Adventure World (Spectrum 48K)

An adventure with a distinctly Irish flavour. You get a picture in the top half of the screen and a scrolling text-window below, with both upper and lower case letters.

The Sting (Gemini) (BBC Model B)

A cute game... If zapping is not your thing, you might well enjoy it.

Star Force Seven (Mind Games) (BBC Model B)

The defence of the galaxy must be completed in twelve turns but you are awarded points for whatever you manage to complete.

Snorter (Beebug) (BBC Model B)

The graphics are a little crude but the action is fast and becomes really testing at the higher levels.

Brainstorm (Virgin) (BBC Model B)

An original game that should appeal to anyone who isn't too concerned with speedy action and alien blasting. It will repay careful planning and practice.

Enigma (Brainbox) (BBC Model B)

Rather clumsily programmed in Basic, this may give some satisfaction to obsessive puzzlers but not to anyone else.

Digger (Visions) (BBC Model B)

Yes, folks, it's Dig-Dug time again. And a pretty dull version it is, too, with merely average graphics and very ordinary sound.

Block Buster (Micro Power) (BBC Model B)

Nice graphics - even if a little hazy - but dull sound.

Battle Planet (ISP Marketing) (BBC Model B)

There are too many keys to juggle with and you often seem to die for no apparent reason.

Killer Gorilla (Micro Power) (BBC Model B)

Strangely, the Electron game is much easier than on the BBC - perhaps Micro Power think that mere Electron owners haven't got what it takes.

Laser Reflex (Talent) (Acorn Electron)

I'm sorry Talent, but this one didn't have the whole office crowding round raring to have a go.

Positron (Micro Power) (Acorn Electron)

Just perfect for all of you out there with itchy trigger fingers.

Vortex (Software Invasion) (Acorn Electron)

Not much variety, but very playable.

Caesar The Cat (Mirrorsoft) (BBC Model B)

Gwate fun for der kidth, vewwy owiginal game, nicens muthic, but I tink it won't keep der gwown-upth pwaying for long.

Arena 3000 (Microdeal) (Acorn Electron)

As a version of Robotron, it's OK - your man rushes around frenetically enough blasting away at the mutants. But this is a game strictly for fans of the genre.

Jaws (Alligata) (Dragon 32)

The game won't hold your attention for long since it lacks variety.

Superbowl (Cable) (Dragon 32)

I have seen many better versions of American Football on machines in the States; this one is just trying to cash in on the popularity of the sport on television at the moment.

3D Luna Attack (Hewson) (Dragon 32)

Another excellent game in the Hewson series although some of you may find it a little repetitive.

Pharoah's Curse (Hesware) (Commodore Vic 20)

Visually attractive, easy to grasp, and great fun to play. If you don't have the 16K RAM pack, then this is the best excuse I know for buying one.

Attack Of The Mutant Camels (Llamasoft) (Atari 400/800/XL/XE)

The graphics and sound effects are truly 'awesome' in the best Minter tradition and for all 400/600 Atari owners it comes highly recommended.

River Raid (Activision) (Atari 400/800/XL/XE)

River Raid's graphics are colourful and exceptionally smooth, making a shoot-'em-up of superior quality.

Flak (Funsoft/US Gold) (Atari 400/800/XL/XE)

As with many Atari games, this has good smooth scrolling graphics and sound, but because it's too easy it lacks any truly addictive qualities.

Duellin' Droids (English) (Atari 400/800/XL/XE)

May well appeal to the dedicated zapper.

Megamania (Activision) (Atari 400/800/XL/XE)

Excellent graphics and reasonable sound, but it seems very expensive - even for a cartridge.

Electro Freddy (Amsoft) (Amstrad CPC464)

Electro Freddy is a promising start to the Amstrad's life as a games machine. It's a pretty simple idea, but it had me hooked.

Admiral Graf Spee (Amsoft) (Amstrad CPC464)

This game isn't really that bad.

Oh Mummy (Amsoft) (Amstrad CPC464)

It's not bad, but we've yet to see the best of the Amstrad.

Mission Alphatron (Continental) (Memotech)

Memotech owners who like a good Scramble will find plenty of tough action here.

Nemo (Continental) (Memotech)

Good ideas here but the screen gets too hectic and it will be a very mercurial mariner who sees the whole of this coastline.

Pothole Pete (Kiltdale) (Memotech)

A great game - one which begins to reveal the Memotech's vast potential.

Ice Hunter (Anirog) (Commodore 64)

Although there is nothing particularly new about the ideas in this game it has been well put together and should be able to hold your interest.

Tales Of The Arabian Nights (Interceptor Micros) (Commodore 64)

There's enough high-quality action here to keep most budding sultans happy for many a night.

Murphy (Mogul) (Commodore 64)

Animation is reasonable but the sound is repetitive and, ultimately, pretty annoying.

Felix In The Factory (Micro Power) (Commodore 64)

You could be burning the midnight oil if you get addicted to this game.

Revelation (Softek) (Commodore 64)

Forty screens and 31 monsters sounds like hot stuff, but Revelation didn't have me burning with excitement.

The Evil Dead (Palace) (Commodore 64)

A game that is certainly of above-average quality but still, perhaps, a little disappointing.

Cybertron Mission (Micro Power) (Commodore 64)

The action is non-stop and the robots just keep on coming.

Beamrider (Activision) (Commodore 64)

Not a terribly sophisticated game, but good graphics and suitably noisy sound.

Pitfall (Activision) (Commodore 64)

Although the animation is good, there's not enough graphic interest or gameplay excitement.

Petch (Anirog) (Commodore 16/64)

Arranging the diamonds in rows gives you a fat bonus. But keep kicking those ice blocks or you'll catch a fatal cold.

Gyruss (Parker Bros.) (Commodore 64)

Graphics are really excellent with colourful, well-defined aliens spiralling out from the centre of the screen.

Gilligan's Gold (Ocean) (Commodore 64)

Solid stuff, this game, but solid gold it's not. It demands a good deal of practice.

Quak Attack (Softek) (Commodore 64)

A game that even the youngest players can understand and enjoy, but there is a lack of variety, the graphics are only adequate and the sound is mediocre.

Ghouls (Micro Power) (Commodore 64)

An addictive game... Many dangers to overcome including poisonous spikes, bouncing spiders, moving platforms and contracting floorboards.

Rootin' Tootin' (Hesware) (Commodore 64)

Rootin' Tootin' has excellent graphics and the sound is good, if a little repetitive.

Mr. TNT (Hesware) (Commodore 64)

The graphics are nothing to write home about and the sound isn't much better, but it has that pac-manic feel to it that could keep you glued to the keyboard for hours.

Spy School (Dimension 21) (Commodore 64)

The lessons of spying are hard to complete and the graphics are often crude. More a game of reflexes than of mind-taxing espionage.

Decathlon (Activision) (Commodore 64)

Get yourself a good strong joystick and a good strong friend, go out in that stadium and go for gold.

Zeta 7 (Mogul) (Commodore 64)

Zeta 7 can make for an entertaining half-hour - a bit like watching an old episode of Star Trek.

Hercules (Interdisc) (Commodore 64)

A game that requires perseverance and patience to get started, but it's well worth the effort. A classic hero has inspired a classic game.

Full Throttle (Micromega) (Spectrum 48K)

Anybody who played this game's predecessor, Deathchase, will have high hopes of Full Throttle's accuracy as a simulation. They won't be disappointed.

Acheron's Rage (Softek) (Oric 48K)

The sound is quite authentic with the zap, zap of your blaster and a big explosion when you cop it.

Reichswald (MW Gamesworld) (Spectrum 48K)

The graphics display is very dull and it's not at all clear where the strategy lies.

Carnival (Eclipse) (Spectrum 48K)

The tune is annoyingly repetitive but you can turn it off.

Match Point (Psion) (Spectrum 48K)

I have to admit it, my 1974 version of video tennis has been improved upon. Game, set and match to Psion.

Ugh! (Softek) (Dragon 32)

This stone age game is available on the Spectrum, Dragon and Commodore 64. It's is not very exciting on any of them.

Advance To Mayfair (Amazing Games) (Spectrum 48K)

No graphics or sound though and the program reacts very slowly to your commands.

Kosmic Kanga (Micromania) (Spectrum 48K)

An enjoyable game. Like Poo-Yan, it's also another game with a surreal scenario.

Athlete (Buffer Micro) (Spectrum 48K)

One good event (the hammer throw) can't make up for the inadequacies of the rest of the program.

Tornado Low Level (Vortex) (Spectrum 48K)

There are no bullets and bombs in this game but once you get familiar with the controls it's a great program.

Beaky And The Egg Snatchers (Fantasy) (Spectrum 48K)

Beaky will arouse the maternal instinct and has the right blend of action and strategy to have you constantly coming back for just one more try.

Star Blitz (Softek) (Spectrum 48K)

A must for Defender fanatics.

Driller Tanks (Sinclair) (Spectrum 48K)

Driller Tanks is disappointing because it could easily have been so much better. It needed variety badly.

3D Bat Attack (Cheetahsoft) (Spectrum 48K)

The bats become increasingly aggressive as you progress through each successive maze. But you, I fear, may become increasingly bored.

Les Flics (PSS) (Spectrum 48K)

Animation and graphics are good, but perhaps nine rooms is a little skimpy when compared to what some software houses manage to cram into a Spectrum.

War Of The Worlds (CRL) (Spectrum 48K)

Patience is most definitely a virtue in this game and I doubt whether many people will have enough for this disappointing program.

Rainy Day (Cases) (Spectrum 48K)

Better presented than most games compendiums, which are usually noticeable for their atrocious graphics and poor programming.

Space Command (Virgin) (Spectrum 48K)

Isn't worth the time it takes to load.

Deathstar (Amazing Games) (Spectrum 48K)

I wouldn't buy Deathstar even if I was the best friend of whoever had the nerve to put it on the market.

Micro Olympics (Database) (Spectrum 48K)

The backgrounds are a little dull and the sound is no great shakes but as long as you don't try to run a marathon - or even 1,500 metres - you will have a lot of fun.

Death Chess 5000 (Artic) (Spectrum 48K)

The graphics are pretty, but the gameplay is minimal... I'm afraid I can't see Karpov and Kasparov taking it up.

Worse Things Happen At Sea (Silversoft) (Spectrum 48K)

Many of Silversoft's previous efforts have simply been copies of arcade games. This one is in a different class. It's horrifyingly good.

Rapscallion (Bug-Byte) (Spectrum 48K)

The variety of dangers involved should keep you keep you happy for quite some time.

Star Trader (Bug-Byte) (Spectrum 48K)

Make sure your first visit is to the general store to buy a laser and power packs - to stop the pirates making a 'killing' out of you.

Decor Wreckers (Scorpio) (Spectrum 48K)

There's not much of interest here. It's just an inferior version of an old game.

Dogfight (Slogger) (Spectrum 48K)

Most of the time you're more in danger of hurtling into the scenery than being obliterated by your opponent.

Quo Vadis (Softek) (Commodore 64)

Sound and graphics aren't the point. The appeal of Quo Vadis is the incredible challenge it offers.