Wimbledon '64 (Merlin) (Commodore 64)

Controlling the players is very difficult, and the program should have offered a game against the computer - how many people have two joysticks anyway?

Whirlybird (CRL) (Commodore 64)

I didn't just dislike this, I hated it so much I'm thinking of erasing the game and using it as a blank cassette. They won't sell many of these.

H.E.R.O. (Activision) (Commodore 64)

This arcade-adventure offers plenty to do. You can race through the early levels, but it soon starts to get very challenging indeed.

Deathstar Interceptor (System 3) (Commodore 64)

The presentation is reasonable but the game is poor by C64 standards.

Mr. Dig (Microdeal) (Commodore 64)

A pretty good version of Dig Dug, which had me doing high-kicks all the way to the keyboard.

Automania (Mikro-Gen) (Commodore 64)

I loved the graphics and, although the tune was pretty nauseous, I couldn't stop playing.

Blue Thunder (Richard Wilcox) (Commodore 64)

A fairly run-of-the-mill rescue zap but with some interesting twists in the gameplay.

Ankh (Beyond) (Commodore 64)

Weird. A very intriguing game... with a clever blend of strategy and arcade action.

Football Manager (Addictive Games) (Commodore 64)

One of the most addictive games I have ever played.

Bongo (Anirog) (Commodore 64)

You have to collect five diamonds in a four-level cave connected by ladders and slides.

Charlie Choc A Bloc (Lothlorien) (Commodore 64)

Rapid depletion of time and energy means that this is a demanding version of the old favourite.

The Pit (Hesware) (Commodore 64)

This game might have been better titled "The Pits".

Dare Devil Dennis (Visions) (Commodore 64)

With six difficulty levels and random placing of the objects to collect, there is enough variety for long-term satisfaction.

Wanted: Monty Mole (Gremlin) (Commodore 64)

This game is of excellent quality.

Humpty Series (Artic) (Commodore 64)

Delightful graphics... The most enjoyable of the three Humpty games.

Jack And The Beanstalk (Thor) (Spectrum 48K)

An enjoyable program which I could happily return to again and again, although it does lack that something extra that makes a great game.

Alcatraz Harry (Mastertronic) (Spectrum 48K)

I believe that unless an arcade adventure is outstanding it's barely worth considering. Alcatraz Harry doesn't cut it.

Robotron 2084 (Atarisoft) (Spectrum 48K)

The finest conversion I have seen from the company. It's fast, mean and true to the arcade original in almost every way.

SOS (Visions) (Spectrum 48K)

My biggest gripe with this game is the way each wave of obstacles is identical, right down to the way they move.

Dartz (Automata) (Spectrum 48K)

It's the best attempt at darts I have seen on a computer but the humour is essential to keep you interested.

Frank 'N Stein (PSS) (Spectrum 48K)

This is a monster hit. The game's addictiveness and large number of screens will have you glued to the keyboard for hours.

Mad Hatter (Gamma) (Spectrum 48K)

This game has appalling graphics but offers some interesting gameplay.

On The Oche (Artic) (Spectrum 48K)

Simulations like this pale very quickly: they can't even be very exciting to the dedicated darts player.

Ahhh!!! (CRL) (Spectrum 48K)

A game for those who are content to move left-right and fire.

Froot Loop (NTD Software) (Spectrum 48K)

There are five skill levels and the higher ones are practically impossible.

Gremlins (Thor) (Spectrum 48K)

The screen divides into coloured bands to hide the gremlins as they metamorphosise.

Tetrapod (Acornsoft) (BBC Model B)

A very playable game that can get exciting on later screens as more and more opponents appear and large numbers of bullets whizz around.

Galaxy Raiders (Visions) (BBC Model B)

The higher levels of the game present you with a galaxy packed with hostiles and you will need to be very quick to survive for long.

Volcano (Acornsoft) (BBC Model B)

Harder than it sounds, but not terribly interesting due to the dull graphics.

Blocker (Thor) (BBC Model B)

The biggest threat is the time limit and the boot which moves rapidly around squashing blocks - and you.

Drogna (Acornsoft) (BBC Model B)

The presentation is well up to the usual Acornsoft standard, but it is slightly annoying that you can not play against the computer.

Wallaby (Superior) (BBC Model B)

The game has a nice addictive quality and I played it for hours.

Mineshaft (Durell) (BBC/Electron)

A very good game... It's very playable and has twenty screens to ensure the midnight oil is burnt.

Bricks (Palace) (Commodore Vic 20)

This really is quite addictive for a 3.5K game. The fact that it is so simple is what draws you to it again.

Starbase (Commodore) (Commodore Vic 20)

It's a terrible game. The graphics are a mixture of small uninteresting aliens and large, block-like buildings.

Psycho Shopper (Mastertronic) (Commodore Vic 20)

The game is slow, boring and looks terrible. Why on earth it needs 8K of expansion is beyond me!

Max (Anirog) (Commodore Vic 20)

The game is very fast and the second screen is diabolically difficult since bouncing on a square a second time returns it to its original colour.

Luv Bug (Thor) (Commodore Vic 20)

Unfortunately, Luv Bug needs a bit more variation to keep me chasing after Lucy.

Maze Gold (Visions) (Commodore Vic 20)

There is no variety in the game except for an increasing number of beasts and the 'maze' is just random blocks.

Spooky Mansion (Lothlorien) (Oric 48K/Atmos)

An addictive and challenging game.

Squish (Palace) (Commodore Vic 20)

The key is to get to grips with the tactics rather than go on an orgy of random squishing.

Minitron (Anirog) (Commodore Vic 20)

More memory is needed to make this game really good.

Ancipital (Llamasoft) (Commodore 64)

Jeff Minter does it again! I think Ancipital will be even a bigger hit than Revenge Of The Mutant Camels.

B. C. Bill (Beau-Jolly) (Spectrum 48K)

All the characters move smoothly and are very well animated - Bill's clubbing motion is incredibly realistic.

Attack Of The Cybermen (IJK) (Oric 1/Oric 48K)

Best thing about the game was the intro music - the best version of Bach I've heard on any micro.

Kaboom! (Activision) (Atari 400/800/XL/XE)

There's just not enough to do to keep you interested. Given the price, you might justifiably expect a lot more.

Masterchess (Amsoft) (Amstrad CPC464)

All the other usual options are there and chessplaying Amstraders will have to find a few good moves to win.

Buck Rogers: Planet Of Zoom (Coleco) (Coleco Adam)

The characters are quite well defined but because of the jerky action they seem blocky.

Horace Goes Skiing (Melbourne House) (Dragon 32)

The traffic moves at random so sometimes the road is almost empty and sometimes you face massive snarl-ups.

Codename Mat (Amsoft) (Amstrad CPC464)

A challenging game that will keep you you tied to your keyboards for light for light years on end.

Roland In The Caves (Amsoft) (Amstrad CPC464)

Novices will generally leap straight into ptery's mouth, but a little practice gives you good chances of survival.