Populous 2 (Electronic Arts)

If a game ever deserved the label "Epic", Populous 2 does. The seemingly interminable waiting, the hype, the superlatives, they're all totally and utterly justified.

First Samurai (Image Works)

You can't ask much more from a platform game than you get from this.

Silent Service II (MicroProse)

If you're prepared to take the plunge and wallow in a bit of underwater skullduggery to earn your slice of the action, Silent Service II won't let you down.

Baby Jo (Loriciel)

An enjoyable, if somewhat unforgiving, platform game with idiosyncratic graphics and an engaging air about it.

Cisco Heat (Image Works)

A pretty decent conversion of the Jaleco coin-op. Ignore your first impressions and give the game a few plays. Chances are you'll like it much more than you first thought.

Lotus Turbo Challenge II (Gremlin)

A challenge it may be, but Lotus Turbo Challenge II is just too average by far to get to the finishing line first.

Beast Busters (Activision)

Beast Busters is hackneyed nonsense - but it's strangely endearing nonsense. It's pure violence in a form that's difficult to take seriously.

Rolling Ronny (Virgin Games)

There are nine looong levels, loads of bonuses and much to keep you amused, but nothing too taxing in the way of brainpower usage.

Wild Wheels (Ocean)

A nice idea that could do with a few more embellishments. Graphically though, it's not really up to the job.

Death Bringer (Empire)

There's not a heck of a lot to Death Bringer. Each level is just a matter of moving towards the next, killing numerous creatures on the way to ensure your health doesn't run out.

Captain Planet And The Planeteers (Mindscape International Inc)

Don't be fooled by the trendy ideas; underneath them, there's a bad game waiting to get out.

Robozone (Image Works)

To get to the good bit of the game - the shoot-'em-up - you have to have the patience to play through a lot of dross.

Five Intelligent Strategy Games ()

Crime Time (Starbyte)

An adventure with a difference! Everything is depicted from lots of weird and wonderful angles giving the game a lot of atmosphere.

Wolfpack (Mirrorsoft)

The action in Wolfpack is accurate enough, but the small, rather jerky graphics are dead boring by Silent Service II standards.

Strike Fleet (Electronic Arts)

Strike Fleet is full of detail, technical stuff and impressive naval waffle.

Rugby Coach (D&H Games)

Contains a lot of detail, is easy to use but sadly isn't exciting - or even especially interesting.

Fort Apache (Impressions Ltd)

The scale chosen for Fort Apache is a little strange. A small detachment of US troops wipes out a series of potential train-robbers while avoiding treading on the corns of traditional Indians. It's hardly How The West Was Won, is it?

Super Space Invaders (Domark)

Although this new version has many more interest-holders, there's still not enough to make this a just-one-more-go affair.

The Capcom Collection (U. S. Gold)

Loads of games, but someone somewhere forgot to include anything you'd want to play. For a really worthwhile compilation, seek out the Rainbow Collection.

Populous (Electronic Arts)

Populous was hailed as a classic when it appeared a couple of years ago. Those doing the hailing were absolutely right. It's easy to use but tough to play and it draws you in.

Micro Magic ()

Hard Nova (Electronic Arts)

Not the sort of game that appeals to everyone. If you're after a long term challenge and fancy yourself as a leather-clad person who silences bars by walking in, bristling with weaponry, you might get off on it. But otherwise Hard Nova is hard work.