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The ST conversion of Palace's successful hack 'n slash combat game, Barbarian, has just hit the streets, except those in Germany, that is - where, we're told, the game glorifies violence and would constitute an undesirable influence on the country's youth.

Personally, I just think German gamesters are missing out on a stonking good game and that's all there is to it!

And what a good job programmer Gary Thomson, and sound whizz Richard Joseph have done, converting Steve Brown's original 8-bit hit, into a sure-fire winner for the ST, and soon for the Amiga.

ST Barbarian has all the finesses and delicacy of the original. You know the sort of thing - lots of hacking, and I don't mean the software kind, spurting blood and decapitation.

The soundtrack is superb with digitised effects, such as a metallic claang, when sword meets sword, which almost makes the joystick vibrate in your hand.

The same batch of combat controls are here, including headbutt, flying neck chop and the evil web of death.

The blood runs freely, amidst grunts and groans and swishes as a sword flies just past your left ear.

But, if you're not quite ready for the real thing, there's always the practice arena, where you can brush up on your swordsmanship without the inconvenience of an opponent trying to kill you.

Miss it at your peril, and watch out for the football-playing orc - he's a star!