Aliens (Electric Dreams)

Enough of a challenge to keep you going for weeks/months/decades... According to games designer Mark Eyles, there's a twist in the tale for anyone who gets to the end too.

Annals Of Rome (PSS)

There's a note in the booklet that the most important lesson learned by the author is the ultimate futility of imperialism. Well, that may be so, but I'd have thought the ultimate lesson to be learnt is how to make a game of this type interesting and fun!

The Archers (Level 9/Mosaic)

Like listening to the radio show - once is fine, a repeat you can take for the bits you missed, but repeated repeats are for registered addicts only.

The Artist II (SofTechnics)

A full feature, state of the art paint package with a string of possibilities as long as your brush. The features and power of the big graphics crunching computers can be yours.

Bugsy (CRL)

The usual mix of baffle and hoot from St Brides.

Cobra (Ocean)

Sure, Cobra isn't very original, but it's furious fun which will test you to the limits. It's also one of the better film-linked titles.

Colossus Bridge 4 (CDS)

Builds a bridge across a whirlpool of confusing rules and terms to a game you'll fast become hooked on.

The Colour Of Magic (Piranha)

Graphics are reasonably good when they appear, and you can switch them off as well as use the welcome RAM SAVE option. Put it to the top of your shopping list now!

Contact Sam Cruise (Microsphere)

The graphics do get a bit difficult to sort out sometimes - especially when you've got dollar bills, passers-by and cops all vying for the same spot on-screen - but if you're looking for a bit of private eyeing, take my advice kid, and contact Sam Cruise.

Deep Strike (Durell)

At budget price this would be alright, but at almost ten quid it's a real bum deal that should be grounded immediately!

Defcom (Quicksilva)

Certainly different, and at least Quicksilva is trying something newish. It's just a pity that, as a game, it's terminally dull.

Donkey Kong (Ocean)

It's still fairly addictive if you're looking for some mindless, nostalgic fun. But full price?! Perhaps Ocean is into time travel but this is too much for a ticket to 1983.

Dracula (CRL)

Impressive use of lengthy sections of text, but ultimately an adventure that promises much more than it actually delivers.

Fairlight II (The Edge)

This sequel may not come as quite such a (pleasant) shock as the first time you loaded its predecessor, but it's still just as much a megagame.

Future Knight (Gremlin)

The game's big enough to keep you going for weeks, and that's before you start making a map.

Gauntlet (US Gold)

An adventure in the land of multi-load.

King's Keep (Firebird)

A very playable game - easy to get into and slightly more taxing on the old grey matter than the usual run-of-the-mill cheapie shoot-'em-ups.

Legend Of Kage (Imagine)

It's likely to be of interest only to fans of the original and the most dedicated of orientalists.

Mailstrom (Ocean)

For me, Mailstrom just fails to deliver. Despite its wry humour and its neat scenario there are long tracts of boredom, 'cos it's just so slow, even when in super pursuit mode.

Napoleon At War (Cases)

It's technically very smooth, though I'm sure CCS could've smartened up the graphics.

Orbix The Terrorball (Streetwise)

Somehow there just didn't seem enough variety, enough drama, enough meat, to make me want to play for long.

Pro Golf (Atlantis)

If you're looking for a competent golfing simulation that's going for a birdie then Pro Golf proves to be a hole in one!

Samurai (CRL)

Provides a pleasant change from joystick juggling.

SAS: Operation Thunderflash!! (Sparklers)

This is a daft game - it's too hard to get into and has poor graphics and gameplay. It's still stuck in basic training as far as I'm concerned!

Shao-Lin's Road (The Edge)

Simple to play, but hard to beat, with just enough incentive to keep you going.

Speed King 2 (Mastertronic)

Okay, so the graphics aren't pretty and there are no sub-screens where you can assess your race status - or predict the bends of the course - but this game's great fun to play.

Survivors (Atlantis)

At best, Survivors could be described as a graphical adventure with a bit of logic thrown in. At worst, it's predictable and frustrating.

Terminus (Mastertronic)

512 screens makes the game l-o-n-g, but no great originality of thought has gone into it. It's built like I cook: a bit of this, a bit of that and a lot of nothing in particular.

Terra Cognita (Codemasters)

Otherwise it's mix your manic manoeuvring skills with that of the deadly digit - the old trigger finger.

Trivial Pursuit: Young Players Edition (Domark)

What is it about the Wombles that fascinates the Trivial Pursuit writers? No doubt historians will be debating this for years to come.

W.A.R. (Martech)

A whole lot of fun. Strap me back into my armchair - I'm off to nuke the nasties again!

Xeno (A 'n F)

Xeno is one of the best of the future sports games. It somehow feels right, and that should keep you coming back for more.

Xevious (US Gold)

Xevious is fast, vicious and enthralling. If you can forgive graphics that never realty rise above the mundane, you should get a lot out of it.

Zub (Mastertronic)

Zub is everything a budget game should be - unpretentious, great fun to play and worth the dosh.