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What's going down at Sega? They more or less completely ignore the Game Gear for months on end, then all of a sudden they start to release top games by the bucketload. Oh, and Sonic Labyrinth. (Cue that crappy, patronising music that Simon Bates used to play on his radio programme when reading out sad stories.) Could this be the machine going out with a bang? The end of Game Gear as we know it?

Our little black box of tricks is nearing the end of the road. Let us all seek harmony and comfort as [Enough! We get the picture - Gus]. Or maybe they just decided to release a few more games than usual? So many questions and so few answers. But, despite these teasers, one thing remains: the games. The latest gem to roll off the Sega bandwagon is Arena.

The game itself has been in development for eighteen months or so, with Sega making sure that everything is as polished as could be. We are promised twenty levels of "amazing isometric graphics", and a multitude of "weapons and enemies". But does it deliver the goods? Only we have the answers.

You start the game in an old-fashioned warehouse crawling with baddies. Then you move on to sewers, chemical plants, caverns and even a tube station. There are the usual array of baddies to accompany each level with standard robot men inhabiting the warehouses and slime monsters oozing around the sewer levels, but you knew that already, right?

The further you get into the game, the more weapons become available. You start with a standard gun and knife but by collecting the relevant icons, your weapons will upgrade. Also on offer are three-way laser, single laser, grenades/dynamite and a mega-powerful bazooka-type gun.

During the game if you press start, a screen will pop up informing you of your energy, armour levels, lives, and score. But most importantly is the ability to change your current weapon. By simply hitting left or right, you will cycle through all the weapons currently at your disposal. Once you have selected the desired gun, simply resume the game.

By the time you get to the cavern level, you should be in the possession of some dynamite (hit button 2 to check). Around the aforementioned stage, certain sections of the wall will be a pink colour. Chuck some dynamite at them and, lo and behold, secret doors appear.

There are a couple of bonus rooms, but you cannot finish the level without destroying a certain part of one wall. Keep 'em peeled.

A unique (for the Game Gear) isometric puzzle adventure type thing.

Escape from evil wrongdoers through twenty levels of mayhem.

I was looking forward to doing some really big games this month, so when I was given Arena, I have to admit I thought it would be another pile of Game Gear rubbish. But wait! This is a top game, and make no mistake about it.

The isometric view is awesome and works really well, despite being on such a small screen, and the standard of the graphics is high which complement it as well. The baddies are a bit static really, but that is only a minor gripe.

I also really enjoyed doing the puzzles and trying to work out which switch opened which door. This is one of the few Game Gear titles that I want to come back and play. Excellent stuff.

Die Hard - With a Game Gear. If you've ever wanted to demolish warehouses teeming with terrorists then your chance has come. This is one of the most impressive, and broad, games I've ever seen on this format, with a well-balanced mix of strategy and action. A wide variety of weaponry and scenarios make up for some rather predictable and docile baddies, and none of the puzzles are beyond a bit of lateral thinking.

The most surprising thing about this absorbing title is that it was originally conceived for the Megadrive, before development was switched to the Game Gear. Quite why is anyone's guess, but this is one occasion where Game Gear owners get the best deal. Highly recommended.

Graphics 91%
P. Brilliant to look at, they really help to add to the feeling of the game.

Animation 83%
P. What there is works well...
N. ...but there isn't really enough.

Music 88%
P. I really like the tunes. They don't get repetitive, which is no bad thing.

Effects 84%
P. Some neat gun sounds and explosions.

Playability 93%
P. Frightfully addictive. You just can't put it down.

Lastability 91%
P. With twenty massive levels, need we say more?

Overall 92%
A thoroughly entertaining blast from start to finish. Invest in it now!