Ball Crazy (Mastertronic Added Dimension)

Nice graphics - shame about the game. Check before you buy.

The Big Sleaze (Piranha)

Business is about to pick up. The obligatory female enters your office one rainy night and casts the obligatory stunningly beautiful silhouette on the door... For the rest, buy the game, dumbo.

Bulbo And The Lizard-King (Zenobi)

Not for the faint-hearted, but definitely one for those with a Boggit-like sense of humour.

Conflicts 1 (PSS)

War games that will provide hours of interest.

Conflicts 2 (PSS)

Though both games are set in the same area and in the same period, they couldn't be more different!

Deathscape (Starlight)

Ultra-fast, multi-level shoot-'em-up which will have you begging for more. It should come with additional adrenalin for addicts.

Down To Earth (Firebird)

Boulderdash-inspired, but this tale of tactics amongst the underground tunnels is over the top value at an under the bottom price.

Exolon (Hewson)

Fast action with incredible graphics and constant variety. One of the best shoot-'em-ups ever!

F-15 Strike Eagle (Microprose)

Technically accurate but otherwise disappointing aerial simulation - possibly just too ambitious for the dear old Spectrum.

Falcon: The Renegade Lord (Virgin)

Not a patch on the books and, for a tenner, a touch overpriced. For addicts only.

The Final Matrix (Gremlin)

An excellent arcade adventure in the Ultimate mode - witty, tough and fun to play.

Flash Gordon (Mastertronic Added Dimension)

A three-in-one arcade game based on the comic strip hero. It may be a cheapie, but it's a bundle of fun.

Hydrofool (Faster Than Light)

Watery frolics with Sweevo that'll delight anyone who enjoyed the original. But underneath it's not that much different to the original Sweevo game.

Kickboxing (Firebird)

Bog standard kickarama which wouldn't cut it at full price, but may be attractive to addicts.

Killed Until Dead (US Gold)

Probably the best detective game ever. Take on the weird suspects and wild humour of this wholly original brainteaser.

Leader Board Tournament (US Gold)

Lethally hard follow-up for Leader Board addicts. Beginners beware, but Speccy Severianos should love it.

Mag Max (Imagine)

A simple shoot-'em-up but packed with the secret hookability that makes you keep on coming back for more!

Metro-Cross (US Gold)

A dinky little rusharound - another goodie from US Gold. Sharp graphics, and totally addictive!

Olympic Spectacular (Alternative)

Dreadful sportsim - the worst game since EastEnders. A complete non-starter. Highlights for me included choosing the keys and switching it off.

Milk Race (Mastertronic)

Fast moving cheapie that's taken the chart by storm.

Mr. Weems And The She Vampires (Piranha)

A nifty chasearound in the Gauntlet mould. Fast, furious and heavy on the garlic.

Mutants (Ocean)

A disappointing mutation from the Commodore that lacks the speed and playability to make it addictive.

Roundheads (Lothlorien)

Strategically boring, tactically interesting and exciting, though too fast for well-planned and executed manoeuvres. Quirky at times. Buy it if you like a good, fast zap!

Shadows Of Mordor (Melbourne House)

I know many of you, like me, were disappointed with Lord Of The Rings, but do give this one a try as Melbourne House has got rid of most of its bad hobbits.

Tai-Pan (Ocean)

Brilliant fun. A splendid original strategy game with arcade phases.

Temple Of Terror (US Gold)

I enjoyed the adventure more than most and it passed the test of 'Will I want to go back to it again?'

Thing Bounces Back (Gremlin)

Puts new life in an old genre by being jam-packed with devious features.

Trio (Elite)

Sampler of games that wouldn't stand alone but are quite fun together. But you might do better with three budget games.

Voidrunner (Mastertronic Added Dimension)

A simple but sensational shoot-'em-up of awesome speed and multiple levels. Not for the faint-hearted or weak-wristed.

Wiz (Melbourne House)

More Gauntlet-like wizardry, but neither graphics nor gameplay match the high standards of its rivals.

Wonder Boy (Activision)

A fairly faithful conversion of the Sega coin-op.

Zynaps (Hewson)

A good, wholesome shoot-'em-up that'll keep you playing but won't knock you for six.