Miami Cobra GT

C&VG (Computer & Video Games)

Overall 72%

Players Spectrum £2.99 Although fairly naff on the other 8 bits, the Spectrum version of this Chase HQ-alike is actually quite enjoyable, but after a few plays, the fun factor drops considerably - leaving this a rather dull racer to play. If screeching about in a car is your buzz, take a gander at WEC Le Mans instead.

Sinclair User

Graphics 78%

Sound 80%

Playability 85%

Lastability 82%

Overall 81%

Chris Jenkins 81%

Label: Players Price: £2.99 48K/128K Reviewer: Chris Jenkins There are now so many car racing simulators, good, bod and indifferent, that if you laid them all end to end, there'd be enough to race a car on. However, there must be demand for new ones, and if it's a good effort such as Miami Cobra GT, who am I to object? MCGT is yer standard 3-D parallax forward-scrolling road race, with four courses featuring city and country backgrounds, and manual control of steering and the car's hi-low gears. What's unusual here is that there's a real impression of speed (up to 167 mph, gasp!), and of control over the car. It doesn't seem to be possible to crash, but scraping against the buildings, lamp posts and other obstructions slows you down and removes unsightly bodily hair. Bashing into one of your competitors will slow you down but it's an interesting way of making new friends who specialise in body repairs. You get 8 Turbo Boosts per level (yeeeaarrrr!) and a map above the display fills to to tell you where you are on each level. Too-notch music and sound effects and decent graphic design (like yeah man!) combine to form an uncomplicated but entertaining Turbo Outrun lookalike which will engage any boy racer as long as he's in the right gear. (What about girlie racers you toad! - Andrea)

Crash

Overall 78%

Nick Roberts 78%

Players Software £2.99 The perfect setting: Miami on a hot sunny day. You've got your Mustang Cobra GT and a chick in the passenger seat, what more could you want? You set off on the race of your life, through mountain ranges, inner city landscapes, rolling countryside and tree lined avenues. Each level is made up of four stages which are displayed on the map at the top left of the screen. The route is packed full of sharp bends so glancing at the map occasionally to give yourself advance warning is essential. The two gears on your Mustang are not enough to get you through the game, that's why you have a turbo boost! But beware, you can only use it eight times on each level. It's a bit of a shame the graphics in Miami Cobra GT are not better drawn; the game would almost be on par with such racers as Lotus Turbo Esprit. They're not bad though, they just look very 'budget game' . Play is excellent, speeding past all the buildings and zipping around the corners is great fun. Miami Cobra GT is tremendous value for money, even if the logo on the inlay is very Miami Vice!