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Spectrums, Ataris and now Commodore 64s can play Blue Thunder, a game reminiscent of the American hits Choplifter and Fort Apocalypse. However, its design doesn't draw too heavily on either scenario. Anyway, forget the pedigree: on with the battle. And what a battle!

After taking off from the aircraft carrier, your blue jetcopter is immediately endangered by horrors such as pink radioactive clouds, barrage balloons, subs and jetfighters. All these are fatal to touch; you'll really need film hero Schneider's help this time, as the main idea of the game is to rescue people after you've disarmed a nuclear reactor. That's no mean feat with fuel running out at an alarming rate!

Control by keys is considerably slower and less responsive than that by joystick. Scrolling is comparatively smooth, and the screen layout is very clear.

In fact, throughout the game there are good graphics and the animation of the people is particularly effective, but even then the computer's potential is not fully exploited.

There are five missions which are really difficulty/screen options and the last one can be accessed only by completing mission four. The game can therefore be quite addictive. The first mission can be mastered quickly but later missions are different propositions altogether with their added hazards.

The sound effects are average but functional; the jetcopter rotors make a good humming sound and a siren warns whenever the fuel level becomes critical.

In all, a fairly run-of-the-mill rescue zap but with some interesting twists in the gameplay.

It makes a change here to be rescuing people, rather than simply blasting someone or something to smithereens.

The sound of the helicopter and the screaming jets gave the graphics some realism, and I found the game addictive, if only to get a look at the increasing hazards on the later levels.

The lack of music and the fairly average sound-effects let the game down badly. The graphics are chunky and drawn in washed-out colours.

Although quite like the game Choplifter, this one is made different by the variety of hazards facing you. But the control keys will have your fingers in knots by the time you shoot your first missile.

Very odd, the way you crash into clouds; apparently, water vapour is now impermeable to helicopters!

Your copter moves as smoothly as the screen scrolls sideways. The hardest part about controlling bluey is dropping bombs and you need to get the knack of this before entering any tight spots.

It beats the TV series any day of the week.