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Imagine that you're suddenly transported forward in time to the year 3000 AD. You find yourself the star of the chief entertainment of the time - the arena - where humanoids battle with mutants. Your only defence is a death ray and you need it. If you're touched just once by a mutant, you die. And some of the monsters take several blasts before they decide to die and leave you in short-lived peace!

A nightmare? No, just a brief description of Arena 3000. You, of course, play the part of the humanoid, starting with three lives but soon losing them. Each mutant you kill adds to your points score and the cassette inlay tells you that you gain an extra life for every 20,000 points you score.

I wouldn't know as by then I've been swamped by mutants such as The Dreaded Oh Nos or the Jovial Jovian Jumpers. If they're jovial, I don't get the joke. And of course, every time you clear a wave of mutants, along comes another of a different type.

It's not easy but it is fun. With either keyboard or joystick control, sound on/off and pause facilities and a Hall of Fame, the game is well up to standard. The graphics are very good and the use of sound reasonable. A good version of an arcade classic.

Keith Young