THE COMPLICATIONS OF COMPILATIONS

Aaargh! Which one to buy? Dr Berkmann takes a butchers at the latest batch...

Ah yes, it's a complicated business. The implications and ramifications of compilations can cause such vacillations and palpitations in selection situations, (as my old granny used to say). So which should you invest your pools money in? Since my last round-up in July I've been literally deluged by newies - okay, I've had six - and here they are, dissected without mercy. Heh heh heh! Although I've referred to the original reviews (the dates in brackets refer to the issues they first appeared in), I've tried to judge the games by today's standard's, so some of the marks may be a smidgin different (ie lower). Fings ain't wot they used to be (thank God!).

3 COIN-OP CLASSICS
US Gold
£9.99

Not really a compilation as such, just three old games banded together and available for a tenner, original packaging and all. They're all conversions of coin-ops, and all first saw the light (heavenly choir) last autumn, but as games they couldn't be more different. Breakthru (Jan '87) is a remarkably tatty drive 'n'shoot which may have been a spanker in the arcades but is more of a slap round the chops on the Speccy. Kung-Fu Master (Sept '86) has all the usual flying limbs and oriental shrieks (zzz), while Crystal Castles is a cracking conversion of the old Atari Pac-Man derivative, well worth a tenner by itself as far as I'm concerned. Good stuff.

COMING SOON...

...two more splendid compilations for the autumn. Activision's got a collection of all those fab Lucasfilm games (Ballblazer, The Eidolon and so on) which should be out in the shops by the time you read this. And Gremlin's Star Games II is out soon, with one or two titles you may have seen elsewhere, like The Eidolon and Ballblazer! (Not to mention Highway Encounter, also available on the Vortex comp.) But we'll keep you posted.

Label: US Gold
Price: £9.99
Memory: 48K/128K
Joystick: various
Reviewer: Tamara Howard

In a fit of generosity, US Gold has released a compilation of what it calls classic coin-op conversions for £9.99 the lot.

Firstly, there's Break Thru, a high speed chase around. An easy-to-play, hard to complete game. Break Thru involves driving very, very, fast in a car and shooting things before they shoot you.

Secondly, Crystal Castles. A good 3D landscape is slightly marred by a rather manky bear as the central character. Again, it's easy to play but difficult to complete.

Lastly, Kung Fu Master, a prize combat game. Fast action and furious kicking.

An OK compilation, and it's all reissued stuff - none of it fabulous and at £3.33 each they're more expensive than budget.