Banana Drama (Visions) (Commodore 64)

Still not bad as strategy games go, and certainly fun for all the family.

Get Off My Garden (Interceptor Micros) (Commodore 64)

Two things let the game down. The first is a general lack of excitement. The second is the continual sniping at Jeff Minter.

Wheelin' Wallie (Interceptor Micros) (Commodore 64)

Wheelin' Wallie has an original feel to it. OK, eating dots may not be original. But the way in which Interceptor have included this in the game adds to the challenge.

Fire Ant (Mogul) (Commodore 64)

Being chased around a maze/city isn't original but Mogul have done an excellent job in making it appear so.

Burger Time (Interceptor Micros) (Commodore 64)

Mouth-watering picture, appetising sound effects and a delicious rendering of the McDonald's tune.

Crazy Caveman (Merlin) (Commodore 64)

I doubt there's enough here to keep you, or even a caveman, interested for very long.

Tribble Trouble (Mr. Micro) (Commodore 64)

Although the game is quite enjoyable, there's basically just one screen of action, and I wonder how long interest would be maintained.

Dinky Doo (Software Projects) (Commodore 64)

Although the graphics and sound are not spectacular, Dinky Doo is a compelling game because you really want to get through those 15 screens.

Space Pilot (Anirog) (Commodore 64)

A very enjoyable romp through the skies.

Odyssey (K-Tel) (Commodore 64)

The scope of the game makes it a slightly better buy than the average shoot-'em-up, but give it a miss if you like your games to have the simple touch.

Zylogon (Big G) (Commodore 64)

The graphics aren't exactly stunning, and the game doesn't have the compulsion of a good shoot-'em-up, which means you're better off looking elsewhere.

City Attack (K-Tel) (Commodore 64)

A strange mixture. Some very advanced features, some very primitive. Look before you fork out the cash.

Killer Watt (Alligata) (Commodore 64)

Control of the spacecraft takes some practice... but the smoothness of movement gives the game an amazingly realistic feel.

Sorcery (Virgin Games) (Spectrum 48K)

Sorcery will never become a cult game like Atic Atac. However, it will no doubt be taken out of the cassette box a fair few times.

Blade Alley (PSS) (Spectrum 48K)

The enemy attack one at a time and it's merely a question of shooting as many as possible.

Terry's Travels (Algray) (Spectrum 48K)

Despite the effort that has obviously gone into this program, I don't think I'd travel far to add it to my collection.

Timebomb (CDS) (Spectrum 16K)

This is a good implementation of an old favourite, and the fact that it's been squeezed into 16K is an extra bonus.

Trashman (New Generation) (Spectrum 48K)

Emptying bins in real life is hard work. Trashman is no different. Don't expect to do well at this game without putting your back into it.

1994: Ten Years After (Visions) (Spectrum 48K)

If you like platform-type games and are looking for a new one to try, you may enjoy it, but the chances are that you will soon be dissatisfied.

Ad Astra (Gargoyle Games) (Spectrum 48K)

On the one hand, some of the graphics are as good as you've ever seen on a Spectrum. On the other hand, parts of the game don't work quite as well as they really ought to.

Bull Run (Phipps Associates) (Spectrum 16K)

It's just possible that if you put in hours of frustrating effort, you might get to the point where the game became enjoyable. But much more likely you'll give up, gored and bored.

Pengy (Micromania) (Spectrum 16K)

Hours of frustration guaranteed, unless you have a cursor joystick.

Butterfly (Pulsonic) (Spectrum 48K)

A spider must eat butterflies to stay alive. Sparse graphics, jerky movement and a Basic program.

Knight Driver (Hewson Consultants) (Spectrum 48K)

A rather uninspiring game, unlikely to have the motor-power to keep up with the competition.

Orion (Software Projects) (Spectrum 48K)

The characters are small and don't move smoothly. Why waste money on what's basically another Pac-Man variant?

Submarine Strike (Pulsonic) (Spectrum 48K)

Although this is a slow game to play, that doesn't mean that it isn't exciting.

Pedro (Imagine) (Spectrum 48K)

Surprisingly the Dragon version is better than this one, as it's very difficult to control.

Glug-Glug (CRL) (Spectrum 48K)

Good fun, very playable and the later screens should get even the most hardened gamesters into deep water.

Worm Attack (Pulsonic) (Spectrum 48K)

Poor graphics, awful control keys - this is one of the cheapest games for the Spectrum, and it shows.

Grid Patrol (Lothlorien) (Spectrum 16K/48K)

Sometimes you're killed before you've even had a chance to move!

Di-Lithium Lift (Hewson) (Spectrum 16K)

A very fast action game written by the man who brought you Grid Patrol. It's also slightly more playable.

Mission Omega (Pulsonic) (Spectrum 48K)

The only good things offered by Mission Omega are a bright and colourful picture and a low price tag.

Mummy! Mummy! (Lothlorien) (Spectrum 48K)

Graphics and sound are only average - your man does 'walk', but the rest of the characters simply jump around the screen spoiling the overall effect.

Vic Cricket (Sophisticated Games) (Commodore 64/Vic 20)

If you like cricket, don't mind a bit of brain throbbing as you wade through the accompanying 48 page booklet and you have someone to play against, then this is the game for you.

League (Sophisticated Games) (Commodore Vic 20)

I liked the game very much, if only because it's a change from humdrum zap-'em-ups, or boring old text adventures.

Lupin (Enigma) (Commodore Vic 20)

A worthwhile distraction for the more dedicated arcaders.

Annihilator (Rabbit) (Commodore Vic 20)

The scrolling planet backdrop is rather garish and the attacking aliens move too jerkily to by encountered with any real degree of proficiency.

Bob's Blunder (Pulsonic) (Commodore Vic 20)

Dreadful graphics as Bob the Electrician tries to avoid the ghouls and mend the fuse.

Pollywog (Mogul) (Commodore Vic 20)

The graphics are plain and lack-lustre whilst sound comprises paltry clicks and dull tones.

Kongo Kong (Mogul) (Commodore Vic 20)

It's quite playable and if more screens had been possible then it would have been one of the better games for the unexpanded machine.

Snowstorm (Pulsonic) (Commodore Vic 20)

A very Basic game in which purple asterisks represent the snow. It's a load of old snowballs.

Metamorphosis (Mogul) (Commodore Vic 20)

Reflex movement and rapid fire are essential to survive.

Fruitee Nudge (Gumboot) (Colour Genie)

I ended up with more money than I started with but, for the first time in my life, I didn't get a kick out of coming out on top.

Geniepede (Ipswich Software Factory) (Colour Genie)

Centipede's a bit old-hat these days, but with Genie games so thin on the ground this has to be recommended.

Countdown (Paramount) (Commodore Vic 20)

The graphics in this game are colourful enough, but are much too fuzzy to be of great interest. The real problem is that the game is just far too easy.

Silicon (Romik) (Atari 400/800)

There are twelve skill levels and the graphics and sound throughout the game are very good.

Frogger (Parker Bros.) (Atari 400/800/XL/XE)

The pace of the traffic, even on the fast version, is sedate.

Q*Bert (Parker Bros.) (Atari 400/800/XL/XE)

Joystick control is a little sticky. It is all too easy to leap diagonally left when you meant to leap diagonally right, or down, or up or whatever.

Checkout (Virgin) (BBC Model B)

If you enjoy simple, compulsive games, then this will give you a good run for your money.

Shuttle Pilot (Oakleaf) (BBC Model B)

A simulator that has you piloting the NASA Space Shuttle rather than an ordinary plane. Sadly, this doesn't make it a very interesting program.

Trafalgar (Squirrel) (BBC Model B)

There is little scope for strategy, and once you've grown tired of calculating trajectories, you might as well eject the tape.