My second favourite vertically-scrolling SEU. Lightforce is an uncompromising, addictive, unrelentless attack on your senses and reactions. Full of colour, FTL managed to create a SEU proving that the Spectrum can do them just as well as the C64.

There aren't any fancy add-ons or power-ups nor any chilling 128K SFX. You do get an adrenaline rush as you fight your way past the various enemies.

Lightwave is no pushover, however each successive play gets you further into the game so you never lose interest.

Lightforce is an 'old skool' SEU done right. Play it and see for yourself.

An arcade conversion which just works. It's not trying to be clever (like Hard Drivin' or S.T.U.N. Runner), it's just great fun. Similar in principle to Gauntlet, just shift the perspective and set the game in the future.

Built for two players, Xybots works well in solo mode though you lose the 'running after the powerups and avoiding the enemy robots before your mate gets them' frantic action.

Surprisingly atmospheric with a sense of claustrophobia, it's just you (plus a mate) versus the continuous onslaught of the robot enemies. I've had great fun playing Xybots over the years and the game just works. Which is why it's here.

Nemesis is just soooo old; practically the first proper 'step up development up from Scramble. The Speccy conversion is a bit basic however Nemesis plays like a demon.

All the building blocks for the modern horizontally-scrolling SEU are here: collectables which let you choose your own powerups; massive end of level guardians, challenging enemies to shoot down. Etc.

Despite being rather aged, Nemesis is by no means due to be pensioned off. It's every good as its' reputation depicts. Definitely recommended.

Castle Master was the biggest Freescape game on the Spectrum. By the time CM was released, the novelty of Freescape graphics had worn off to a degree yet is was still the most sophisticated game of the series.

Atmospheric and clever (without being frustrating), the graphical style has never been implemented as well on the Speccy, nor has it been rivalled. More than just a graphics showcase, Castle Master is a solid arcade adventure, well worth investing time of it.

The most colourful Speccy BEU for certain, however that's not why Shadow Warriors here. Sure, there are a few niggles. SW is a big game, full of action and challenging. Don't expect an easy ride as SW has enemies at you all the time. Pick up the occasional sword and hack back. Throw people off ledges. Get bitch-slapped by the end of level boss.

Shadow Warriors is a great BEU. It's not Target; Renegade, so play SW without prejudice - and you'll realise why I've placed SW as my fourth favourite Spectrum BEU.

This is what Rampage should have been like! Control a massive, well animated monster who goes around destroying everything in its' path. Though it's not easy! The people whose city you are destroying may be small but they are plenty in number. So you've got a struggle on your hands.

The Muncher appeals to your 'inner monster' so it's great fun knocking down buildings, eating people and stomping on military vehicles. It's always different playing from 'the other side', so ensure you are as nasty as possible.

Have a break from being the good guy, play The Muncher.

This game was converted from the 32bit Archimedes version, so it was bound to attract attention. A 3D version of Thrust (mixed in with Defender) except it's diamond hard. Completely silent, Virus becomes an eerie experience.

You've got to rid each land of an unnamed virus, destroying various insidious craft. Virus takes massive amounts of skill and determination so when you complete a level the exhilaration you feel is intense.

Despite being one of many SEUs in this Top 100, Virus is a solid performer whose style has not been repeated.

It's easy to say that Wizball is great (it is). What is difficult is stating the specific reason why. Certainly the graphics help, as do the 128K spot effects and music. The ingenious power-ups and 'catellite' also add weight to the justification.

The fact you're playing an original SEU which requires deft manoeuvring of the joystick plus a plot which is worth more than the paper its' written on adds its' two pence worth to this claim.

Wizball merges all those elements into a playable, enjoyable unputdownable game. That must be why Wizball is great. Or is it because you're playing a green pea?

The big butch bloke in the ads was predictably turned into a weedy little stickman. This didn't prevent me from spending hours playing Rygar. There aren't really any unique selling points to Rygar; you get powerups, you're in a right-left scrolling platform BEU.

However it's light on the mind, the difficulty level is set well and you're not having to squint at the screen to work out what you're trying to avoid/kill/jump over.

Rygar (the Speccy game) is no perfect coin-op conversion though it retains enough of its' arcade parent to ensure you have a great time. Rygar is simple, unobtrusive fun which is often what's needed in this day when you're bombarded with ultra-complex games on X-Box et al.

Another Vortex title; an unassuming game which has a deceptively straightforward task: rescue five medical boxes from the various islands. Which are often assaulted by a particularly unrepentant cyclone.

This is no flight simulation (thankfully); exploring the islands, looking for the boxes, rescuing people and refuelling seem to be the constituent activities here. It's this which makes the game calming to play yet compulsive.

Don't expect to spend weeks trying to complete Cyclone however relish the time you spend playing. You'll enjoy every minute and still come back for more regardless if you've completed it.