The Mine (Micro Power) (BBC Model B)

The screen display is very pleasant with four layers in different colours. The sound adds to the atmosphere.

3D Space Ranger (Microbyte) (BBC Model B)

Good value for its 3D effect and graphics, but it may not have enough variety to hold your interest for a long time.

JCB Digger (Acornsoft) (BBC Model B)

The monsters are too familiar, the scrolling is far from smooth and there is an unpleasant flicker to the graphics.

Nemesis (Micro Power) (BBC Model B)

The graphics in Nemesis are of arcade quality, both smooth and colourful.

Ghouls (Micro Power) (BBC Model B)

Excellent graphics, exciting sound and fast action make this a cut above the rest.

Pengwyn (Postern) (Acorn Electron)

Good graphics and challenging play... An enjoyable version of Pengy.

Eagle (Salamander) (BBC Model B)

The graphics and sound are good, and every time you play the game the layout of each screen changes.

Empire (Shards) (BBC Model B)

Recommended for strategists and megalomaniacs only.

Star Trader (First Byte) (BBC Model B)

Moving the cursor you select a planet, conquer it, exploit it and move on to another. Rather dull.

Chess (Micro Power) (Acorn Electron)

Needs a facility for forcing the computer to make a move when you've had a bellyful of waiting.

Pedes And Mutants (Romik) (Commodore Vic 20)

Colourful and noisy, it's hard to tell what to kill and what to avoid.

Choc-A-Block (Paramount) (Commodore Vic 20)

An average blocks game.

The Game (Enigma) (Commodore Vic 20)

I opened it up in the faint hope that it might be something special. But I'm afraid it's just another version of Pac-Man.

Meter Mania (Abrasco) (Commodore Vic 20)

This should have been called Park-Man, because it's basically Pac-Man with parking meters.

Multitron (Sumlock) (Commodore Vic 20)

Fast and furious action.

3 Games (Enigma) (Commodore Vic 20)

A dull set of programs which cannot possibly have any of the satisfaction of playing the games in real life.

Bongo (Anirog) (Commodore Vic 20)

Graphics are very good with a predominance of red and blue. The animation is also excellent, especially when Bongo boings on the trampolines.

Galaxy Jailbreak (Romik) (Sinclair ZX81)

Regardless of your inevitable doom, Galaxy Jailbreak is good fun.

Gamestape One (Fawkes Computing) (Sinclair ZX81)

Unfortunately, this is below the normal standard you would expect from a gamestape, and I suggest you shop elsewhere.

Minefield (Bustech) (Camputers Lynx)

Strangely compulsive for a while, but the game depends too much on luck and is very slow.

Wordsearch (Bustech) (Camputers Lynx)

Its large vocabulary somehow doesn't make up for a noticeable lack of excitement. Even puzzle addicts will probably be unimpressed.

Living Stone (Cable) (Dragon 32)

Living Stone may have more possible moves than a chess game, but whether you'll want to spend all day working them out is another matter altogether.

Convoy Attack (Romik) (Dragon 32)

Very boring. This is one of those games in which death is preferable to glory.

Dragon Hawk (Microdeal) (Dragon 32)

This seems to be one of the better games for the Dragon, but it won't exactly have you fainting with excitement.

Them (Virgin Games) (Oric 48K)

Them gets very tricky towards the end, but despite some original touches it is spoilt by poor movement keys and fails to deliver the promised paranoia.

Scuba Dive (Durell) (Oric 48K)

A game to splash out on. Indeed, putting Scuba Dive on the Oric within 16K is a tremendous feat of programming.

Digger (Mercury Microware) (Oric 48K)

Terrible graphics and poor movement keys.

Super Cobra (Computer Games) (Sord M5)

Your helicopter fires and drops bombs at the same time. It's not bad by CGL standards.

Plumb Crazy (Terminal) (Commodore 64)

Perhaps I'm being fussy, but Plumb Crazy just isn't enough of a challenge.

Hideous Bill And The Gi-Gants (Virgin) (Commodore 64)

One of today's best maze games. There's a jaunty introductory tune and a clever warbling noise as Bill moves around the maze.

Outback (Paramount) (Commodore 64)

Competent sound, good graphics and fast action make this the best Poo-Yan around.

Savage Pond (Starcade) (Commodore 64)

There is a lot to this game... I heartily recommend a dip.

Tank Battalion (Computer Games) (Sord M5)

Scream with frustration at the poor movement keys and insensitive 'joypad controllers'... Froth with indignation at the poor graphics... Aaagh.

Blue Moon (Merlin) (Commodore 64)

Graphics are reasonable but the sound is not impressive.

Flying Feathers (Bubble Bus) (Commodore 64)

Just making the game harder by unleashing preposterous numbers of ravenous eagles, and making greater demands on your shooting control, doesn't make for a compulsive game.

Booga-Boo The Flea (Quicksilva) (Commodore 64)

If you've admired the game on the Spectrum, you will not be disappointed with this excellent version.

Star Commando (Terminal) (Commodore 64)

Essentially just a 3D mega-zap, but its graphics, sound and extras lift it just above the ordinary.

Bumping Buggies (Bubble Bus) (Commodore 64)

The graphics are nothing to write home about, but this seems almost an irrelevant criticism in a game whose enjoyment comes from its compulsiveness and excitement.

Megawarz (Paramount) (Commodore 64)

The game is nicely presented with different skill options and a series of simple tunes.

Gusher (Visions) (Commodore 64)

The excitement of the game's random setbacks doesn't make up for the lack of player involvement.

Chinese Juggler (Ocean) (Commodore 64)

This game is very nearly brilliant. Its major flaw is that once the first stage mastered it doesn't offer enough variety or challenge.

Sub (Romik) (Commodore 64)

If you have a 48K machine, you can happily give this program a miss. 16K owners who are prepared to put in a lot of practice may go overboard for it.

Caesar The Cat (Mirrorsoft) (Commodore 64)

A simple, enjoyable, and original game.

Krakatoa (Abbex) (Spectrum 48K)

Some of the status reports at the bottom of the screen are a bit obscure, and aren't explained, but the display is excellent and the sound about as good as one expects from the Spectrum.

The Island (Crystal) (Spectrum 48K)

Most of your time is spent wandering through caves, which tend to lead you back to where you started.

Bimbo (Joe The Lion) (Spectrum 16K)

Nice name, shame about the game.

Pac-Man (Atarisoft) (Spectrum 16K)

The graphics are faithful to the original, given the Spectrum's limitations, and all in all this is a fair copy of the arcade favourite.

Night Gunner (Digital Integration) (Spectrum 48K)

A game to be thoroughly recommended, offering exciting action for the average arcade player and a tough challenge for the player who thinks he can beat everything.

Exterminator (Algray) (Spectrum 16K/48K)

The game is so silly it's interesting, and it deserves applause for sheer audacity.

Dr. Franky And The Monster (Virgin) (Spectrum 48K)

Dr Franky is a creditable attempt for a 15-year-old programmer, but there are better ways of spending your money.

Xanagrams (Postern) (Spectrum 16K)

It's hard to see Xanagrams being played a lot. It would've been a lot more interesting if the crosswords were a little more intricate.

Bonkers (Procom) (Spectrum 16K)

The game is enjoyable for a bit, but there's not enough strategy to make it a sufficiently interesting long-term proposition.

Lord Harry And Lady Harriet (Lotus-Soft) (Spectrum 16K)

Movement is very smooth and the graphics, without being spectacular, are pretty and colourful.

The Snowman (Quicksilva) (Spectrum 48K)

You have a good choice of control keys, but it's still very hard to move around the screen as fast as you need to.

Arcturus (Visions) (Spectrum 48K)

The program claims to be difficult to beat, but our editor won at the highest level first time off. Either he's a genius, or this is a duff game.

Hurg (Melbourne House) (Spectrum 48K)

Doesn't live up to expectations. Although given a few hours, you should be able to get something of your own design working.

Pinball Wizard (CP Software) (Spectrum 48K)

The display is well-designed and colourful and ball movement is very realistic.

Thrusta (Software Projects) (Spectrum 16K)

Nice animation and several different screens of action make Thrusta a game that offers just a bit more than the competition.

Jet Set Willy (Software Projects) (Spectrum 48K)

You can't afford to miss this...! Enter Willy's mansion and begin the whackiest, craziest adventure of your life.

Chopper X-1 (R&R) (Spectrum 16K)

The sound is surprisingly good for the Spectrum, and all in all this is a reasonable game for 16K.

House Of The Living Dead (Phipps Associates) (Spectrum 48K)

Clear graphics and eerie sound effects. The idea, however, could have been developed further - for example, a variety of floor plans instead of one.

Dustman (Timescape) (Spectrum 48K)

The objects are small but their motion is beautifully smooth. The only disappointment is that the action is basically the same at every stage.

Dragonsbane (Quicksilva) (Spectrum 48K/128K)

Best described as Adventure by Multiple Choice. Your best choice is to steer well clear.

War 70 (Cases) (Spectrum 48K)

A challenging and absorbing wargame.

Fred (Quicksilva) (Spectrum 48K/Plus)

Fred is a delightful game and a delightful chap. Well worth a trip to the tombs to meet him.

Eskimo Eddie (Ocean) (Spectrum 48K)

The first is a simple affair in which you have to dodge a couple of polar bears. Unfortunately, every time you lose out on part two you have to go through part one again.

The Guardian (PSS) (Spectrum 48K)

All in all, I found this a disappointment and I can't see it becoming a well-used tape.

Codename Mat (Micromega) (Spectrum 48K)

Not a game for loading into your computer for a few minutes' fun. You have to be willing to spend quite a long time playing it.

Moon Buggy (Visions) (Spectrum 48K)

A good choice of control keys. And not at all bad for 16K.

The Ultra (PSS) (Oric 48K/Atmos)

Oric owners aren't exactly spoilt for choice in good games. But this one gives them classic entertainment as good as that offered on any micro.

Jerico 2 (Elephant) (Oric 48K)

Held my interest for a few hours. But I lost every game I played for reasons that didn't strike me as being entirely logical.

Strategic Command (Romik) (Dragon 32)

The game's screen graphics are unfortunately rather dull, and the sound is no great shakes either. But strategy fans are not likely to be put off by such considerations.

Sting 64 (Quicksilva) (Commodore 64)

A good idea which just misses being a good game, mainly because the player has too little to do.

Death Cruiser (Noble House) (Spectrum 48K)

A standard game which can be exciting at the advanced level.