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Dear readers, if you have been looking for an excellent arcade-type "Scramble" then buy Avenger from Abacus Programs. It's really the best "Scramble" I have seen available for the 16K ZX81.

The game loads every time and, once loaded, runs automatically displaying the instructions and which keys to use. Then, when you have pressed 'p' as you are told, the next screen of instructions are shown and the points awarded for each target. You then enter the skill level and set off on your intrepid mission.

You fly over mountainous terrain, hurtling bombs or lasers at the ground. They are both accurate and the computer responds quickly to key depression (which is just as well!). Guided missiles are launched against you and are only destroyed by bombs whereas factories and missile pads can be flattened by both sorts of ammunition. Watch out! If you miss the guided missiles, they are sure to get you!

Your plane can be hit as many as five times before you are destroyed but a hit from a missile counters as two shots. You can also be killed by the atomic explosion resulting from the destruction of a power station. As if this isn't enough, interceptors will attack you from all directions and they are hard to destroy as you only have your lasers for defence and they are no match for their rockets. If you manage to score more than 5,000 by the time your fifth plane is destroyed then you have beaten the planet at that level.

At the highest level, level 5, the game is very, very fast. Not only are there more guided missiles and interceptors to deal with but your laser is shortened, making it much harder to destroy the interceptors. In addition there is a high score facility for every level and a hit/time ratio which tells you the average hits you have made in your allotted time.

Avenger, at £4.95 from Abacus Programs is great value for money and really releases the full potential of the 16K ZX81.