Whether you're still looking for last-minute presents or someone's cheque is burning a hole in your pocket, you're bound to find something to light your candle in the Christmas season's spate of compilations.

They come from software houses large and small, specialised and general; they range from £4.99 to £14.95; they come in all shapes and sizes, from boxes a foot long to laminated video-size boxes down to the (now) ordinary double-cassette boxes (for which we still have no racks!). You may not have anywhere to put all these different sizes, but they sure look pretty on the retailer's shelf.

But some small independent retailers have great problems with the big, bold packaging of compilations, and when space is tight they usually end up at the bottom of the pile.

And some compilations aren't even available in independent shops this Christmas - not because of the packaging, but because they're distributed on limited exclusive deals with high-street multiples. For instance, Gremlin Graphics's Ten Great Games is currently only available from chains like WH Smith and Menzies. It's strange the indies are treated this way when they account for 75% of all software sales...

Hewson is eschewing the more-is-better theory of many compilations and putting just four Smash hits on a tape entitled exactly that. Four Smash Hits includes two of this years top shoot-'em-ups - Exolon and Zynaps - as well as Ranarama and (like Beau Jolly's Five Star Games Vol. 3) Uridium Plus. It's available on +3 disk as well as cassette.

FOUR SMASH HITS
Hewson
Exolon - 90% Issue 43
Zynaps - 91% Issue 42
Ranarama - 90% Issue 38
Uridium Plus - 90% Issue 35
cassette £9.95
+3 disk £14.95

Label: Hewson
Price: £9.95
Memory: 48K/128K
Joystick: various
Reviewer: Tony Dillon

It's been a good year for Hewson all round, really. It's released tome real full price gems on all formats and now. thanks to Mastertronic. It can bring out some budget gems. so what better way to end '87 than with a compilation. But this is no ordinary compilation, oh no. This is a little special. Yes, because believe it or not, every game on this tape got a Classic or a Smash or whatever at one time or enother. But enough about how good they are. what do you get? Well you get Exolon, controlling little Vitorc across 125 screens of full colour fun (a personal favourite of the Mad Celt). Zynaps. nasty blasty and dodgy-scrolly over 12 sheets. Ranarama, what more could I want. Dungeons, Dragons, spells and frogs, and finally Uridium Plus, destroying more super dreadnaughts. That's it. that's what you get for your Big Ben. I think you'll agree, it's really worth it.