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This game was undoubtedly the first decent attempt to bring a racquet sport to the Spectrum after Match Point. All the basic elements of the game are here, plus some natty features which make it more playable, such as automatic stroke selection and some muffled synthesised speech from the hairy maestro himself. If you like the idea of squash, but don't fancy mixing with loud business types down the local sports centre, then give this a whirl. In fact, even if you hate the game, try it, because it's a damn fine simulation.

JONAH BARRINGTON'S SQUASH
New Generation £7.95
Roger: I'd always thought that squash was a silly game played by overweight and middle-aged executive types to burn off the worst effects of their business lunches. The obvious reason for playing it inside a big indoor 'box' is to stop the rest of us from seeing them at it and cracking up in helpless mirth ... That's still probably a fairly accurate description of the real thing but the Speccy version is something else.
It features all the basic elements of the sport with two players on court, one of whom can be computer controlled. The only thankful absence is the wobbling bellies and puffing and panting.
The graphics and ball movement are realistic but the computer chooses stroke for you if the player has been positioned with some reasonable degree of accuracy. There are four options of difficulty and I can say, from experience, that it's easily possible to beat the Spectrum at the easier levels. Squash is a well-crafted chunk of sporting software which, usually, isn't boring to non- enthusiasts of the aforesaid physical pursuit.
It won't cut down on the jolly old midriff bulge, but then nobody will laugh at you either. 4/5

Dave: It felt a bit strange playing squash and not ending up drenched in sweat and gasping for air. Still, the graphics are good and the game's addictive. I also found out that Jonah Barrington is mike shy - the voice synthesis sounds like he spent hours down the pub getting his courage up ... 3/5

Ross: Master the techniques necessary for hitting the ball against the wall and you'll find this an enjoyable game. The lack of diagonal movement though is a pain, but not as much of a pain as playing the real thing. It's a pity that Jonah Barrington sounds like he's got a squash ball in his throat. 3½/5