Microprose 1993
Genre: Strategy, Action
Rating: 6/6
Language: English, Deutsch, Francais
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

As gameplay is basically the same to the original version of 'Pirates!' I won´t get into detail about that. Have a look at the review of 'Pirates' instead.
So, what has changed since then?

Microprose 1994
Genre: Strategy, Action
Rating: 6/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

First of all, all comparisons are referring to the original Pirates! and the PC version of Pirates! Gold. Read the first review for a detailed covering of the gameplay itself. It is almost identical in this version.

Tradewest Inc. 1993
Genre: Action, Puzzle
Rating: 4/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: SNES

Meet Plok, a rather strange fellow. He has a flag fetish, hates fleas, can shoot off his arms and legs and absolutely hates fleas. Did I mention that he hates fleas? If not, then... well, you get the idea. Plok wakes up one sunny morning to find that his most prized possession, a big square flag, has been stolen. Our brave red-and-yellow hero decides to go flag hunting, and sees his flag hanging on an island just off the coast. When, after much adventure (a level or eight) he has finally recovered his flag, he returns to his island, only to find that it has been overrun with big, ugly fleas! Of course, our intrepid protagonist immediately vows to rid the island of fleas once and for all...

Origin 1993
Genre: Action, Simulation
Rating: 5/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Right. What can I write about such an immensely popular game which hasn't already been said. Obviously not much. Also, what should I describe it for - everybody already knows it! Then again, maybe not really everybody. So, a brief introduction.

Electronic Arts 1990
Genre: Sport, Action
Rating: 5/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

Team sports are all more or less the same: two opposing teams on some field trying to score more than the other. The method of scoring might differ a bit, but that's it. Relatively innovative computer sports games like for example Speedball started their changes at the same aspect: the way of scoring. Just looking at this, Projectyle goes the most conservative of all possible ways: 'players' have to 'shoot' a 'ball' into a 'goal'.

British Software 1986
Genre: Action
Rating: 4/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: Plus/4

At dusk, somewhere in a dusty desert village, the work of Prospector Pete begins. As always, he descents to the dark tunnel, and as always, a colleague takes the ladder away after him to corral him. He knows the feeling of being jailed.

Spazz 2001
Genre: Action
Rating: 3/6
Language: -
Licence: Freeware
System: PC

This picture shows Pudgy. Pudgy is neat blob-like creature which lives in a strange world. A very harsh and hostile world in fact. Hardly fitting for a peaceful creature like him! But well... his instinct to survive is strong enough to prevent that he gives up himself. So what should he do? He has to find a way out of this world.

Nick Sumner 1988
Genre: Action
Rating: 3/6
Language: English
Licence: Freeware
System: C64

Breakout with a unique twist: Instead of one, you're controlling four paddles at once. One on each side of the screen, so up and down move the ones on the left and right vertically, and left and right move the ones on top and bottom horizontally.

Graftgold / Hewson 1986
Genre: Action
Rating: 4/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: ZX Spectrum

Paradroid had been a huge hit on the C64, so ports were the logical step. For the Spectrum, Graftgold decided a straight port wouldn't be possible, as the game very much depends on the smooth scrolling into all directions. And while they were at it, they decided to change quite a few more things on the way.

Will Wright / Broderbund 1984
Genre: Action
Rating: 5/6
Language: English
Licence: Commercial
System: C64

It may seem unbelievable in these days, now that every computer game seems to be about war, spurting blood and severed limbs, but in the 80s, it was pretty much agreed on in the gaming press (here in Germany at least) that 'realistic' war themes are morally questionable and detract from the enjoyment of a game. So, the more otherworldly the story and the freakier the setting of a game about some sort of fighting, the better the ratings.