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Now is the day of... the Slimy Things. For years, man had been waiting for a deadly invasion from outer space. In the end, it came from around the S-bend. All those years of endless effluent flowing into our rivers and poisoning our seas. All those tons of Fairy Liquid, Timotei and human 'waste products' had combined into a potent concoction, enough to mutate the basic and ancient low-life of Earth.

Simple organisms like worms and, er, slimy things grew to massive sizes, sprouted all sorts of tentacles and then went around eating who they liked. And people were very unhappy. Until someone hit upon the idea of designing a fleet of craft using the same attributes of the mutants. With these ships, men could destroy the hideous creatures and flush them from the world. The next idea was to give these ships extra powers, which they could attain from the 'energies of the air'. With these topper ideas, the people of Earth embarked on their glorious plan...

Bio Hazard takes its ideas from many other shoot-'em-ups and adds a few of its own.

Shoot everything that moves and pick up the extra weapons. Simple.

Bio Hazard takes you to the end of the Earth in your slime-ridding quest. An underwater level presents itself, complete with strange life-forms based on the creatures that live on the sea-bed. Shiver as eels, worms and strange jellyfish gloop around the polluted briny, out to destroy you.

Throughout Bio Hazard, you are treated to the delights and sights of the mutant world. Initially, you have to drop through the levels of the atmosphere, facing an onslaught from peculiar tentacled creatures. The real devastation begins in the city. The journey involves a trip through the ruins, as horrid things climb the tower blocks - yeeugh!

A vast trash-monster raises his ocular head at the end of this apocalyptic vision.

There are four different vehicles of destruction to choose from. Each vehicle uses the power-up gems in a different way, but otherwise their performance is almost identical. The first, Cuttler, is a squid-like craft with a cuttlefish beak. The next, Manta, resembles some sort of sea ray, with its bluish sleek lines and flat fins.

The third choice, Repto, is reminiscent of an ancient reptilian form, with a red fork tail and horny headprotector.

Lastly, Mosq borrows insect design to produce a fast flying craft just like the bloodsucking mosquito.

When you go into the woods, you are ensured a big surprise. What could be more unnerving than palm trees sprouting wings and attacking you. Aaaiee! Various other flora-type enemies emerge, including a great stomping tree man, who waves his woody claws. The level ends with a huge snake-like monstrosity awakened from his resting place inside a human carcass.

Bio Hazard supports one- and two-player game modes. The two-player made allows both players to play simultaneously. Each player has to select a different ship (for identification). When the first player loses all his lives, he can 'borrow' some of this friend's remaining lives.

The worst excesses of mutation hang around the pipes and conduits of the sewage level. This is one of the most restricted areas for movement, with ships and enemies crowded into the space between the intersecting tubes. Horrible spongy creatures use the pipes for transport, carried on tentacled legs. Hanging from the metal outcrops are some bulbous, sickly-green pods, bulging and fit to burst with pus all over your smart paintwork.

Regularly, coloured gems float by you as you play Bio Hazard. Seize them! They are power-ups for your ship, but make sure you collect them in an order that will benefit your ship. Each of the colour codes adds a weapon power to your drone ship - the tiny satellite craft that flies with you.

Each of the four gems (excluding green) creates two separate effects, depending on what ship you have chosen. Here is that add-on armoury in full:

1. Green Gem
   One effect only. A standard double gun shot emerges from the drone. Higher power levels means more bullets. This is the default weapons option.
2. Red Gem
   Effect 1: Rings of energy are fired from the drone. These rebound around the screen. Higher levels = more rings.
   Effect 2: A homing laser. Fires in the drone's direction then traces any nearby enemies. Thickens with each progressive level.
3. Blue Gem
   Effect 1: Powers up in the form of a 'star' laser which fires bolts in eight directions. Bolts become thicker on each higher level.
   Effect 2: Globules of blue energy float from the drone in a slow-moving fashion. More globules as it gains power.
4. Yellow Gem
   Effect 1: Infinity Laser! A fixed front-firing field of death: the beam widens with each successive power-up.
   Effect 2: Rail gun. A stream of high energy bullets firing in the drone's direction. More bullets for each new level.

Powering up is a bit different in Bio Hazard. Picking up icons randomly attaches their powers to the ship. But to increase your power level, select the colour gem which matches the weapon you already possess. This raises it to a higher level. There are three levels of power.

It isn't often that the mighty Harrod admits to being severely tested by a game, yet he quite opened stated that he'd almost met his match with Bio Hazard's store of the grotesque. He finished it, of course, but us mortals have really got our work cut out, believe you me.

There's never a level goes by without something truly horrible floating on-screen to scare the life out of you before mercilessly finishing you off. Even with two people joining forces to exorcise the sickening scum, the mission at hand is nigh on impossible. In fact, it seems easier on your own as there is less confusion.

Sometimes you're not quite sure of who's where and what's to avoid. Yet Bio Hazard is a welcome reassurance that Sega know exactly what we want and are starting to give it to us. In fine style!

The stylish and varied gameplay, due to the choice of ships so prevalent in Bio Hazard coupled with the best sprites I've ever seen on the Megadrive, nay anywhere, make this an absolute necessity.

Every so often along comes a really good game. No frills, no gimmicks just well programmed, solid blasting. Bio Hazard fits into this category. The initial levels are mildly impressive, but as you progress you realise just how spectacular some of the action is.

Scnes like the underground tunnel and the underwater level are minor classics. The graphics are excellent, with some of the best designed and animated sprites on any system. The sound is equally brilliant, perfectly capturing the sinister, slightly strange feel of the whole game.

What will really appeal to many, I suspect, is that Bio Hazard is rock hard. Even easy is a challenge and a half, and no-one is going to grumble about another pushover on the Megadrive. For once, the difficulty level has been well balanced with an adequate supply of continues. To round it off is the two-player option, which can be a bit hectic with all those bullets flying, but fun nonetheless.

Maybe a bit off the wall for some mainstream players, but this will assuredly become a cult classic for blaster fans.

Presentation 90%
P. Two player, plenty of levels and tweaks.

Graphics 88%
P. Incredible sprites in design and motion.
N. Backdrops have received secondary attention in a few cases.

Sound 86%
P. The music is atmospheric in its weirdness and tension.
N. More music than there is would have made the game even better.

Playability 87%
P. The instant addiction of a well-made blaster.

Lastability 87%
P. Eight big levels, tons of hard enemies. Weeks of play.
N. Wimps may crash out before then.

Overall 88%
Rock hard blasting action that's well worth buying.