 48K)

Perhaps not as realistic as some, but the 3D action replay of your crash at the end of the game is enough to unnerve and challenge even the bravest of pilots.

Hungry Horace (Sinclair) (Spectrum 16K)

A Spectrum classic. It's a pretty safe bet that the spiders will regret the day they met Horace and we will soon see the lovable blue blob's next episode.

Great Britain Limited (Simon Hessel) (Spectrum 48K)

Simon Hessel does stress that this is a game and not a simulation. But plenty of variables are taken into consideration - inflation and unemployment being the key elements.

Stock Exchange (Audiogenic) (Oric 1/Oric 48K)

I enjoyed playing Stock Exchange but it didn't hold my attention for too long. It's the sort of game that is fun to play once or twice, but I can't see it proving addictive.

Arcade Action (Acornsoft) (BBC Model A & B)

A selection of old favourites including Invaders and Breakout.

Harvester (Quicksilva) (Commodore Vic 20)

Harvester's biggest appeal is the fact that it is a game for the intellect rather than a sublimated desire to zap other entities.

Micro Maze (Hi-Tech) (Jupiter Ace)

Very enjoyable... It's hardly sophisticated, and the graphics are somewhat on the simple side, but it is surprisingly addictive.

Lunar Leeper (Sierra Vision) (Apple II)

I so enjoyed this game that I assumed I was biased. But I coerced a couple of non-game players to have a go. Result? Addiction.

Motor Mania (Audiogenic) (Commodore 64)

A first-class arcade game of absorbing interest, and requiring considerable skill.

Arcadia (Imagine) (Spectrum 16K)

A game that shows that, given sufficient imagination, Spectrum graphics can match up to almost any other machine around.

Philosopher's Quest (Acornsoft) (BBC Model B)

An interesting and complex adventure with a fairly standard vocabulary.

Eastern Front (Atari) (Atari 400/800)

A fine piece of programming... The graphics are the most obviously impressive feature, with the colours changing according to the season.

Ulysses And The Golden Fleece (Sierra Online) (IBM)

The instruction book does not tell you much about what you can or cannot do. Part of the fun is finding out for yourself, and you will need to use your imagination to find the right commands.

Zodiac (Tansoft) (Oric 48K)

I am not an adventure-addict, but I think this is a game I would return to.

Football Manager (Addictive Games) (Spectrum 48K)

When I first received this game, I spent the best part of a weekend playing it. Since then, I have returned to it more often than any other.

Pi-Mania (Automata) (Spectrum 48K)

The cassette case should carry a government health warning: this game can damage your brain.

Monsters (Acornsoft) (BBC Model B)

The responses, graphics and sound effects are impeccable, making for one of the best games around.

Preppie & Frogger (Adventure International) (Atari 400/800)

The graphics are superb... And the game includes melodic but repetitive tunes.

The King/Donkey King (Microdeal) (Dragon 32)

If I had to recommend one arcade type game to a Dragon owner, this is the one I'd choose.

Katerpillar Attack (Microdeal) (Dragon 32)

A fast game with good graphics and sound.

Flight Simulator (Microsoft) (PC (MS-DOS))

The instrumentation is excellent, with a generally rapid response to the controls.

The Dark Crystal (Sierra Online) (Apple II)

The sixth in the Sierra-Online Hi-Res Adventure series. I found it more frustrating than its forerunners, and more arbitrary.