Roomlord (Paramount) (Commodore 64)

The sprites are large and very good and the bursts of music, although short, are varied and entertaining.

Elite (Acornsoft) (BBC B/B+/Master 128)

BBC owners now have a game unrivalled on any micro. From the moment you get your hands on the package, you know it's going to be something which will absorb you for hours.

Fury (Microdeal) (Dragon 32)

An above average game for the Dragon, one or two reservations aside.

Strangeloop (Virgin Games) (Spectrum 48K)

Flex your trigger finger, gather your mapping materials, and prepare to do battle with one of the most challenging arcade adventures on the Spectrum.

Astro Chase (State Soft) (Commodore 64)

The opening screen is great. It's a pity the actual game isn't.

Guardian (Alligata) (Commodore 64)

Extremely addictive and a necessary buy for anyone trying to assemble a decent arcade copy library.

Storm Warrior (Front Runner) (Commodore 64)

Once you have got the hang of killing your duelling opponent, it is possible to see most of the game and then develop your skills.

Havoc (Dynavision) (Commodore 64)

Some of the finest graphics seen to date for the C64 and terrific gameplay. Do yourself a favour - buy this game!

Flip And Flop (State Soft) (Commodore 64)

Flip and Mitch are so realistically depicted you can almost smell them. But trying to control these characters takes a fair bit of practice. I found it all lacked playability.

Trollie Wallie (Interceptor Micros) (Commodore 64)

Very similar to Alligata's Son Of Blagger, an eight-way scrolling Manic Miner, except this one is, I think, much easier.

Daley Thompson's Decathlon (Ocean) (Commodore 64)

A good program spoilt by lack of attention to detail.

Mystic Mansion (US Gold) (Commodore 64)

Your character moves rather slowly but with eerie animation on his ghostly presence as he drifts about the screen.

Suicide Express (Gremlin) (Commodore 64)

I'll ride all day on this one...! The fast-scrolling background scenery took my breath away.

Bomber Mission (Commodore) (Commodore Vic 20)

A much more exciting flight simulation than most - there's a good measure of annihilation to keep your interest.

Rapier Punch (Commodore) (Commodore Vic 20)

In 1983, this would have been fine, but nowadays people expect far more excitement.

Shamus (Hesware) (Commodore Vic 20)

One of the best Vic games, I can't think of any real way to fault it.

Wunda Walter (Interceptor Micros) (Commodore Vic 20)

The scrolling and animation are some of the best I have seen on the Vic but the playability of the game was a slight drawback.

Galaxia (Romik) (Commodore Vic 20)

A standard shoot-'em-up, though well written, packing good graphics and sound as well as quite a number of different aliens into the meagre 3.5K of an unexpanded Vic.

Space Station Alpha (Icon) (BBC Model B)

This game is easy and since it's written in Basic, is frustratingly slow and unchallenging. Cannot be recommended.

Uncle Claude (Alligata) (BBC Model B)

It's a very simple game idea, but surprisingly addictive. The animation is good even when Claude inflicts GBH on our hero, and the ambulance rushes him off to hospital.

Paranoid Pete (Ubik) (BBC B/B+/Master 128)

This is brilliant...! The key response is very good and the movement of the Wibblies and screen layout have been carefully thought out.

Zorakk The Conqueror (Icon) (BBC Model B)

For some, this will be boring, repetitive and even downright stupid. But others will find it utterly compulsive.

Smash And Grab (Superior) (BBC Model B)

The game's enjoyable because there's a lot to do: collect gold, kick parking cones, avoid policemen and then turn the tables on the cops by reaching a flashing police box.

Felix And The Fruit Monsters (Micro Power) (Acorn Electron)

A nice variation on Pac-Man for maze maniacs.

Suicide Rebel Droids (Beast International) (BBC Model B)

It's altogether rather crude to look at and not very playable.

Wonder Worm (Thor) (BBC Model B)

Wally grows with each pod but movement gets harder and harder as the screen fills with worm, skulls, roots and purple deflecting dots.

Time Bandit (Microdeal) (Dragon 32)

I enjoyed this immensely... There's a nice range of characters.

Cash Man (Microdeal) (Dragon 32)

The game doesn't have quite the precise, satisfying feel of Manic Miner, but its arrival is still an important, happy event.

Gatecrasher (Quicksilva) (BBC Model B)

The game is quite clever and stretches the brain to think logically but does not have enough action or variety to be really addictive.

Mr. Wiz (Superior) (BBC Model B)

Eating the gremlins' mushroom home drives them wild and they will eat anything to get at you.

Meteor Mission (Acornsoft) (BBC Model B)

It's always tricky mastering thrust, but the colourful graphics and tolerable sound make this a good version of a familiar game.

Trick Shot (IJK) (Oric 48K/Atmos)

"Based on the highly successful arcade game," says the cover. Pity it doesn't live up to it!

Super Fruit (IJK) (Oric 48K/Atmos)

Easily the best fruit machine game available for the Oric.

Backgammon/3D Oxo (IJK) (Oric 48K/Atmos)

As probably the only versions for the Oric, these are worth buying if you can't wait any longer.

Chess (IJK) (Oric 48K/Atmos)

This program oozes quality.

Draughts (IJK) (Oric 1/Oric Atmos)

Well worth buying if you like the wooden version.

The Perils Of Bear George (Cheetahsoft) (Spectrum 48K)

So difficult that starvation is a certainty... The surprise for those who eat too much seems reserved for supermen or people who enjoy playing monotonous games for hours on end.

Delta Wing (Creative Sparks) (Spectrum 48K)

Perhaps not quite as polished as Fighter Pilot but well worth a look at.

Psytraxx (The Edge) (Spectrum 48K)

Similar to Atic Atac, it's the sheer size which is the main attraction. It'll be a good while before Psytraxx is completed, I would think.

Combat Lynx (Durell) (Spectrum 48K)

Some people won't be single-minded enough to ever get to grips with the huge number of control keys - some thirty in all. For those who do, I think it'll prove very special.

Stagecoach (Creative Sparks) (Spectrum 48K)

Mediocrity is the name of the game, with the lacklustre animation and sound and with no real redeeming features.

Pyjamarama (Mikro-Gen) (Spectrum 48K)

Despite being fiendishly difficult to complete, the game is still very playable for the newcomer, with delightfully designed rooms to explore with the cuter-than-ever Wally.

Kokotoni Wilf (Elite) (Spectrum 48K)

The graphics are pretty without being stunning. It should give lots of fun to most players.

Borzak (Channel 8) (Spectrum 48K)

The only possible motive that anyone could have for finishing this highly tedious game is the fact that, at the end, Borzak goes back to his own planet.

Twilight Zone (Thor) (Spectrum 16K)

Practically identical to Llamasoft's Lazer Zone... It's depressing to see games houses cloning other micro games.

Turtle Timewarp (Softstone) (Spectrum 48K)

Once all turtles are rescued, returning to the centre of the maze timewarps you to the next maze.

Black Hawk (Creative Sparks) (Spectrum 48K)

Fast and compulsive, although your craft and the white guided missiles can be hard to see on the attack screen.

Braxx Bluff (Micromega) (Spectrum 48K)

Another very good 3D game, and perhaps the best yet from Micromega.

Hyperaction (Silversoft) (Spectrum 48K)

This is an exceptionally hard game to get to grips with. However, persevere, you'll enjoy it.

Danger Mouse In Double Trouble (Creative Sparks) (Spectrum 48K)

I found this game amusing and addictive. I mean it can't be anything but addictive when you're everyone's favourite superhero, trying to save the world.

Avalon (Hewson) (Spectrum 48K)

Avalon scores over its cousin, Ultimate's Atic Atac, in terms of size and complexity, but you'll need eleven fingers and a lot of patience if you're going to get the most from it.