The Chain

Your Sinclair

Technical Ingenuity 92%

Achievement 85%

Crap Factor 11%

Fun 60%

Overall 76%

Rich Pelley 76%

CRAP GAME CORNER Time once again to take your socks off and snuggle up under the duvet with RICH PELLEY (and a couple of crap games)... THE CHAIN By W Heap This one's an eight-way-scrolling shoot-'em-up, and quite an impressive one at that, with exceptionally smooth scrolling, detailed graphics and five action-packed levels. But the big problem is that it isn't exactly easy. Actually I lied - it's blimmin' impossible. The five levels are five planets which you can visit in any order, and have to rid of baddies to get onto the next. Unfortunately though the baddies fly around completely manically in random directions, so it's all a bit too unpredictable and easy to get hit - a complete pain in the bot because you never get anywhere. I did find it strangely addictive though, and it certainly looks splendid. In fact I was so impressed I almost wrote home to Mother (Eh? Ed), but as Shakespeare once said. "What's the point of a shoot-'em-up which is so hard you can't get anywhere?"

Lumme, haven't the foggiest what's going on here (but it does look pretty!).

FANCY SEEING YOUR GAME ON THE COVER? Well, who wouldn't? That's right, Spec-chums, as of this month we're choosing one reader game per issue to put on the front cover cassette! And it could be yours! Michael Batty's incredibly wonderful Earth Shaker takes pride of place in this month's 6-Pack (earning him quite a juicy little cheque we might add - that's right, we pay you for this!) but don't let his high standards deter you - whatever you do, however you do it, we'd like to see your stuff. Oo-er! So - this month's Crap Games comes to an end, packs its bag, goes home, has a bath, makes itself a hot cup of cocoa and goes to bed. I'll be sitting here (and I'm Rich Pelley) at CGC, YS, [redacted], till the postie arrives. Ta-ta.

GIRLY FAN CLUB CORNER My personal collection of sexy girlie underwear is coming on quite nicely with the welcome addition of an attractive pair of skimpy black lacey knickers sent in from Gill from Sheffield. (Hi again, Gill - and I think your brother owes me £10). Oh, and a great big sloppy wet snog under the mistletoe to Laura Gregory from Wolverhampton for the Chrimbo card. Ta, girlies. Right, who's next? (And I want photos from now on too.)