Platoon (Ocean)

Six exciting mini-arcade games combined to form one of Ocean's best titles yet.

The Hunt For Red October (Grandslam)

An exciting blend of fact and fiction offering both action and depth.

Galactic Games (Activision)

Intends to amuse, and succeeds, but I have serious doubts about its long term interest.

Bedlam (Go)

Fast but unoriginal. Difficult but not very challenging. Bedlam it may be, new it isn't.

International Karate Plus (Activision)

A decent beat-'em-up which doesn't really add anything to an already overloaded section of the games market.

Way Of The Exploding Fist (Ricochet)

The first, and arguably still the best, two-player combat game. If you've not seen it, rush out and get it chop-chop.

STI (Bug-Byte)

Text only adventure with disjointed flow and a lot of snippets of pathetic humour.

3D Starfighter (Codemasters)

A superficially enjoyable space shoot-'em-up which lacks depth and soon palls.

Deviants (Players)

What makes it really hard is that you have a very short time limit to do your stuff, and the chances of getting the night combination of keys seems like one in a thousand. Still, I like a challenge.

Predator (Activision)

The most solid movie conversion since Short Circuit, only less sickly sweet. As close to macho as most people will ever get.

Space Shuttle (Activision)

Unusual budget flight simulator, nicely balancing the demands of realism with arcade-style excitement.

Merlin (Firebird)

Stunningly pretty arcade adventure, worth seeking out just to see the giant spiders.

Chaos (Firebird)

Enjoyable multi-usery, magical wargamery type of game and a bargain at the price.

Road Wars (Melbourne House)

An original concept that's well implemented. In fact, it's a spotless conversion from the original, and great fun to play.

Captain America (Go!)

Good gameplay and above-average graphics plus a licence too. Let down slightly by some lack of depth.

Shackled (US Gold)

A fun-packed conversion that will keep all Gauntlet fans well entertained. Shame about the graphics though.

Tank Busters (Firebird)

If you're a patient person then this is the game for you. Otherwise, don't bother.

Piggy (Bug-Byte)

How someone could even hope to get away with this trash is beyond me...! It's terrible.

Alien 8 (Ultimate)

Ricochet is really on a roll this month, with yet another release of a classic oldie.

Tas Sign (Tasman)

A slightly odd idea methinks which will probably only serve a small market but technically excellent.

Action Reflex (Ricochet)

The game scrolls along at a nice fast pace and is very, very playable.

LA Swat (Mastertronic)

The programmers have avoided the game slowing down when there is a lot on screen by making the game so impossibly slow that if it slowed down any more, it wouldn't be moving.

Dan Dare II (Virgin)

Some disappointments over the central graphics. The backgrounds are pretty but Dan Dare fans may be disappointed.

Tour De Force (Gremlin)

This awkward race game fails to take the chequered flag.

PHM Pegasus (Electronic Arts)

Ambitious strategy/simulation which doesn't quite deliver the thrills you might expect.

Kikstart 2 (Mastertronic)

Graphically pleasing and with a great atmosphere of 'just one more go'. The designer is very easy to use and once you've created the track, you can race on it.

Magnetron (Firebird)

A wonderfully engrossing game of strategy, fast reactions and forward planning.

Super Stunt Man (Codemasters)

Lots of colourful action and spiffing gameplay in the mucho exciting smash-'em-up.

Nigel Mansell's Grand Prix (Martech)

Technically superb but not especially exciting racing simulation. No reason to crack open the champagne.

Advanced Tactical Fighter (Digital Integration)

Rivetting shoot-'em-up with some aspects of a simulation; great graphics and absorbing gameplay.