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...

Elite gives its old hits a new lease of life on the compilation label Hit Pak. The latest compilation is The Elite Collection, a strong two-cassette assembly of well-known Elite classics. Theyre all very playable, ranging from the very old Bombjack and innovative Frank Bruno's Boxing to recent successes such as Paperboy and Ghosts 'N Goblins. And on the second cassette is a previously unreleased Elite game, Battleships - yes, a Spectrum version of the pencil and-paper classic. But to buy it all at £14.95 you'd have to be a dedicated Elitist.

THE ELITE COLLECTION
Hit Pak
Bombjack - 92% Issue 27
Bombjack II - 71% Issue 39
Frank Bruno's Boxing - 86% Issue 19
Commando - 94% Issue 24
Airwolf - 90% Issue 13
Battleships - N/R
Paperboy - 88% Issue 33
Ghosts 'N Goblins - 95% Issue 30
£14.95

C16, £14.95cs
C64/128, £14.95cs, £19.95dk
Spectrum, £14.95cs
Amstrad, £14.95cs, £19.95dk

An eight-game collection that leads on coin-op conversions and includes a title that was held back from solo release - Battleships.

VOLUME I

Bombjack

A competent conversion of Tehkan's five-screen platform romp that sets a caped crusader on the track of fizzling bombs The action is fairly straightforward - sproing around each successive screen gathering up the bombs, and gather them in the correct order for maximum points. There's no depth of plot or involved scenario to baffle the brain, pattern-learning and skilful control are all you need. Commodore owners might be a little less impressed than their Amstrad and Spectrum owning colleagues.

Frank Bruno's Boxing

Effectively a version of the arcade scrapping game, Punch Out, this was Elite's contender in the boxing simulation stakes nearly two years ago. Eight boxers stand between you and the World Heavyweight Championship, each with their own particular fighting style. Viewing the action from behind your fighter, the aim is to reduce your opponent's stamina and then knock him down. Three knockouts leads to a convincing defeat and an access code is given which allows the next fighter in line to be challenged And no, Joe Bugner isn't one of the eight bruisers ranged before you in this playable sports simulation.

Commando

Capcom provided the licence and the battlefield action is fast and furious in this one-man mission of mayhem and destruction. Romping, or should that be yomping across the vertically scrolling landscape the aim is to knock out four enemy fortresses. The enemy, quite naturally takes exception to such displays of heroism and a host of soldiers armed with single shot rifles, grenades, bazookas and mortars queue up to put an end to your ambition. Fortunately your sub machine gun never runs out of ammo and there are boxes of grenades lying around the terrain to replenish your supplies. The going gets tougher the further into the game you get - should keep kill-crazy joystick wielders happy until their trigger fingers bleed.

Airwolf

Assuming the role of Vietnam veteran Stringlellow Hawke your mission at the controls of a helicopter is to rescue five scientists held prisoner in a network of caverns. Before you can get to the imprisoned boffins the complex defence system that adorns the caves has to be shot out, element by element and there's always the risk of crashing into the rock walls. A golden oldie this, dragged from the mists of time when Elite was but a fledgeling software house - still stands up as a shoot-em-up, not least because mastering the controls of the helicopter takes a while.

VOLUME II

Paperboy

This year's all-time chart hit according to the figures published by Gallup - it proved almost impossible to dislodge from the Number One slot. Pedalling round suburbia as the representative of the local rag, the aim is to deliver papers to subscribers while avoiding pedestrians and kamikaze vehicles. Rather than place the newspapers in letterboxes you have to hurl them - miss, and you run the risk of breaking windows. At the end of the round bonus points cue collected by riding over a BMX course and indulging in a bit of target practice. Annoy too many subscribers and you're taken off the round - build up the round and the points potential increases. Not Elite's best effort at converting from the arcades, but sales levels made it a clear winner...

Ghosts n' Goblins

A fair maiden is captured by an evil demon, so the knight has no choice - the demon horde and the forces of the supernatural have to be overcome on a scrolling quest to the demon's lair where the lady may be rescued. Probably Elite's best arcade effort so far - true to the original and lots of fun to play Need more be scud?

Battleships

The game they dare not release! All credit to Elite for realising late in the day that this computerised emulation of the age-old pencil and paper game couldn't really stand up as a full-price release. There's nothing borrowed or blue in The Elite Collection, and this game slots in as "the new". An interesting diversion, but never likely to become a cult classic. ..

Bombjack II

Better than the original. For once, untrammelled by the constrictions of producing a faithful version of an arcade game, Elite had some fun. The caped crusader made famous by Tehkan abandons bombs (too dangerous) and collects bags of gold (more lucrative). Another platform/collecting game, the sequel boasts many more screens and includes mutating monsters that get smarter the longer you dally. The little baddies can be biffed, but that uses up energy and when the hero gets tired out he dies. Lots of fun.

Verdict: A good, solid collection of games that offers plenty of variety at a reasonable price.