With the long cold winter nights drawing in (as opposed to the short cold summer nights) Epyx have released The Games, a winter sports simulation rather similar to Winter Games (also by Epyx). So is this the kind of thing to get you rushing home, closing those curtains and getting down to a good old session on the CPC? You begin with a standard menu: compete in all events, compete in some events, compete in one event, practice an event, and change controls. It can also display the opening and closing ceremonies (it helps if you play before selecting closing ceremonies). Now wait for the next stage... After the wait comes the pretty but also pretty pointless opening ceremony, followed closely by the actual selecting of the names of your competitors. Up to eight people can compete and can choose their nationalities from a choice of seventeen countries ranging from Austria to West Germany via Japan (?) and Mexico (!).    
After the preliminaries we reach the events themselves: Luge, Downhill, Slalom. Speed Skating, Figure Skating, Cross-Country and, my favourite, the Ski Jump. Those who enjoy a good waggle are going to be disappointed: only the crosscountry is a real rip-the-joystick-apart event. Most of the events require different controls ana some fast reactions. The Games is long on loading and short on excitement. It seemed as if the computer was doing everything for me and I could just sit back and relax so I did. To sum up: try Winter Games first and then try The Gaines before I bought it. GMB, AA | 
