Dynamix 1988
Genre: Simulation
Rating: 5/6
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

The M-1 Abrams is by far the most advanced tank in the current battlefield. While still using manual loading, everything else in the tank is very modern, making it a most formidable opponent. Originally designed for the European theater of war, the Abrams was, ironically, first deployed in the Persian Gulf for the Desert Storm. There, it proved to be one of the decisive weapons in the US military arsenal. While always on the forefront of the action, very few vehicles were damaged, and not a single member of the tank crew was killed. The Abrams proved both in long-range and short-range combat. In the long range, the tank could find and hit Iraqi tanks that were dug into the desert sand from a distance where the Iraqis didn't even see them. In its first skirmish, the tank proved itself in short range as well, when eight US tanks took out 38 Iraqi Republican Guard tanks. In addition to all, this, the Abrams was very safe. At one instance, shot from a point blank range into the side by an Iraqi tank, none of the tank crew was killed.

Micromagic / Origin 1988
Genre: RPG
Rating: 4/6
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Autoduel is one of the few classic games that don't deserve as much attention as it is getting. It may sound ironic that I review a game just because I don't consider it worth a review, but it isn't so. Autoduel is a very original piece of work, which is seriously flawed by inferior graphics, awkward interface and an extremely steep learning curve. Autoduel is simply the result of applying arcade principles to a pen-and-paper roleplaying game.

Konami 1994
Genre: Action
Rating: 4/6
Licence: Commercial
System: SNES

Concerning its concept, "Biker Mice From Mars" straightfowardly had the successful classic "Rock'n'Roll Racing" in mind. Unlike the original, you drive motor cycles and other unorthodox vehicles around more or less well-built tracks here. Although the game produced by Konami labels itself as being "powered by Snickers", you permanently suppose that the programmers wanted to make fun of this ridiculous piece of chocolate-peanut-mush.

Codemasters 1986
Genre: Sport, Action
Rating: 4/6
Licence: Commercial
System: C64

I'm a sadistical person. No, really. I had a cat and a girlfriend until three days ago. But my girlfriend fled when she saw how I tortured the poor feline.

Of course I'm kidding (actually, I don't have a girlfriend), *but* I'm sadistical enough to enjoy breaking my bones on bycicle.

Tatsumi / Taito Corporation 1987
Genre: Sport
Rating: 4/6
Licence: Commercial
System: C64

Racing on the C64 had a few problems, as you might remember. Games like these were hard to make due to the procedural nature of BASIC, and most of the racing game were really crap.
Well, you might just like to know that this thing is NOT a crap game at all. In fact, although featuring only 5 races, Buggy Boy is some of the most interesting pieces of software I've ever seen. And certainly one of the most interesting racing games of the '80s.

Electronic Arts 1992
Genre: Sport, Action
Rating: 5/6
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Car & Driver is indeed a magazine, but they managed to get a racing game out. When you go into the menu, it's exactly as if you were reading their magazine, except that it has the game's screenshots and some real pictures. It features 10 best cars and tracks with very nice range of variety. This is almost like Electronic Arts's prequel to their beloved Need For Speed Series.

Ocean 1989
Genre: Sport, Action
Rating: 3/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

Chase H.Q., which first got into the arcades in 1988, is a racing game with a twist. Instead of just using the basic 'driving faster than the opponents', it adds another goal: catching another vehicle. The simple background story tells us something about a 'futuristic' police department called 'Chase H.Q.'. The player sits around in his sports car all day until he gets a call from Nancy from the headquarters, telling him about an escaped criminal who has to be caught again.

Psygnosis 1995
Genre: Sport, Action
Rating: 5/6
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

I thought long about which category to add this game to - either action or sport because it's a blending of these two: action-packed but also with reasonable competitive elements. So what is it all about?

Microprose 1993
Genre: Sport, Simulation
Rating: 4/6
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

This was IMHO the first racing game which came up with great graphics, sound and decent realism concerning car handling and setup. Although quite a number of the tracks in the game are not in today's race calendar or have been modified this game is still a lot of fun due to the lots of options.

Mattel / Epyx 1985
Genre: Simulation
Rating: 4/6
Licence: Commercial
System: C64

Back in the 90s, 'action toys' were the market. The leading company was Mattel with their action figures ('Barbie for boys'). And there were these toy cars. Completely unlike the car models which existed before and served only 'museum values', these little metal (or plastic if it had to be cheap) vehicles were actually designed for children playing with them! I, for example, held 'ramming contests': causing two cars to crash frontally and the one which falls upside down loses.