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Ross: Not only is this game a follow on from the arcade adventure Dragontorc but also from the Seiddab Trilogy. It's obvious innit 'cos it combines similar adventure sequences and arcade action.

In the adventure sequence you control a figure who is on a space station moving from room to room in a search for hidden objects. Control is much the same as in other games except that you can request your figure to perform different actions. Pressing the fire button displays a series of icons that allow you to move the figure around, move both his arms independently and control a laser. Objects can be picked up, carried and dropped with the arms.

The status area in the bottom centre of the screen displays your laser's energy level, the available oxygen and any objects you're carrying. This part of the game is very similar to other Hewson productions but it docs have a few twists.

Well, what about the arcade action I hear you cry. In this section of the game you must gain control of your 24 fighter craft so you can destroy the Seiddab fleet encroaching into various local star systems in a last ditch attempt (we hope) to destroy civilisation as we know it. It plays very like Defender which is pretty good considering the memory that it must have been squeezed into.

Hewson has made an excellent attempt at mixing two completely different styles of game in Astroclone but I can't help wondering whether this will appeal to the buying public. The question is, do adventurers want to play the zappy bits and do arcade freaks want to solve the puzzles? 7/10

Rick: Oh no! Not another Avalon clone!There's no peace for the wicked. 4/10

Dougie: Avalon was never in itself state of the art but it has a big following so I've no doubt it will sell by default alone. 7/10