Play a rough and tough five-a-side game of football in the street. Each team selects five players (although it doesn't make any difference as to which faces you choose), and then it's time to kick off. This game is really nothing to get excited about. The graphics are ugly and monochrome, and although there is some mediocre music on the main menu, there are no sound effects at all during the actual game. Worst of all is that it is ludicrously easy to beat the computer; grabbing the ball of an opponent is really simple to do, and you'll quickly find a way to score goals again and again. In fact, I won my first game 25-3! The players move quite slowly as well. In summary, it's an awful game.

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Street Fighter
(US Gold, 1988)
Reviewed by Chris Lennard

This little known beat-'em-up pales into comparison to its sequel - remember all the fuss that Amstrad Action made over Street Fighter II, which was ultimately never released on the CPC? No choice of player, though; you are left with the diminutive Ryu to travel the globe in a series of bouts to determine who is the 'world warrior'. You and your opponent face each other in front of a luscious landscape while you proceed to knock the crap out of him/her using the variety of moves available to you. A health bar at the top of the screen indicates your progress or lack of it. Good large sprites, but rather garish colours. It's also too easy up to the final confrontation with Saigat, who is way too difficult.

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5

Another beat-'em-up that has you playing the usual cool customer out to beat up various gangs. Basically, the back of the box tells the whole story; "Kick and punch your way through New York City's violent crime-ridden streets". But despite its lack of originality, theres something I like about this game. The graphics are quite colourful and cartoony, and are a breath of fresh air from the usual seriousness of this type of game. The hero actually looks quite geeky, and the villains come in all sorts of interesting guises. Another nice touch is an end-of-level bonus stage where you open one of three bins for the chance to win an extra life - and they are much needed, because this game is pretty tough! Overall, not the best game of its type, but fairly enjoyable nonetheless.

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5

A football game with a difference - it's played in your own back yard! Two gangs have gathered for a fun game of football, but there aren't many rules, and if either side scores a goal, the two gangs may start a fight with each other. This involves lots of silly remarks filling up the screen - "Goal!", "No it wasn't", "Yes it was", "Not even near", "Wanna fight about it?", etc. It's not so much the tricky controls as the fact that this game takes itself too seriously. It does have some really kicking music, though.

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4

This is a driving game viewed from above, where you race your rally car around a track in the shortest time. The course takes you through towns and countryside, and forests and lakes. The car can be difficult to control, particularly on the second and third stages where you'll be driving in rain and snow respectively. Eventually your car will break down and you have a minute to fix your car; if any part of the car has more than 80% damage, you won't be allowed to continue. It takes a while to learn how to control the car, but it's really not a bad game at all, and the graphics, while fairly simple, are still colourful - and the lightning effect on the second stage is nice, too!

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7

Strider
(US Gold, 1989)
Reviewed by Chris Lennard

Defeat the master and his evil minions across the continents of the globe in this action platformer set in a 21st century still in the Cold War. A faithful conversion of the arcade game by Capcom, you take Strider deep into enemy territory where you must destroy all that comes in your way. Plenty of special weapons are available, while numerous major end of level bosses await to stop you. In spite of the monochrome graphics, this is a visually pleasing game with some nice sound effects chucked in for good measure and excellent gameplay, although the sequel is better.

See also: Strider II.

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8

Once more you must defeat the evil master in what is pretty much a repeat of the prequel. This time, you are also equipped with a gun as well as your sword with which to take out your enemies, which again are divided between normal bods and big bosses. Nevertheless, the graphics are better than in Strider, with good, fluid sprite animation and detailed backgrounds. The nicely rendered theme tune remains also. And yet, the game hasn't lost any playability or speed - which makes you wonder why the original didn't look as good as this.

See also: Strider.

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8

A reasonable enough ten-pin bowling simulation is what's on offer here. Knock down as many skittles as you can in each of the ten frames, hoping to knock all of them down and thus score a strike. The bowling alley is viewed from an isometric 3D perspective, and the bowler shuffles slowly left and right, trying to aim the ball. It's up to you to judge when to release the ball, but careful timing is also required when releasing it, otherwise the ball will instead land on the floor, or even your foot! However, while the graphics and music are both fairly good, aiming the ball correctly becomes a matter of routine after some practice, and there is also no way of aiming the ball diagonally.

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6

Here's a football game in which you play the role of a player instead of a manager. You're a young 18-year-old footballer starting in a 4th Division team, with ambitions to play for one of the top teams in the 1st Division, and even represent your country. Your progress is entirely based on your ability to score goals. Provided you're picked for a match, there will be several opportunities for you to aim the ball at the goalmouth. You have to judge what angle to shoot the ball at, and press a key at the right moment. With practice, you'll become more adept at this and help your team to be promoted. There isn't a lot else to the game, but I actually enjoyed it for a while. At least it makes a change from all of Cult's football management games.

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7

This game caused a sensation when it was released, as it was the first non-cartridge game in the UK to utilise the extra colours offered by the Plus machines. Unfortunately, only a few other such games were released, which is a shame. Anyway, as Striker, you are out to destroy the evil Trogan and his minions, and you must also collect sixteen parchments along the way. It's quite a good platform game and is a great challenge. The sound effects are OK but it is the graphics which will knock your socks off (if you're running it on a Plus, that is) - a beautiful skyline ablaze with colour, with eerie silhouetted scenery! The graphics are still very good on a normal CPC, though.

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