F15 Strike Eagle (Microprose)

Technically detailed, but not necessarily fun to play. The emphasis is firmly on simulation, not gameplay or graphics.

Tai-Pan (Ocean)

Perhaps the first 'real' 128K game. Taipan is a mixture of trading and arcade that works. Several cred points for Ocean.

Road Runner (US Gold)

Straightforward chase game - which captures the original cartoon quite well - let down by small graphics.

Deathscape (Starlight)

Fast and furious flying mission with good clear graphics. Worth taking a look at if you're a shoot-'em-ups person.

Livingstone, I Presume (Alligata)

Nicely done seek and find game with a neat twist on Stanley and Livingstone story. Tricky-thinking needed.

Thing Bounces Back (Gremlin)

Bigger than the original, but there's a shortage of new traps to fill the game map.

Zynaps (Hewson)

Superb shoot-'em-up with the fastest, most detailed graphics anywhere. The game joysticks were designed for.

Wiz (Melbourne House)

New approach from Redhawk authors results in neat mix of zapping and thinking. Magic stuff.

Mad Nurse (Firebird)

All about nurses maintaining law and order in a babies' hospital ward. Apart from attribute clash, it's an entertaining little toddler.

Parabola (Firebird)

Boring bouncy thing and lots of squares. Not worth springing out of bed to go and buy it.

Jackle And Wide (Bulldog)

Yet another walk about a bit and pick up things then solve the puzzles sort of game. But not one to rave about.

SAS Strike Force (Mikro-Gen)

Cashing in on the heroes of the SAS does not produce a game to drool over. Runny-jumpy game - not a lot else.

Howard The Duck (Activision)

Moral: next time spend less money on the licence and more on the programming. Another lucky escape for Howard.

Metrocross (US Gold)

Initially entertaining but ultimately unsatisfying licence. To be avoided if you've got anything along the same lines.

Falcon: The Renegade Lord (Virgin)

Simplistic shooter that has arcade adventure pretensions, but this is one Virgin product that never takes off.

Mag Max (Imagine)

Nice fast blast with a good variety of beasties to destroy. Well worth a look at if you're a shoot-'em-up fan.

Quartet (Activision)

Team spirit and fast action make Quartet a cut above the usual alien-killer. A nice game which should do well.

Micronaut One (Nexus)

Brilliant 3D graphics, and gameplay. You may take a while to understand it, but in the end, you'll be hooked.

Killed Until Dead (US Gold)

Good value, easy to pick up, challenging gameplay with strategy element - indeed a winnair, ma dear Watson.

Earthshock (8th Day)

Very atmospheric and tough adventure with a twist - three different solutions.

Temple Of Terror (US Gold/Adventuresoft)

Plot from old Fighting Fantasy book, nicely presented but short on content. Experienced players will find it easy.

Milk Race (Mastertronic)

A nice spoof on the real race. Entertaining with a touch of suspense, when's that next milk churn coming along?

Kick Boxing (Firebird)

It's games like this that give the budget software industry a bad name, Truly dull, apart from the pyjama bottoms.