There is no doubt about it: sports fans are the single most neglected faction in the computer software universe. While an arcade full of action games and a treasure trove of the latest adventure and quest contests fill EG's oversized mailbox each day, sports simulations of any quality traditionally show up about as often as a diamond ring in a crackerjack box.


Finally, though, some intrepid pioneers such as Gamestar, Commodore and Thorn EMI are beginning to fill the gap. Even the programmable world is getting great sports titles for virtually every system. Until now, however, hockey fans haven't been able to get into the game.


Well, stop pouting and put down that beer, because the greatest ice hockey simulation ever designed is now available for the Atari computers, on cartridge, courtesy of the English-based Thorn EMI. Major League Hockey is a horizontally scrolling, three-screen-wide masterpiece that will have even fans in the cheap seats howling with delight.


Adapting techniques introduced in its ground-breaking Soccer simulation, Thorn presents a team game with no head-to-head action and, more interestingly, no refs or linesmen. In other words, while up to four garners can play simultaneously, they will all be cooperating on the same team against the computer. The machine assigns each gamer a number that corresponds to the joystick port into which their controller is inserted. By hitting the action button, the player nearest the puck - who is not already under control - becomes that gamer's on-ice surrogate. You can pass or shoot at this point by aiming the joystick in the desired direction and firing.


Some points to keep in mind:

• Time-outs are unlimited. Hit any key on the console and the action pauses until another key is struck, picking up the game where it left off.

• It takes a split second to take control of a skater. While a player is temporarily replaced by its corresponding joystick, it is paralyzed, so make sure that you have at least a small lead on the opposing player before taking control of the puck carrier. The computer does a good enough job covering the men not under your guidance.


This is full-team hockey. In solitaire games, the computerist is basically a player-coach. Keep an eye on your team and always remember your own position. Also, unlike Thorn's Soccer, in which the man carrying the ball moves slower than pursuers, skaters carrying the puck lose no velocity. In fact, once you've got a head of steam up, it's a piece of cake to fake around defenders, especially if they're standing still.

• Look for the breakout pass. With plenty of room between the puck-carrier and opposing players, take control and bring him down the right side, shooting from near the face-off circle. The computer-controlled goalies are especially vulnerable to these shots.

• One defender should always be kept back in front of your goalie. This way, when an opposing forward invades your zone, assign control to the defenseman and strip him of the puck. This often provides enough time to break free from down either side while the computer moves a forward back to cover your goalie.

• The graphics are so beautiful and the skaters so large it will be easy to follow them, but remember that all your men won't usually be on the screen!

• Until you've become very good, let the computer play goalie. Also, take the player not the
puck. Herb Brooks will be proud of you.


Finally, there is the matter of the lack of officials. Boys will be boys, and therefore both teams occasionally collide for a brief melee. Take advantage of the fact that no one can get hurt or penalized and send your men into the fracas. Then assign the player nearest the puck to go and scoop it up and throw it into the, usually, empty net.


Except for the interchangeability of players (even your goalie can take off and put one in this simulation, while the computer has another player cover the net) and the high scoring, this is as perfect a recreation of the world's fastest team sport as ever you've seen!
Unless you're Wayne Gretzky, this is the closest you'll ever come to racing up-ice and whacking that little rubber disc past a startled goal-tender.


Thorn deserves a Madison Square Garden standing "A" for this one.