10 Great Games 3 (Gremlin Graphics)

A compilation that really is a mixed bag - some of the games really are great but others let the side down. Overall, pretty good for the money - but not the best!

10th Frame (Kixx)

The challenge, for all the fine programming, is all but non-existent, and the game is pretty dull.

Ace Of Aces (Kixx)

Though this is not, I think, quite up to MicroProse's peerless standards, it's certainly more than just a shoot-'em-up, and provides more than a couple of minutes' challenge for flighty chaps like Biffo and Storker.

Advanced Pinball Simulator (Codemasters)

A computer game based, to a greater or lesser extent, on pinball. As that, it works well.

Airborne Ranger (Microprose)

A fair shoot-'em-up with bearable graphics and acceptable addictiveness, but average multi-load stricken gameplay.

Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax (Palace)

Slobbery follow-up to everybody's fave slash 'n' drool game of 1987. Fab poster, but the game's not up to much.

Batman: The Caped Crusader (Ocean)

A triumph for Ocean and, without doubt, Special FX's finest achievement so far.

By Fair Means Or Foul (Superior)

The game's tidily presented with a subtle splattering of special effects and humour, but the poor graphics, unwieldy control, and painful speed just prove that boxing games don't work particularly well on the computer.

Combat Lynx (Encore)

I remember this as being pretty hot four years ago, but now I find it very dry and uninteresting.

Commando (Encore)

I'm sure that Commando still has its fans, and many of them will grab this chance to buy a cheap copy of an old favourite game. But it hasn't aged well.

The Devil's Hand (Compass)

Far easier than its predecessors... but well above average for games in this price range. Money well spent.

Foxx Fights Back (Image Works)

It may not be a classic, but it is a good romp and should take a while to complete.

From Out of a Dark Night Sky (Zenobi)

Trickier than you might at first think, and the mini-adventure is packed with laughs.

Guerrilla War (Imagine)

A good 'ol romping blasterama through tropical forests, let down slightly by awkward control.

Hydrofool (Rack-It)

Nowadays all cheapy 3D isometrics are ripped off from Head Over Heels, but Hydrofool is a return to more original days.

Light Force (Rack-It)

Plays like a dream. Yes, it may not be the fastest game in the world, but the graphics are superb - full of colour and imagination - and the gameplay - easy at first, but getting gradually harder - is perfectly judged.

The Muncher (Gremlin Graphics)

A large sprite, prehistoric mega-romp and smash-'em up with the emphasis on total destruction. Plagued by slow control response but great fun nevertheless.

Power Pyramids (Grandslam)

Bouncy platform game with problem solving to the fore. Doesn't look up to much, but curiously addictive and challenging.

R-Type (Activision)

It's a fiendishly addictive and difficult shoot-'em-up with great graphics, loads of colour and the kind of knobs which make it scream 'Hey, I'm absolutely playable - come and have another go!'.

Rambo III (Ocean)

A three part shoot-'em-up with loads to do, nice graphics and the emphasis on difficulty. Shame about the politics.

Return Of The Jedi (Domark)

Third of the Star Wars games, and a total style departure from the previous two. Not a bad little diagonally scrolling avoid-'em-up, but then not a particularly brilliant one.

Roy Of The Rovers (Gremlin Graphics)

Neat variation on the football game which really captures the atmosphere of the comic strip. Only the actual football bit lets it down!

Shockway Rider (Rack-It)

The clear and colourful graphics are quite impeccable, and it's all as fast as anything you'll see today.

Tank Command (Atlantis)

The graphics are nice, and it's been well programmed, but there's one crucial thing missing... any new ideas at all.

Tiger Road (Go!)

Routine horizontal scrolling basher and jumper, nothing new but pretty graphics. I don't think this will keep the average arcade addict going for more than an afternoon or two.

Total Eclipse (Incentive)

Yet another superb Freescape game from Incentive. These people just seem streets ahead of the competition.

Trackmaster (Destiny)

A maze game merged with a few shoot-'em-up moments and logic problems which will have me, for one, going back for more. Pretty good stuff.

Trivial Pursuit: A New Beginning (Domark)

A reworking of the Triv computer game from scratch, which gives you more game and less bored.