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Sylvester Stallone was supposed to play Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop. Fortunately he was busy, and Eddie Murphy became the streetwise Detroit cop. Now the heat is on for the CPC, as Eddie once again gets caught in Beverly Hills, this time on the trail of arms smugglers.

The game's four different sections can either played individually - making it a long multi-loader - or as an ongoing arcade adventure. They form a trail that leads Axel F to the heart of an international gun-running conspiracy. The bad boys have big bucks invested in this little scheme and will do anything to ensure success. So you'll need a cool head and a hot gun to survive, which roughly equates with winning.

The first level is set at the smugglers' base, where they've been stockpiling weapons. As they're loading vans for the final big shipment, into the danger zone rolls our hero. Axel walks between crates trying to wipe out all the criminals - what's wrong with arrests all of a sudden? - blasting away with his Colt 45. He can only duck out of the way of shots, while the criminals have plenty of crate cover and will stop at nothing to kill him.

Being arms dealers, they've got plenty of cannon-power and must be despatched with the utmost speed, because if you let these heavies get on top of you... [I think that's enough! - Ed]. This level is seen from the side as Axel fires forward and overhead, cowers and runs. The criminals fall quickly when shot - but so does Mr Foley, so take care.

The second section follows the warehouse raid, as some of the loaded vans attempt to escape. But they haven't bargained on Axel Foley's Merc! The dashboard's at the bottom of the screen, the car it controls in the centre. A barren landscape surrounds the road, but it's the tarmac that's important, not the scenery. You overtake the trucks or shoot the ammunition inside, forcing them to stop. The bad guys throw out crates to block your path, but that's no problem for a master driver like yourself or Axel.

Although no threat to Chase HQ, the section works well. If anything, though, it's too easy. Once you've nicked the villains, you go onto the next stage via the main menu and loading screens.

Level Three has a high-angle view of Axel storming the mansion of the boss smuggler. He's positioned 39 guards in the grounds and Axel daren't leave one alive. You need to stalk and track the guards, then kill them. A flick-screen game, it has some nasty surprises, with Axel stumbling into large groups of guards all pointing their guns his way. A good memory, a cool head and quick reactions are essential if you're to triumph over apparently insurmountable odds. As with all the games, you get three lives, each depicted as a heart that slowly drains of blood as the fight and time progress.

Once into the Mansion - the fourth level - it's a game of catch-the-criminal. There's a Freescape meets Operation Wolf view of the world, as you roam around the corridors, gunning down more guards trying to find the hostage they've snatched as insurance. There are four floors, all connected by lifts, and to add spice there's a bomb, planted to ensure you'll never take Mr Big alive! The game's objective is threefold: find the hostage, kill Mr Big and, if a bomb's activated, know the shortest possible route out of the house! With only three lives, he who hesitates is boss, with the foolhardy soon going up in the world.

The nature of the game means that there can be no overall graphical style, but what there is looks a little rudimentary. Importantly, though, the graphics always remain clear, never impairing the game. The film tie-in is detrimental in this respect, as the movie has such strong associated images for the gamesplayer to compare with the on-screen action. But you'd be hard pushed to fault the soundtrack which features the hit theme 'Axel F'. While not perfect, it's good enough to recreate the feel of the film.

Beverly Hills Cop was a tough licence, with the film relying 100% on Eddie Murphy for character. Without his humour, the game is bound to fall short of any expectations, but it's still good. Even with its basic graphics, this Eddie Murphy compilation works. The games are well thought out and implemented. They favour the easier side of play, partially due to the ability to select them out of sequence, but also because in the movie the outcome is never in question. Axel always wins, and it's the style in which he does it that matters. The film was also noted for its profanity, and Tynesoft have produced a game about Eddie Murphy that manages to avoid the word S*%! [Do you mind? - Ed]

It's far too easy. All the good ideas in the world can't save a game if you finish it in one afternoon! A good try but not quite good enough.

Beverly Hills Cop is A-OK.

Graphics 60%
P. Functional, efficient sprites.
N. Not a stunner.

Sonics 75%
P. Axel F on the CPC.
N. Moderate effects.

Grab Factor 77%
P. Four different games at your fingertips.
P. All very playable!

Staying Power 61%
P. Play games individually or as an arcade adventure.
N. Too easy?

Overall 69%
Movie fun in multiple stages.