Academy (CRL)

Enough of a challenge to keep you in sleepless nights.

After Shock (Interceptor Micros)

Definitely one of those adventures I'll plug away at, rather than put away after reviewing.

Asterix And The Magic Cauldron (Melbourne House)

A classic case of licensing a character then merely producing a load of old Gauls.

Avenger (Gremlin)

A one player game only. But it's big, and I reckon it burns as brightly as ever.

Black Hawk (Sparklers)

A pretty good shoot-'em-up that's well worth the price.

Buccaneer (Firebird)

As far as playing goes, I found that you could kill most of the waves by just sitting in one place with the fire button down.

Double Volleyball (Mastertronic)

If you're really into reflex-honing reaction games, then it's probably worth paying the extra for Imagine's Ping Pong or CRL's Room 10.

Captain Kelly (Quicksilva)

All I can say is: take it away, Capt'n... 'cos I certainly don't want it!

Cheetah Sound Sampler (Cheetah)

I liked the Electro Kit for the SpecDrum though. Just like a Simmons Kit for the SpecDrum, although I'm probably not allowed to say that.

Cyrus II (Alligata)

I can't really comment on the grandmaster-shattering potential of Cyrus, but for many people the fact that it plays a good game will be enough.

Dragon's Lair (Software Projects)

I think it was a bad idea to attempt a conversion of this magnitude, unless you were sure to produce a workable game. Shame.

Druid (Firebird)

I've seen this on the Amstrad and it's a lot of fun with a friend bopping the beasties, but playing with yourself just isn't as satisfying. Quite why Firebird failed to include the two player option here, I have no idea.

Firelord (Hewson)

It has an olde worlde charm that could soon wear off, unless you're really into the game type. Personally I'd have preferred something rather more original from Hewson.

Futurezoo (Clwyd Adventure Software)

The Great Seal of Senissa is not the type that swallows fish by the bucketful; rather it is a 'revered artefact', or so it says here.

Galivan: Cosmo Police (Imagine)

The graphics and sound aren't particularly wonderful... I can't say I was thrilled to bits to play the game.

The Girl Who Was Death (Stephen Preston)

Definitely not a plod of an adventure... I recommend you take a look.

Gyron Arena (Firebird)

The gameplay is exactly the same as in Gyron - you wander round a maze shooting at towers and there's still the smoothly moving vector style graphics which show your view down the trenches.

H.R.H. (8th Day)

Someone at 8th Day certainly knows their way round The Quill, and whether they soon also know their way round the dungeons at the Tower of London remains to be seen.

HardBall! (Advance)

The amount of control you have seems questionable since it's more of a case of wind it up and let it go.

The Ice Temple (Bubble Bus)

It doesn't matter how many different versions of this game I have to play, I still think they're triffic fun. And with 900 rooms to visit, and lots of things to kill, I think you will too.

Journey To The Centre Of Eddie Smith's Head (Players)

I'd have welcomed a GRAPHICS OFF command, as the pictures are pretty duff stuff - you wouldn't catch me sitting on that toilet, I can tell you! You might catch me playing this adventure again, though.

Light Force (Faster Than Light)

Doesn't quite seem to have captured the elements that make a shoot 'em up totally addictive. Instead it becomes frustrating and, though the graphics move fast for their size, they seem rather sluggish on-screen.

Marble Madness (Melbourne House)

Is this the definitive Marble Madness on the Speccy? It's tough, it's changeable, it's addictive, it's cheap and you'd better buy it, or you'll never forgive yourself!

Moron (Atlantis)

Gives you plenty of exploring and plenty of fun.

Music Machine (Cheetah)

It's a good all round machine. For fifty quid you can't go wrong. Brilliant.

Phantomas (Codemasters)

Not nearly original enough for a Megagame, but I will play Phantomas again. It's fun.

Vampire (Codemasters)

Compared to other platform games it matches up quite well, and it's difficult enough to keep interest going. The only thing it really lacks is any new creative ideas.

Pub Games (Alligata)

You can play them as individual games or run your total together for an aggregate score measured in pounds... All the game lacks is decent sound effects.

Romantic Robot Videoface (Romantic Robot)

Very simple to use and a lot of fun.

Room Ten (CRL)

This is an enjoyable and well made game. More of a tennis game than Tennis, more of a ping pong game than Ping Pong, with none of the contemptuous familiarity of either.

Souls Of Darkon (Bug-Byte)

With coins, swords, crystal fountains and blacksmiths, there's nothing very original in the early stages of the game, but that doesn't matter as the whole thing is well presented.

Storm (Mastertronic)

A nice idea but poorly implemented. The action is viewed from above and the graphics are a bit too chunky to make the game special.

Street Hawk (Ocean)

It's not even well programmed. Really, if I want some two wheel action, I'd prefer Paperboy's BMX.

Thrust (Firebird)

Level after level it continues, getting harder and harder as you thrust away, penetrating the planets' caves, spurting laser death at the domed defences.

Trailblazer (Gremlin)

Undoubtedly a classic. It'll have you bouncing up and down in frustration.

Conquestador (Melbourne House)

What was enjoyable with this game was that I could get a little further each time I played it, not too much as to give the whole thing away, but just enough to make me have just one more go.

Uridium (Hewson)

The ultimate shooting match. Even the horizontal scrolling, never easy on the Speccy, is superfast and smooth.

Video Poker (Mastertronic)

Video Poker has no frills, or thrills, unless you're an ardent addict of the one-armed bandit - and there's no nudges or big knobs to play with here!

Winter Games 128K (US Gold)

Maybe sports simulations are last year's thing and it won't be cool to be seen with Winter Games, but if you've just availed yourself of one of Uncle Alan's Plus Twos, get piste.

The Witch Hunter (Pocket Money)

Plenty to explore early on, problems slowly becoming apparent, although the vocabulary was a little fussy in places.

Zythum (Mirrorsoft)

As a budget game this would've been good value and a charming little shoot-up, but the charm tarnishes when it's going out at a little under eight quid.