1943 (Go!)

A novel approach to a shoot-'em-up. Good graphics but far, far, far too easy.

Battlecars (Summit)

It's a two player racing game viewed from above (two fairly small windows) and the graphics are awful (UDGs). Much more than that I cannot tell you, 'cos the horrid thing kept crashing on me.

Beach Buggy Simulator (Silverbird)

Simple and frenetic. The scrolling is super-fast and the graphics are fine.

Bomb Jack (Encore)

This really is a game that'll have you coming back for more (and more and more and more). Classic stuff.

Contact Sam Cruise (Summit)

This is quite an absorbing, atmospheric little game which is nice to look at - and pretty hard too.

Eliminator (Alternative)

'A competent and mildly addictive shoot-'em-up' is how I'd describe this one. Fairly average stuff, really.

Flunky (Mastertronic Added Dimension)

The selling point of the game is the giant colourful and very humorous graphics: brilliant caricatures of the royal family. However, for me that wasn't enough to make the game particularly unputdownable.

The Games: Winter Edition (Epyx)

A varied compilation: good effects, varying gameplay - for sports addicts only.

The Great Giana Sisters (Rainbow Arts)

Side view monochrome avoid and collect 'em-up scrolling platform game. It's in the same vein as Wonderboy, but more addictive. Great stuff.

Hades Nebula (Nexus)

The graphics are quite big and detailed - so it's nice to look at - but I found the action a little bit too slow.

Intensity (Firebird)

Intensity is a definite contender for Game Of The Year (yep, another one) and a compulsory purchase.

Karate Ace (Star Games)

A couple of goodies, a few averagies and two or three that aren't really worth the bother. Wide ranging in quality, but not in content.

Mercenary: The Second City (Novagen)

Excellent extension to Mercenary which will keep fans going for yonks. Now where's Damocles, eh, Novagen?

Night Raider (Gremlin)

A cross between a tactical shoot-'em-up and a flight simulation that hasn't quite come off in the 'absorbing' department.

Overlander (Elite)

A simple idea when coupled with good programming works amazingly well. A good buy.

Psycho Pigs U.X.B. (US Gold)

A meaty, frantic dashabout the screen and bomb anything that moves 'em-up. Like a bacon sandwich, you'll be coming back for more.

The Realm (D&H Games)

An excellent game for beginners, and anyone who likes to see an adventure with a bit of imagination.

Road Blasters (US Gold)

A verdcant road racing game. It grows on you like an addictive leech.

Saboteur! (Encore)

Nice big, well animated sprites, a modicum of colour and gameplay which is 384% more absorbing than a J-Cloth.

Skateboard Kidz (Silverbird)

It's a monochrome bash, and the graphics are a fair size, but the layout looks untidy and the action is too slow and messy.

Soldier Of Fortune (Firebird)

Objects, platforms, mapping, monsters, strategy and atmospheric graphics - all put together in one totally addictive game!

Stalingrad (Cases)

A sophisticated, exciting game but rules don't help you get to grips with the tricky bits - you're on your own.

Summer Gold (US Gold)

Even though Captain America and Trantor disappoint, Rygar is a standout success and Bravestarr is an efficient blaster.

The Train: Escape To Normandy (Accolade)

Naff shoot-'em-up sections, but the train driving simulation and atmosphere more than make up for them. Trainspotters rejoice!

Vectorball (Mastertronic Added Dimension)

If this game had the playability of Xeno, it would be fab. As it is, erm, it's sort of alrightish.