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Two more titles to add to the ever increasing number of vertical shoot-'em-ups for the ST, both less than perfect.

Altair is Infogrames latest offering, and features extremely slick graphics giving the whole game a distinctly metallic feel. Almost anything can be destroyed and most things animate when hit.

Unfortunately most of us will never see much of this designer programming, because the game is just too hard to play, and even requires the use of the keyboard to utilise certain weapons.

Although Altair is way above average on the presentation and general flashness scales, it doesn't wean you gently into the really tricky bits, by giving you a few easier levels first.

If it did, you would have a sense of achievement giving you the urge to go back and get further next time, an urge you just don't get here.

Hades Nebula, the latest offering from Nexus, is another flawed shooter, this time suffering from frustratingly sluggish controls, giving you the feeling that the game is being played in a huge bowl of very thick galactic syrup.

Hades Nebula does have redeeming features like well designed graphics and even mining platforms, from which rebels release pods giving you extra speed, firepower and weaponry. But none of this helps you forget the fact that Nexus expect you to save the world flying the equivalent to a 50cc moped with wings on.