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Santa's Christmas Eve's a tad more dangerous than it used to be. When he first landed the job as martyr to children worldwide, he had it pretty easy - a day at the office involved lounging around for 364 days drinking brandy while his pixies slaved away at wooden toy construction - but during his next yearly outing, much to the fat bloke's dismay, he was met be extreme, hostile activity. Toys flew through the air like ballistic missiles, thrown by evil gangs of pixies intent on St. Nicholas's death. You control the bloated lummox himself, and must guide the reindeer-assisted sled through three horizontally-scrolling levels. Claus is none-too-pleased at having harmful gifts hurled at him, so retaliates with bizarre weapons of his own, such as puddings and crackers, which (unlike the majority of seasonal goods) explode on impact. Complete the trip and ol' Sant can put his feet up, scoff mince pies and lock up Rudolph 'till this time next year.

A Christmassy game has to be dodgy, right? Maybe not. Xmas Caper's a jolly little shoot-'em-up but, by tinsel, is it difficult! Bags full of baubles and balloons litter each screen; collide with one and Santa and Rudolph self-destruct! With only three levels, it has to get tricky early on, but it doesn't have to be impossible!

You've no idea if the backdrops are scenery of hazards until you crash. If you find it in your stocking, demand Santa returns and ask him if flying teddies, puddings and balloons really do pose a threat on the 24th of December.