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Here's another skateboarding game on the Nintendo - but totally different to Skate Or Die. It's a conversion of the old Atari coin-op and is centered around city streets and sidewalks littered with ramps, water hazards, and deadly traffic.

Surrounding the streets are booths corresponding to the four events you must compete in - slalom, jump, downhill and ramp. Your success in these events is rewarded by bronze, silver or gold medals - but if you're complete rubbish you won't get anything! Also, you get cash for winning medals, which is used to buy better pads, a boards, shoes and helmets. The better your geal, the better your on-screen persona performs. On completion of all four events, you progress to the next, more difficult level.

Of course there's a fly in the ointment - in this case, literally! There's a fixed time limit between events, and when it's elapsed a swarm of bees starts chasing you - get to the next booth quickly, or it's curtains!

The four events require separate skills to finish. Practice makes perfect, but you're bound to have a few wipe-outs as you learn the ropes.

1. Jump:
   Look out for the diamond, which is the optimum place from which to jump. Make sure you avoid the water on the way down!
2. Slalom:
   No fancy moves required here, just fast turns to get between the poles. Learning the route is helpful.
3. Ramp:
   The hardest event to get right. Wait until you're at the top of your swoop before trying a stunt.
4. Downhill:
   Turning in mid-air helps to give you a smooth landing. As with the slalom, knowing the course is very useful.

Atari's 720 coin-op is quite a head-turner! Mounted on the top of the machine is what looks like a giant ghetto blaster, complete with a pair of enormous speakers. Once you start playing the game, the reason for these sonic devices instantly becomes apparent - the game features a variety of very loud stereo thrash metal tunes which barrage the player as he skates around the screen!

So the locals let you enjoy a quick skate? Do they heck! Cars attempt to mow you down as soon as you stray on to the road, idiots hurl frisbees right into your path, and musclebound morons flex their pecs and generally get in the way. Evasive action is needed to avoid death at the hands of your homicidal neighbours!

I think this game is a lot of fun - although you're supposed to compete in the events, it's just as much fun skating around the streets doing stunts and hassling pedestrians!

Unfortunately, the swarm of bees soon puts an end to this. Anyway, the events themselves are a little disappointing, as they don't change a great deal between levels. So although the game is great fun, I have my doubts about its long-term value. So why not check it out at your local shop before buying?

Although this only has four events, they combine together to produce an entertaining game. Skating from one part of the park to another is a laugh, because you can do stunts and knock people over on the way, and there are also shops where you can stop and upgrade your gear to give you better abilities (so long as you keep winning the cash).

The game isn't difficult to get into, but once you get to higher levels, it becomes very tough indeed, with the bees swarming after you at very high speed - you have to plan ahead and skate like mad to get to the next event before they catch you!

720 is an entertaining and original game, and is well worth trying out if you're after something other than a shoot-'em-up or platform game.

Presentation 68%
Very simple and straightforward, with nothing in the way of game options.

Graphics 84%
Although they're nothing special to look at, the graphics suit the game well.

Sound 80%
A vague attempt at thrash metal - and it nearly works!

Playability 85%
Highly playable with that no-nonsense addictive quality!

Lastability 76%
It gets tough on later levels, but there's not much variety in the action.

Overall 80%
A solid, playable number that lacks the variety to make it a real winner.