Foxx Fights Back (Imageworks)

Comedy shoot-out without a hint of naff-ness. Good graphics and an amusing style.

Great Giana Sisters (Rainbow Arts)

Though the idea is original, and it is a new style of game for the Speccy, it's just not very good. I can't even see it appealing to fans of Mario Brothers itself.

Octan (Silverbird)

By no means perfect; the controls sometimes feel a bit plodding, even when you've collected your 'speed-up' icon... But it's a supremely polished game with fab graphics.

Overlander (Elite)

Exciting and enjoyable racey-shooty opic not unlike a certain coin-op.

Diamond (Destiny)

Unplayable multi-scroller with low amount of attraction.

Vectorball (Mastertronic)

Original, inventive and slickly programmed but hard to play.

Roadblasters (US Gold)

Nice-looking coin-op conversion with a bit of racing and shooting.

Vampire's Empire (Magic Bytes)

Cute idea and great graphics but it doesn't hang together.

Frank Bruno's Boxing (Encore)

One of the best punch-'em-ups of all time.

Hades Nebula (Gamebusters)

Badly-scrolling, frustratingly hard shoot-'em-up. It's very addictive though.

Stop Ball (Mastertronic)

Unexpectedly awful bash-the-ball effort, distinguished by dreadful sound FX.

Mr. Wino (Silverbird)

There is a very nice use of colour and although we have seen absolutely everything before, it's perfectly playable and should keep you occupied until dinner is ready.

Psycho Pigs (US Gold)

Cutesy-wutesy but less than rivetting pig-out.

Hopping Mad (Elite)

Half-hearted attempt at a zany arcade challenge.

Droidz (Silverbird)

The later levels become extremely hectic and each new screen brings fresh problems to overcome. Great stuff - go get it now!

Barbarian (Melbourne House)

Barbaric hack-slash and shoot-'em-up. A must buy.

Tracksuit Manager (Goliath Games)

The best ever managerial game. The one your Speccy has been waiting for.

Impossible Mission II (US Gold)

The graphics for the main sprite are the same as those used in the original, but this is where any similarity ends. The robots are dull and by no means as well animated, the long, frazzly, crackly lasers have turned into thin, straight lines and the lift moves at three times the speed.

Stalingrad (Cases)

A reasonably competent strategy game - don't buy it if you already have Overlord.

Last Ninja 2 (System 3)

Huge, wonderful, unmissable martial arts graphic adventure.