BIGBOX THRILLS!

What's the best way to catch up on all the great games that appeared on the Spectrum a while back. One: go out and buy every single one and spend a fortune? Tow: pop around to your mate's house and nick his copies? Or three: take a trip down to your local software shop and snap up one of the great new compilations? Well, one's only for the stupid, two's only for complete basts, so it must be three! NICK ROBERTS gives you the low-down on the current hits in compilation land!

Domark
£10.99 (cassette only)

Have you ever fancied taking part in a game show alongside some of the worlds elite hosts, Bob Monkhouse, Paul Daniels, Bob Holness, Jim Bowen and Gordon Burns? Well, It's TV Showtime allows you to do just that with all five games in one pack. The compilation includes Bullseye, The Krypton Factor, Bob's Full House, Every Second Counts and Blockbusters.

Each game follows their shows closely but are graphically dull and most have awful multi-loads. The best of the bunch for graphics and presentation is The Krypton Factor. Each section has to load in separately (even on the 128K machine) but feature the graphics from the show. Unfortunately, one of the best sections of the TV show, the video clip bit, isn't there.

If you are a freaky fan of these game shows and think you can put up with lots of badly digitised graphics and animation, well, this is for you. Normal people look elsewhere.

Bob's Full House: 10/20
Every Second Counts: 11/20
Bullseye: 5/20
The Krypton Factor: 15/20
Blockbusters: 12/20

Domark
£10.99 cass
Reviewer: Linda Barker

If there's something that really tickles my fancy, it's getting a few friends round in the evening, putting some groovy tunes on the dansette, and then playing a spot of Triv Pursuit. It really works a treat. And by spooky coincidence that's remarkably similar to what this TV triv quiz compilation's all about (well, sort of). What fun, eh?

BULLSEYE
So let's kick off with a darts game. Er, actually I didn't think much of this at all. (Ahem.) Its only saving grace is that we're spared any digitised pics of Jim Bowen. Instead there's that crap bull with the beer gut. The aim of the game is that 1 or 2 players throw darts and answer questions. What a load of bull.
1991 Verdict: 50°

THE KRYPTON FACTOR
I didn't even know this was still on the box! it used to be on after Crossroads when I were a young 'un. It was a very dull programme then, and the game's not much better. Up to 4 players have to get through 6 sections (including the infamous assault course) to prove themselves 'superpeople'. Personally, I'm quite content to remain a crap person if it means giving this a miss. On release (in May '88) it got 60. But now we'll give it...
1991 Verdict: 55°

BLOCKBUSTERS
What a game! it was always a bit of a sore point with me that I never actually got to appear on Blockbusters - but, hey, now I can. There are 6 difficulty levels and zillions of questions (so you can carry on playing for days) and if you can persuade a mate to play then it gets dead competitive. It's a bit of a stickler on the old spelling though and the Gold Runs are blimmin' hard. Still, it's jolly good solid fun.
1991 Verdict: 80°

BOB'S FULL HOUSE
What a lovely pic of Bob! And what prizes! The aim here is to answer loads of questions (surprise, surprise), but you've got to be jolly quick off the mark to manage it. Each player (and there can be up to 4) has a bingo card and you've got to light up the corners, than a line and then the whole thing.
1991 Verdict: 80°

EVERY SECOND COUNTS
Reliable sources inform me that this is hosted by Paul Daniels (slimeball!}. But fortunately he doesn't pop up in the game at all. Instead you get a load of contestants who have to say whether things are true or false and answer the odd question. Up to 3 couples can play - that's 6 people (Well done. Ed), so clear a large playing space.
1991 Verdict: 80°

It may look like an incredibly boring pack but when you get into it It's: TV Showtime ain't half bad, with 3 pretty solid titles to play your friends against. If you like triv then you'll have some fun.

Label: Domark
Memory: 48K/128K
Price: £10.99 Tape
Reviewer: Steve Keen

There's always been a good reason to wait for compilations to come out. Normally you get a few of the full-price games that you really wanted (but couldn't quite afford) packaged up with a couple of real stinkers. It seemed a small price to pay - but things just got better...

Domark have taken five of the most successful question and answer orientated shows and turned them into computer form.

You can enter into "TV's ultimate test of intelligence and quick wits" The Krypton Factor, trade double entendres with Paul Daniels in Every Second Counts, mark your card in Bob's Full House, step up to the ocky with Bully on Bullseye or go for the Gold Run in Blockbusters. The variety of games certainly is wide and whatever your taste it's catered for here. Most of the quizzes carry a difficulty level and quite a few parents will be stumped on level 6 with Bob Holness posing the questions. Even the dreaded Krypton Factor assault course is represented. You can play the computer or any number of friends, depending on the game and, as you progress, you will actually feel you're learning something. The only thing I miss with TV Showtime is Bob's blushes when he gets asked for a "P". I picture parents rampaging software stores for this one, throwing small children and pensioners behind them in their wake, grasping with out-stretched hands and sighing with relief at the thought of their child's imminent salvation from 'Shoot 'Em And Blast 'Em 2'. If you feel your I.Q.'s slipped below fifty I would prescribe TV Showtime, it's a cracker star makers!

Domark/TV Games
Spectrum £14.99

Another compilation, this features Bob's Full House, Blockbusters, Every Second Counts, The Krypton Factor and Bullseye. None of these were received with any great deal of enthusiasm when first released, but this is okay value for trivia freaks who enjoy answering lots of silly questions. Quiz show buffs, check it out.