The Fourth Protocol (Century/Hutchinson)

Even if you do not like the Frederick Forsyth's book you will, nevertheless, like the software.

Glass (Quicksilva/Argus Press)

Glass has stunning 3D effects and is value for money both in terms of quality and quantity of special effects and aliens. It takes a lot of beating.

Hyper Sports (Imagine)

Certainly superior to the current crop of sports simulations.

Frankie Goes To Hollywood (Ocean)

Symbols x Shadow = Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Frankie x Spectrum = Buy it.

Give My Regards To Broad Street (Argus Press)

It is unfortunate that such an obviously brilliant team of programmers did not have a better plot with which to work with here.

A View To A Kill (Domark)

You can play along to the original Bond theme tune, to Duran Duran's single of the same name or switch off for blessed quiet and a chance to hear Bond introduce himself: "My name is Bond, James Bond".

Falcon Patrol 2 (Virgin Games)

The game is too easy. It's like shooting fish in a barrel.

Nicotine Nightmare (Atlantis)

More could have been made of Nicotine Nightmare. The pace, graphics and feel of the game is about two years out of date.

Cauldron (Palace)

A pleasing and playable game. A bonus is to be found on the B side which contains the Evil Dead, never released for the Spectrum.

Lightmagic: Graphics Designer (New Generation)

The facilities offered are impressive and it can be recommended without reservations.

Helichopper (Firebird)

Some screens are about as exciting as a wet sponge and follow the same pattern with minor differences.

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (Hill MacGibbon)

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory palls after a very short time. However, as the package comprises five games and the book, it must represent reasonable value for money.

Icicle Works (Statesoft)

Icicle Works is mere kindergarten stuff. Aging Pengy fans and the rest - stay clear.

Assembler (Roybot)

The Test facilities are useful but do not make it worth the expense when there are other, better, products on the market.

Plan And Design Your Garden (Blandford Press)

There is nothing here that cannot be found in any reasonable gardening book. The whole package is outrageously overpriced.

Arnhem (Cases)

For those who enjoy simulation wargaming, Arnhem is one of the best, and captures the problems of maintaining a swift advance along narrow country roads remarkably well.

Battle For Midway (PSS)

A few months ago we would have said it was fine. After Overlords and Arnhem, however, it seems a bit ordinary.

Don't Buy This (Firebird)

Firebird disclaims all responsibility for the game and states that the product 'may be copied, lent, hired or transmitted at will.' It also advises action if the programming is faulty - put sticky tape over the lug holes and use it as a blank cassette.

Locomotion (Mastertronic)

Spacescan (Macmillian)/Astronomy (Scisoft)

As with a great deal of educational software the price seems just too high for what you receive.

Car Cure (Simtron)

Competent home mechanics will have no use for this program. Incompetent home mechanics will be totally baffled. Software like this gives computers a bad name.

Pascal (Metacomco)

EVA (Westway)

Cartridge Doctor (Talent)

QL Caverns (Sinclair Research)

QL Agenda (Q-Soft)

Survey II (Lobos)

A solid program which is well protected against accidental crashes.

Bizzicom (Merlin)

Although the program is of no practical use in its present form, the screen layout and prompting in the first part could, with a lot of work, form the basis for a promising program.

Statistics II (Bridge)

The claims for user friendly programs are over-exaggerated, but as the programs do not do a great deal they cannot help but be user friendly.

Bored Of The Rings (CRL)

The humour can be fairly school-boyish at times and there are a couple of occasions when it is both distasteful and unnecessarily unpleasant.

Return Of The Joystick (Delta 4)

The world of computing companies and magazines may seem big to those in it but to outsiders it may not have the same appeal. Some of the humour relies upon in-jokes and you may find that some of the characters are unknown to you.

Runestone (Games Workshop)

The heroes each have their own cross to bear and their own skills. And watch out for Skrimnal who will rip you off something rotten!

Key Of Hope (Games Workshop)

If you enjoyed Tower Of Despair then you will no doubt relish the sequel.

Ashkeron (Mirrorsoft)

Well-made and attractively presented.