Gorf (Commodore) (Commodore Vic 20)

Given the limitations of the Vic as a games machine, Gorf's graphics are impressive. The sound is also quite good with suitably loud zapping noises.

Spectravideo (Spectravideo Ltd) (European Machines)

This machine deserves a large share of the market... It can do wonders for Basic programmer and games player alike.

3D Munchy (MRM) (BBC Model B)

I spent an enjoyable two hours trying to beat the high score, and rate 3D Munchy a good buy.

Proteans (Dk'Tronics) (BBC Model B)

The exceptional speed of this game, together with its ear-splitting sound and sharp graphics, make Proteans a challenging version of an old favourite.

Vortex (Software Invasion) (BBC Model B)

A fast, exciting game with some of the better 3D effects available on the Beeb. Recommended.

Dambusters (Alligata) (BBC Model B)

A game for the Scramble-addicts... Shows a few original touches too.

Chuckie Egg (A 'n F) (BBC Model B)

Simple, highly addictive, and great fun to play.

Eagle Empire (Alligata) (BBC Model B)

I found the Master Alien a little too eager to give up the ghost, and after blasting my way through four screens I wanted a more exciting showdown.

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

Despite the excellent presentation of this game, I found killing Cylons rather tedious and repetitive.

Diamond Mine (MRM) (BBC Model B)

Diamond Mine is a simple game but quite a find for all that.

Dragon Rider (Salamander) (BBC Model B)

A slow, boring game, written in Basic, that's about as challenging as a game of one-player Snap.

Heist (Soft Spot) (BBC Model B)

Not a bad game at all, this one. The burglars are very intelligent at the higher levels.

The Stolen Lamp (Lothlorien) (BBC/Electron)

The only thing this program has in its favour is the potential of the idea. A potential that is unfortunately not at all fulfilled.

Birds Of Prey (Romik) (Acorn Electron)

Nothing new in this game, but if you don't mind rather small aliens, it looks like a good buy.

Felix In The Factory (Micro Power) (Acorn Electron)

A compulsive game with good graphics.

Taxman (Mondatta) (Commodore 64)

The graphics are dull and colourless... The sound is a total waste of the C64's facilities.

Kick Off (Bubble Bus) (Commodore 64)

Clear and colourful graphics... But Kick Off's sound, after the opening flourish, is rather disappointing.

Supercopter (Mondatta) (Commodore 64)

Only on the third screen do you finally reach the enemy island and get the chance to do battle. By then you may not care if civilization ends or not.

Tank Atak (Supersoft) (Commodore 64)

Tank Atak's sound is as disappointing as its graphics.

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

Richard Shepherd can usually be relied on for a few hours' entertainment but Ship Of The Line seems likely to go down with all hands.

Neoclypse (PSS) (Commodore 64)

The graphics and landscape are remarkably good, with arcade-quality definition.

Blagger (Alligata) (Commodore 64)

If you liked Manic Miner, Blagger will undoubtedly appeal to you despite its repetitive sound.

Krystals Of Zong (PSS) (Commodore 64)

Excellent graphics... Its arcade elements also add to the fun of the game.

Twin Kingdom Valley (Bug-Byte) (Commodore 64)

This is a game that will appeal to novices and experienced adventurers alike. Highly recommended.

Quest Of Merravid (Martech) (Commodore 64/Vic 20)

One of the better text adventures on the market, and if I have to choose between pretty pictures and exciting locations I'll choose the excitement every time.

Heroes Of Karn (Interceptor Micros) (Commodore 64)

Highly recommended, but when the program doesn't understand something, it apologises politely, but doesn't tell you which word it doesn't understand!

Dictator (Dk'tronics) (Commodore 64)

No flashy graphics or sound here, but a good laugh.

Jammin' (Taskset) (Commodore 64)

Excellently presented with numerous playing options and is for one or two players. Grab yourself an instrument and join the band.

Super Pipeline (Taskset) (Commodore 64)

One of the best games for the Commodore 64. Don't miss it!

Egbert (Games Machine) (Commodore 64)

A simple game where you must cross the fast lanes and make contact with little red buttons as they appear on the sides of the screen.

R-Nest (Audiogenic) (Commodore 64)

R-Nest's graphics are colourful, but do have that slight haziness which Commodore 64 owners will be familiar with.

Zappy Zooks (Romik) (Commodore 64)

The graphics are no more than adequate and the sound is a complete waste of the Commodore's great potential.

Moby Dick (PSS) (Commodore 64)

The idea is to depth charge submarines from the destroyer you are skippering and try to down a pink helicopter with your missiles.

Loch Ness Monsters (Romik) (Oric 48K)

The graphics in this game are not fantastic, but then what Oric game does amaze you graphically?

Defence Force (Tansoft) (Oric 48K)

The graphics are impressive for an Oric game and the sound is truly deafening!

House Of Death (Tansoft) (Oric 16K)

House Of Death is a tough nut to crack, and novices are advised to steer clear.

Multigames 2 (Tansoft) (Oric 16K)

A dull compendium... The graphics are very poor.

Space Station Zebra (Beyond) (Spectrum 48K)

A tiresome and tedious shoot-'em-up game with great graphics but not much else to offer.

Robot Riot (Silversoft) (Spectrum 48K)

Perfectly good fun - unless you already have one of the other 2 million Pac-Mans for the Spectrum.

Paradroids (Mikro-Gen) (Spectrum 48K)

A different kind of shoot-'em-up - but not very interesting.

Volcanic Planet (Thorn EMI) (Spectrum 48K)

The program has no sound, and uses the number keys '3' to '0' which makes things a bit cramped if you don't have a joystick.

Android Two (Vortex) (Spectrum 48K)

The 3D effects and graphics are very well produced.

Urban Upstart (Richard Shepherd) (Spectrum 48K)

One of those rare adventure games where even death offers no release - you just end up in hospital!

Laser Snaker (Poppy Soft) (Spectrum 48K)

The game involves clearing the eggs completely off some sheets... No mean feat, even at the lowest of ten speed levels and five difficulty levels.

Apple Jam (DK'Tronics) (Spectrum 16K)

Considerable variety is achieved with the use of just two keys: left and right. This means you can enjoy playing it immediately - but it should still offer prolonged entertainment.

Deathchase (Micromega) (Spectrum 16K)

The key layout is well thought out and enables you to concentrate on the game instead of your fingers... Every time I hit a tree it brought tears to my eyes.

Scuba Dive (Durell) (Spectrum 48K)

An incredibly addictive game... If you fancy settling back for a long nail-biting adventure, you'll find Scuba Dive is very, very special.

Jumbly (DK'Tronics) (Spectrum 48K)

A very nice version of the puzzle with the added twist that some of the ten pictures you have to unscramble are continually scrolling.

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

It's a shame there's only one speed of play; if you want to go faster, all that happens is the boat moves to the right of the screen, giving less warning of what's coming.

Magic Meanies (CDS) (Spectrum 16K)

The engaging music is entirely irrelevant to the concept of the game, as is the mumbo jumbo about wizards, but it's not a bad brew that results.

I'm In Shock (Artic) (Spectrum 16K/48K)

The game's title bears no relation to what happens in it - it must be a reference to the reaction of people who actually buy this rubbish.

Fighter Pilot (Digital Integration) (Spectrum 48K)

The dogfight is realistic, thrilling and calls for a cool hand.

Sheer Panic (Visions) (Spectrum 48K)

Holds no surprises. The graphics are acceptable, and the sound is what we have come to expect from the Spectrum, which isn't much.

Micro-Mouse Goes De-Bugging (Lothlorien) (Spectrum 16K)

You can squirt a spray at the bugs themselves, but it's hard to see what this achieves since they're immediately replaced.

3D Defenda (Contrast) (Spectrum 48K)

Your motion is interrupted every time the approaching craft opens fire, which is poor programming.

Starclash (Micromega) (Spectrum 48K)

After getting through the aliens you have to take pot luck at shooting down a narrow 'reactor code' to destroy a 'mother ship'. Then you have the 'thrill' of starting all over again.

Wheelie (Microsphere) (Spectrum 48K)

It's fun and it'll keep you interested. The skill lies in getting your speed right, and picking the most sensible route.

Star Warrior (Visions) (Spectrum 16K)

A space game with three different pieces of action.

Bubble Trouble (Arcade) (Spectrum 48K)

A type of Pac-Man in which you collect treasure from a maze and avoid bubbles. The only novelty is that you can press a key to reverse direction of bubbles when cornered.

Doom Bugs (Work Force) (Spectrum 16K)

Try to break through a trapdoor while gobbling up eggs and Grubbers in a hopeless attempt at preventing them turning into lethal red-backed Grubbers.

Pitman Seven (Visions) (Spectrum 48K)

Reach the surface of a South African mine avoiding boulders and gas clouds by darting down ladders or jumping onto beams.

Sam Spade (Silversoft) (Spectrum 48K)

Addictive stuff. The green and yellow monsters have to be knocked through more than one layer.

Astroplane (Romik) (Spectrum 48K)

A Defender-type game with scrolling landscapes.

Rapedes (Visions) (Spectrum 16K)

Average version of Centipede - clear if unambitious graphics a choice of game speeds, and a nice fat spider which is easy to hit.

Creepy Crawler (Mikro-Gen) (Spectrum 16K/48K)

Yet another Centipede... Adequate (but boring) graphics, adequate (but boring) sound.

Freez 'Bees (Silversoft) (Spectrum 48K)

A nice version of the game Penguin.

Armageddon (Silversoft) (Spectrum 16K)

A very nice translation of Missile Command... Great fun, if you like saving the earth.

De-Fusion (Lyndenhurst) (Spectrum 48K)

The skill is to choose the right route, because your stepping stones disappear after being used.

Bank Robber (Romik) (Sinclair ZX81)

As ever on the ZX81, the graphics are not exactly awe-inspiring but they are adequate for the game.

Galactic Trooper (Romik) (Sinclair ZX81)

If you haven't had your fill of ZX81 space games already then Galactic Trooper is a good game.

Forty Niner (Software Farm) (Sinclair ZX81)

Definitely a program that shows what your ZX81 can really do and deserves one of those "I had to keep going back for more" ratings.

Space Joust (Software Projects) (Commodore Vic 20)

Doesn't really have anything to do with jousting at all. Best be described as driving dodgem cars in deep space.

Jet Pac (Ultimate) (Commodore Vic 20)

I can assure you that that won't turn this off for a very long time.

Quadrant (Romik) (Commodore Vic 20)

Unexpanded Vic owners can now stop dreaming about memory add-ons. Buy this game instead!

Shifty (Work Force) (Commodore Vic 20)

It's Pac-Man without power pills and exits. The doors do succeed in adding a new tactical twist that makes Shifty fun to play, even if it is a little unexciting.

A Country Garden (Supersoft) (Commodore Vic 20)

The choice of movement keys is ridiculously awkward so if you don't have a joystick you should think twice before shelling out for this game.

Ask The Family (Commodore/Ivan Berg) (Commodore Vic 20)

The main drawback to this program is that it contains only 120 questions - hardly enough to make it one you will want to return to.

Floyds Bank (Romik) (Camputers Lynx)

The Lynx has been very badly served when it comes to games software, but sadly this offering from Romik doesn't do much to fill the gap.

ET Phone Home (Atari) (Atari 400)

Even at skill level nine, the game is simple. But for those spellbound by the film, perhaps the intellectual challenge is enough.

Pole Position (Atari) (Atari 400/800/600XL/800XL/130XE)

The graphics are superb, with blue skies and a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Sound, too, is very good as brakes screech and engines rev-up.

Tennis (Atari) (Atari 400/800)

Tennis cannot fail to impress. From the shadow the ball casts to the variety of shots available, it shows itself to be one of the cleverest simulations around.

Danger Ranger (Microdeal) (Dragon 32)

A winner... A simple game to play but one that it will take you a lot of practice to master.

Bloc Head (Microdeal) (Dragon 32)

Bloc Head has a very simple scenario but is a challenging game to play.

Devil Assault (Microdeal) (Dragon 32)

Devil Assault is basically just another shoot-'em-up game with some original nasties.

Shuttlezap (Dragon Data) (Dragon 32)

Don't believe a word of the claims on the box! The so-called speech is totally unintelligible and the action is slow and extremely boring.

Space Raiders (Microdeal) (Dragon 32)

Microdeal's version of the ever popular Space Invaders, complete with the mystery-scoring mother ship.

Glaxxons (Microdeal) (Dragon 32)

The graphics of the swooping and bombing aliens are rather small and hard to hit.

Whirlybird Run (Dragon Data) (Dragon 32)

Based on the arcade game Scramble, the rocket being replaced by a helicopter.

Trace Race (Cable) (Dragon 32)

An advance on the old Snake theme... Graphics and sound are both pretty dull.

Eight Ball (Microdeal) (Dragon 32)

Offers some very sophisticated features such as allowing you to put spin on the cue ball.