Carrier Command (Rainbird)

A masterful piece of programming, one of the finest products I have ever seen on the Spectrum, and a game which is on a par with Elite.

Red Heat (Ocean)

Excellent comic-style graphics. Though they're monochrome, the animation and design are excellent, and because you're only shown Arnie's top half, it gives an impression of great size.

3D Pool (Firebird)

A brilliant Pool sim. You never need go to the pub again.

Microprose Soccer (Microprose)

Microprose Soccer has become the standard by which all others are set on the C64 and, fool that I am, I hoped for the same for the Spectrum. Alas it was not to be.

Zybex (Zeppelin Games)

Fab colours. Brain-numbing sound and non-stop action.

Grand Prix Simulator 2 (Codemasters)

What a shame. This just doesn't play very well, and it's that that has solely managed to completely eliminate the fun of a multiplayer game.

Pasteman Pat (Silverbird)

Graphics are OKish but, basically, it's a bit dull. Perhaps puzzle games are meant to be dull, though I doubt it.

Arcade Flight Simulator (Codemasters)

Excellent fun for about an hour... then you'll be looking for new targets to shoot down.

The Games: Summer Edition (Epyx)

Either the programming team at Epyx haven't fully realised the Spectrum's capabilities, or the humble Speccy just isn't built for Epyx Games.

Moto Cross Simulator (Codemasters)

Irritatingly difficult and unrewarding bikey sim, best buried in the mud.

Mike Read's Computer Pop Quiz (Encore)

Fab TV/Board-game conversion. Fingers on your buzzers

Twin Turbo V8 (Codemasters)

With a little more speed, the game could be great.

The Paranoia Complex (Magic Bytes)

Dull, boring and tedious. I just didn't enjoy playing it at all.

Task Force (Players Premier)

A fun shoot-'em-up, but surprisingly short on addictive qualities.