They are both great games, but for me Elite just was more my cup of tea. Understand the frustration with having to watch someone use the Beeb - that used to happen at school all the time as there was 1-2 machines for 30 kids lol. Still it was mostly dry educational software so it was not as scaring as watching something as ace as Elite.
Since I had to pick between Elite and Everyone's a Wally last time round, then I feel I have to go with Elite this time.
And hey, it even came with a wonderful, fun, bonus game of Lenslok which was sometimes so good you never even got so far as playing Elite. Or something like that.
If we were voting on classic Beeb games then Elite would be a shoe in. It was the killer app for Beeb owners who were a bit starved of the big name games that appeared on the other 8 bit platforms. It always looked impressive whenever I saw it when we went round to my mum's friend who had bought their son a BBC Micro - and like a previous poster, I'm sure I got to play back seat driver while they piloted the ship. I got the chance some years later to play it on the Spectrum when I saw a copy in the computer game lending section of my local library.
It came in a big box and looked suitably impressive. Sadly, things went downhill from there. After loading the game, before battling against the Thargoids I had to go several rounds with the Lenslok. No matter what code I typed, the game would crash back to the Amstrad copyright message. Clutching at straws, I got my old 48k Spectrum out and loaded it into that and inputted the code again - the game finally sprang into life. I later learned that the original 48k version of Elite didn't work on newer 128k/+2 models (something to do with the decryption expecting an original 48k ROM, IIRC). I played it a couple of times but couldn't get very far into it as you had to constantly refer to a large printed table to see which key to press (it's basically a flight simulator in space). Once by accident before starting a game, I selected the save game option. I let it go through the motions and went to start another game only to find I'd become Elite, had a super powerful ship, tonnes of money and a galactic hyperjump. Achievement unlocked.
In contrast, Exolon didn't need me to use a red piece of plastic to start the game, crash instantly or let me finish the game within 5 seconds of starting it. It's got great colourful graphics and nice AY spot effects. It's also a more deserving winner of best classic game beginning with E than a buggy Beeb port.
I played Elite without the "benefit" of Lenslok, so that never tarnished the game for me. Whilst it was pretty much the game for the BBC crowd, it still more than holds up on other formats. Nothing ever really comes close on 8-bit systems.
Exolon, by contrast, was an OK run and gun game but nothing that particularly stood out.
Voted. Exolon is excellent. Elite is alright. Sorry David Braben! Your Frontier: Elite 2 and Elite Dangerous are slightly better than Exolon if it is any consolation!
Well, there we go. The winner of E, is Exolon. Both games are completely commendable of course. I wasn't sure what to do if this turned into a tie, but nice to have a clear winner!