Esmeralda has been captured again, so Quasimodo sets out to rescue her again. As in the previous game, you must dodge various hazards, but this time, it's a proper platform game in which you can move all around the screen. Your aim on each of the five screens is to collect all the bells on the platforms. To move from one platform to another, you can either jump or use the ropes on the large bells. However, it's rather hard, and pixel-perfect precision is often required. The graphics are OK for their time, and the jingles when you start a new game and complete a level are very jolly, but the actual gameplay isn't particularly endearing to me.

See also: Hunchback.

More information on TACGR

4

The Viking king Jorund has been captured and is being held by the Viking gods somewhere in the kingdom of Lukx. Jorund's daughter, Hundra, must enter the kingdom and rescue him. As Hundra, you must collect three precious jewels in order to rescue Jorund. The first isn't too difficult to find, but you'll need two keys to collect the others, and you can't collect the circular key until you've found the triangular key. This isn't a bad platform game by any means, and the graphics are colourful and appealing. However, there are numerous traps which are frustratingly difficult to avoid, meaning that lives are needlessly wasted. Despite this, it's still possible to explore most of what is a fairly good game.

More information on TACGR

7

The film that this game is based on sees a Soviet submarine commander called Marko Ramius in charge of Russia's most high-tech submarine, the Red October, which is virtually undetectable. Ramius is planning to defect to the Americans, but they don't believe him. However, the CIA agent Jack Ryan does, and he sets out to find it, before the American and Russian navies beat him to it. The game consists of five levels which re-enact some of the scenes in the film, and there are several distinct types of gameplay throughout the game. The graphics are quite good, but two of the five levels are simple sub-games rather than levels in the proper sense, and the game itself is too short and too easy; I completed it after only a few goes.

More information on TACGR

6

This is a 6-ball pool game which allows you to play in several different ways. There's the normal game, of course, and other games where you must pot the six balls in the right order, or pot the balls in the corresponding numbered pockets - the aim being to pot all the balls in the fewest number of shots. You can play on your own or against another player, but you can't play against the computer. The very simple graphics and poor sound effects only reinforce the notion that this is a rather dull simulation of 6-ball pool.

More information on TACGR

4

Hydrofool
(FTL, 1987)

Sweevo has been called upon to clean up the planetary aquarium of Deathbowl, by removing four plugs and draining all the water away - but each of the plugs can only be removed if you find the correct objects. Furthermore, the plugs have to removed in the correct order! Therefore, Sweevo has to explore the maze that is Deathbowl in search of the objects, while avoiding all the aquatic creatures that will drain his energy on contact. Most of them can be killed, but you will need to find the correct weapon, and the range of weapons is quite bizarre, as is the rest of the game! The graphics and animation are both wonderful, the music is a delight to listen to, and exploring Deathbowl is fun as well as challenging.

See also: Sweevo's World.

More information on TACGR

8

If you've ever played one of those air hockey machines that you find in amusement arcades, then the format of this game will be familiar to you. You control a hover which you can use to move the puck, either by pushing it or shooting at it. You can also choose to play with a friend, or take on the computer in a tournament - and the computer is rather good! There's not all that much to say about the graphics, but the high-energy music on the menu is absolutely marvellous.

More information on TACGR

8

Here's a great arcade conversion and one of the best sports game for the CPC. You have to win six events - swimming, clay pigeon shooting, vault, archery, triple jump and weight lifting. Though it's relatively easy to qualify for the early events, the game becomes more and more difficult as you progress. The graphics are really cute and the overall realisation of the game is flawless. The different events are varied and require much timing, but the difficulty level is just perfect. Unlike other sports games, it isn't only about joystick waggling, even if your wrists are often aching...

More information on TACGR

8