Amiga Action Issue 54 is a very review-driven issue built around the question posed on the cover: is Universe the worthy follow-up to Curse of Enchantia, or a disappointment? That debate anchors a packed reviews section that leans heavily into action, racing, and platform games, with prominent coverage of Total Carnage, Lamborghini: American Challenge, Fury of the Furries, Fantastic Dizzy, and Terminator 2: The Arcade Game. Alongside the reviews, the magazine continues its strong CD32 push (with features like “CD32: A Museum Piece?”), developer insight pieces (including The Making of Pinball Dreams – Part 2), and solid practical content such as player guides and charts. The overall tone is confident and selective: flashy arcade conversions and colourful platformers are judged strictly on playability and longevity, while ambitious projects are openly scrutinised for failing to live up to their promise.

Highlights

• Cover focus: Universe — positioned as a high-profile adventure release following Curse of Enchantia, questioned for whether its ambition matches its execution.
• Major action review: Total Carnage — twin-stick, all-out arcade chaos pitched as a coin-op-style adrenaline hit and one of the issue’s most immediate, high-energy games.
• Racing spotlight: Lamborghini: American Challenge — illegal night racing across the USA, betting mechanics, car upgrades, and emphasis on speed and arcade handling over realism.
• Platform standouts:
  • Fury of the Furries — praised for its inventive mechanic where creatures morph into different forms to solve platform challenges.
  • Fantastic Dizzy — reviewed as a return to classic Dizzy adventuring with puzzle-solving and exploration at the forefront.
• Arcade conversion: Terminator 2: The Arcade Game — evaluated on spectacle and gun-blazing fun, but criticised for shallow depth compared to the original arcade experience.
• CD32 focus: Features questioning the long-term value of CD32 software and positioning it within Amiga history rather than as a guaranteed future.
• Behind-the-scenes feature: The Making of Pinball Dreams – Part 2, offering insight into Digital Illusions’ design process and technical polish.
• Charts snapshot: Confirms long-term favourites like Cannon Fodder, Frontier: Elite II, and Mortal Kombat still dominating player attention.
• Overall tone: Energetic but critical — colourful, fast games are celebrated, but the magazine is increasingly blunt about missed potential and design shortcuts.