A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

	Thingy and the Doodahs (Silverbird, 1987) You've been told to go down to the second-hand shop and find £60 to buy a computer. Starting in your own bedroom, you search the house collecting £1 coins and avoiding the enemies that wander about the rooms. Then it's off into the garden and the forest, through to more sets of mazes, more coins to collect, and more enemies to avoid. It's a really simple kind of game with awful graphics that look as though it's written in BASIC (although it isn't), and the less said about the tune, the better. It's a game that will only be remembered for its extremely silly name. More information on TACGR 3
	Think! (Ariolasoft, 1986) This is a board game for two players using a 6×6 grid. Each player must try to align four of their counters in a row either horizontally, vertically or diagonally. However, instead of placing counters on to any tile, a counter must be pushed on to one of the squares at the bottom or right of the board, and all the other counters in that row or column are shifted upwards or to the left as appropriate. The rules are very simple, but it makes for an extremely challenging game which requires a lot of thinking - hence the name. There are several different modes of play, including a tutorial mode and several problem-solving puzzles in which the board is already laid out for you. This is an excellent game for the intellectuals out there. More information on TACGR 8
	Thomas the Tank Engine (Alternative, 1990) Thomas has to complete seven tasks, such as taking oil to a refinery, delivering letters to the nearby city, or taking some children to the beach. You've got to find the carriage first and reach your destination before sunset. On the easy mode, you won't face any dangers apart from the odd train, and it's easy to complete. However, the so-called normal mode sees you facing more trains, as well as blocked tracks, and since it's far too difficult, you won't be playing this game for too long once you've completed the easy mode. The graphics and sound effects are mediocre, too, although the rendition of the theme tune on the menu is welcome. More information on TACGR 5
	3D Fight (Loriciels, 1985) Reviewed by Guillaume Chalard Once again, you must save the Earth from evil aliens. Flying over a blue chequered surface, you'll have to destroy waves of hostile spaceships. Well, as with many games containing "3D" in their title, we shouldn't expect much of this game. First, it is very difficult to aim accurately at the incoming aliens because the perspective is rather deceptive. Then, you have to collect fuel (by firing at it!) very often, which makes your task even harder. You'll soon be lost in a cloud of enemy bullets (or whatever it is), trying to find an oil tank - and you'll press the CONTROL, SHIFT and ESCAPE keys! More information on TACGR 3
	3D Grand Prix (Amsoft, 1985) This early Formula 1 game sees you racing around eight tracks. In order to qualify for the next track, you must finish third or higher. After playing for a while, it's clear that this is much more of an arcade game than a proper motor racing simulation. Although you start on pole position on a grid of 23 cars, other cars will appear randomly in front of you even if you're in the lead and on the first lap! Despite this, it remains a fairly enjoyable game after all these years, and you get a sense of speed while driving around the tracks. More information on TACGR 7
	3D Invaders (Amsoft, 1984) It's Space Invaders in 3D, would you believe? The Quarks are invading and you have to shoot as many of them as you can. You move your laser cannon about a grid of squares and try to dodge the aliens' fire as they move slowly - very slowly - left and right. It's really difficult to aim your laser at the aliens and your laser bolts nearly always seem to go right through them. The game is mostly written in BASIC and so it is excruciatingly slow, and the graphics, sound effects, and of course the game itself, are all abysmal. More information on TACGR 1
	3D Monster Chase (Romik, 1985) Hunt through three floors of a maze to find a key, then use it to disarm a stink bomb (!), and return to your home base. There are seven keys in total, and you must also beware of the bat that flies round each floor, although there is a supply of grenades you can use to kill it. This game ranks as one of the worst I have ever had the misfortune to play. It is horrifically sluggish, and pressing keys often does nothing. The graphics are equally terrible, and the game is extremely boring, anyway - playing it for more than two minutes will seriously test your sanity! More information on TACGR 0
	3D Pool (Firebird, 1989) The problem with most snooker and pool games is that you can't move around the table, but you can in this game. You can take part in a tournament against several other players, all battling to face the champion, Maltese Joe. Alternatively, you can practice, or even try out fifteen trick shots - you can design your own as well. The 3D nature of the game makes it a little difficult to aim your shots, and it isn't helped by the other players being pretty good. The graphics are blocky and a bit slow, despite the four-colour mode being used, and there are hardly any sound effects and music, but it's still not a bad game. More information on TACGR 7
	3D Quasars (Solar, 1985) After the fighting of the Proxima war, the enemy has blasted tunnels in the Quasar defence system. You have been sent to fly along these tunnels in your Tarantula C1 spaceship and have to shoot all the enemy craft. It's tough going right from the start - even with only one enemy coming towards you at a time, you'll need to be alert. You'll soon find that it's really tough, and soon you're overwhelmed; if you can survive for more than a minute, you're doing well! It might be worth a few goes if you're looking for a very short game to play, but there isn't any variety in it at all, and the tunnel is too narrow. More information on TACGR 4
	3D Snooker (Players, 1990) Most snooker games view the board from above. This one dares to be different by viewing it from one end and adding some perspective. However, it just doesn't work. Aiming your ball is like most other snooker games - you move crosshairs about the table and fire. The perspective makes aiming the ball accurately impossible, especially when you're aiming for a ball at the far end of the table. It also uses only four colours, so working out the other coloured balls can be tricky. The 3D graphics are a reasonable attempt, but I'll say again that it doesn't work in a snooker game. More information on TACGR 3

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