Chip's Challenge (US Gold)

Hand-held console puzzler that translates well to the Spec. Crap(ish) to look at, great fun to play.

Days Of Thunder (Mindscape)

Averageish driving game about a fairly boring sort of racing. For those who've seen the film only, I'm afraid (if, indeed, there are any).

Dragon Breed (Activision)

A pretty decent and original blast-'em-up - though St Dragon got there first.

The Empire Strikes Back (The Hit Squad)

I quite happily completed the thing on my second go ever (in easy mode, of course), so you may find it a pushover. Still, it's fun 'til the novelty wears off.

Extreme (Digital Integration)

Too short and easy, but as a demo of what the Speccy can do it's one of the games of the year.

Golden Axe (Virgin Games)

A brilliant beat-'em-up with loads of characters, colour and nice little touches. The best of its kind all year.

Gunboat (Accolade)

A jazzed up shoot-'em-up spoiled by jerky 3D and disorienting graphics.

Jaws (Alternative)

Loads of colour, weapons (and treasure) to collect, puzzles to solve... Also, it's nicely presented, addictive, playable, and, if perhaps a little tedious, it still makes a pretty tasty bargain to snap up (Ho ho!).

Judge Dredd (Virgin/Mastertronic)

Sad graphics but large number of scenarios. It's like they've tried to get too much in and, as a result, spread everything too thin.

Kick Off 2 (Anco)

Above-average footie game but not much better than the original, and certainly not as mega as the 16-bits.

Line Of Fire (US Gold)

A disappointing Operation Wolf variant that claims to be different but isn't at all really.

Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge (Gremlin Graphics)

A very fast and pretty smooth driving game, with interesting (but slower) two-player option.

The Munsters (Alternative)

The graphics are clear and large, and the sound's quite good too, but that isn't really much use when the game suffers from complete boringness.

One Of Our Wombats Is Missing (Zenobi)

A great little game and well worth playing through to the end. It's not too big but still hard enough and different enough to refresh those parts that the others don't always reach.

R-Type (The Hit Squad)

Amazing graphics (with no clash), unbelievably addictive, extremely playable, eight varied levels, a classic of its kind...

Run The Gauntlet (The Hit Squad)

Three averagely average sub-games - nothing special, although then again for a mere £2.99 you certainly are getting quite a lot of game for your moolah.

Solar Empire (Players)

All sorts of add-ons are available too - tractor beam, long range scanner or collectable repair and upgrade pod, anyone? Yep, a definite gameplayer's delight.

Strider II (US Gold)

Strider II is an improvement on the original in most every respect, though somehow it's missing something - the novelty has gone.

Super Cars (Gremlin Graphics)

A fairly simple but perfectly executed Super Sprint clone - which scrolls! All in all, great fun - a simple idea for a game and executed more or less flawlessly.

Target: Renegade (The Hit Squad)

This is good because it's just so playable. Mind you, it is a little easy to complete, especially when doing it simo two-player style.

Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles (Image Works)

A jolly colourful platform-and-ladders romp - simple but fast and very professionally put together.