Producer: Elite
Memory Required: 48K
Retail Price: £6.95
Language: Machine code

Grand National follows hot on the heels of Elite's last effort The Dukes of Hazard. While there have been a few horse racing games on the market Grand Natrona/ goes further by becoming more of a simulation - it lets you ride a horse round the most challenging course in the world, Aintree.

The first screen shows a list of the runners, their form and odds. Unless you opt not to bet, up to five horses may be selected from this list, unless of course they are shown as 'non-runners'. You are expected to assess a horse's chances by considering the 'going', the form and the odds. The punter starts with an initial purse of £1000 and winnings from gambling or racing will add to this but any losses will be deducted. After your bets have been placed the amounts are shown against the nag of your choice, less 10% betting tax of course - who said computer games aren't realistic?

While the first page is being displayed the player can decide whether to go for one race only or try for a racing career. The latter option makes for a much more involved game.

Before the race proper the player must exercise the same judgement in picking a mount as he would in choosing a horse to back. After the selection has been made the screen changes to show a view of the course. The main part of the screen is taken up with a bird's eye non-perspective view showing the part of the field occupied by your horse and its immediate neighbours. On the screen's top right is a profile shot of your mount, this view is very important as the lumping is one of the most difficult tasks that you will be expected to perform. In respect of these split screen graphics, Grand National resembles Show jump from IMS and also the new World Series Baseball from Imagine. Your mount can be steered left and right and encouraged to go faster by using the whip key which must be applied 'decathlon' style.

Other information given would make a real jockey green with envy, for not only is there a map of the course complete with a tracking dot and fence indicator but the horse's energy and speed are given in bar graph form, one on each side of the screen. Even more information is provided at the base of the screen, the number of fallers, number of horses retired and total horses still running. You're even told the number of the leading horse and your own position in the field.

If you fall then the race is concluded immediately but the finishing positions are given in the race report. If you have ridden your race in an ungentlemanly manner, barging into other horses for example, you could face a steward's inquiry, this may only lead to a fine, but you could be banned which would do little for your career.

COMMENTS

Control keys: Z/X left/right, P to jump, and O to crack whip
Joystick: none
Keyboard play: responsive but very tiring
Use of colour: suitably green, above average
Graphics: nice, smooth scrolling action, good horse animation
Sound: great tune that goes on a bit, can't interrupt it, no other sound
Skill levels: 2
Lives: 1
Screens: scrolling action

On the whole this game is a vast improvement on Elite's last release. The graphics are very good and the game, being more than just a betting game, offers more involvement. While on the subject of the graphics I think it fair to say that Elite found a good compromise, although you can only see a small section of the race at any one time you do get a good overall impression, any attempt to put more on the screen would have resulted in a loss of definition. I have a couple of small niggles, however. This game has no provision for each-way bets; the method adopted for increasing the horse's speed is a little difficult to come to terms with, all riders know that the whip is an aid whereas the game requires the player to use the whip continuously in order to maintain speed. Such indiscriminate use would have a real jockey banned for life. Grand National is a substantial improvement over the last efforts, one of the best to emerge from the Elite stable (sorry!). I would have thought this game was well worth considering.

Grand National is the first proper horse game that actually lets you control the horse rather than simply betting on them. The graphics are good and the colour is used well. Sound is very limited. When the game starts you have an option to bet on horses, but the actual race is the highlight of the game. It's a sort of decathlon type (don't get too worked up it results in a very raw horse.) The race part is very authentic, down to the steward's inquiry and resultant fines. Getting round the course is not easy A; because of the infamous jumps and B; because of the other horses in your way. There is also a tactical element to Grand National, which horse do you go for? a good all-rounder or a fast finisher, plus you have got the energy bar to keep an eye on. This is definitely the best horse race game around and for once Elite have put a good game behind the graphics.

As usual Elite have produced smashing graphics but without much of a game. It has to be said that this is by the far the best horse racing type game. The graphics and animation are very realistic. The trouble with simulations are that you are placed in a real-time situation, and it seems to take ages to complete the course as you race round it. By the time you get to the home stretch, your hand is just dropping off from pressing the key to go faster. At least this isn't just a racing simulation - you can bet as well. I thought Grand National was quite easy to win, for instance I achieved first placing on the first time I played the game. Although a different idea, I can't really see the point of the game, and I can't see it selling much apart to horse and racing fans. Still, the best horse racing simulation for the Spectrum.

Roger: Offering an each-way bet on punter interest (aarghh!), Elite has combined most facets of Aintree's only claim to be anything other than a centre of unusually high unemployment. After all, isn't it better to train people to infest the bookie's rather than hang about on street corners?

The packaging has the essential form guide, which introduced rank outsiders to the opening screens of listed equestrian delights, whose odds change as racing history progresses. Besides the opportunity to spread basic stake money through the field, a player is also given the chance to take Spectrum reins in hand, riding a chosen nag.

The thunderous assault in Liverpudlian turf is represented by a sectionalised action profile of your trusty steed. This allows judgement of fearsome hedge approaches, and an aerial 'plan' view of fences, jumps and all the other old donkeys thrashing about, to facilitate barging one's way through to the front... This is one game that ain't gonna be pulling a 48K milkfloat the day after. 5/5 HIT

Dave: This is a pretty safe bet. It could be a touch faster in the race sequence but the horsey graphics are well observed and the betting side of it adds just the right amount of excitement. Go on, 'ave a flutter! 4/5 HIT

Ross: Too slow for a true arcade and the graphics reminded me of those 'flick' books. If you don't go down the bookies, don't bother. 2/5 MISS

Publisher: Elite
Price: £6.95
Memory: 48K

Aficionados of the turf will doubtless be queueing up for the latest Elite game, Grand National. If, however, you are seeking quick and easy reparations for your failure to back Last Suspect a few weeks ago, forget it.

The game is part simulation, part arcade in style. The first section involves choosing a mount for the race. You are offered a selection from the field, and information for the condition of the course.

Then it is into the arcade section for the race itself. An overhead view of the course shows other horses attempting to get into position. A further screen in the corner shows a view of the horse from the side, to enable you to judge the jumps as they come. That is the difficult part. You have to jump at just the right point to clear the fence, and must have built up a fair speed through constant use of the whip.

The graphics are a little lacklustre and the excellent animation does mean the horses, although realistic, move somewhat slowly. More of an amble than a gallop, one might say. The frustration of falling off your horse at the first fence 25 times in a row is off-putting, but you will eventually find it possible to complete at least one lap before your nag finally flops to the ground in total exhaustion.

ZX Spectrum
Simulation
Elite
£6.95

The opening screen gives you the runners - you can page through a field of 40 horses.

Then you can choose which horse you want to ride - and here comes the interactive bit, you control your mount by using the Z and X keys to move him left and right, whipping him on with the O key and jumping using the P key.