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In the past, Micromega have produced some excellent games, Deathchase and Full Throttle being amongst them. But if you expect their latest release to be as good, you'll be disappointed. It's really not in the same class.

The idea is sound enough. You must rescue three people from the planet of Braxx Bluff, by completing a number of tasks. First you must land on the planet by homing in on a beacon. Ignore the pretty 3D graphics that occupy the majority of the screen - to land at the right place you merely centre a dot on a tiny radar screen.

Having done that, you proceed on foot towards the 'Hydro-crawler', zapping the bird-like creatures that try to stop you. Once inside the crawler you race across the deserts, marshes and finally a sea doing more zapping, until you reach your goal. Believe me, it's tough going.

To get onto the next screen you must amass a certain score and in some cases this is frustratingly difficult. Fortunately you can save your record onto tape, allowing rou to skip the easy stages in future games.

Graphically the game is quite impressive. Though they are not particularly clear (and rather chunky) there are some good 3D effects. Sound too, is well up to par.

What really spoils this game is the sheer lack of playability. Though the stages are difficult, they are not really interesting enough to sustain any prolonged efforts. Indeed, I found the only reason for completing a task was to see if the next was more enjoyable.

In a way this is a shame. A lot of thought has obviously gone into the game and it has been put together very professionally. But for me it just didn't have that magic ingredient that makes a game truly addictive.

Another one of Micromega's 3D games and perhaps the best yet. It's a challenging game with very good graphics. The detailed landscapes scroll by smoothly in superb colour.

Even in the first part of the game - the landing - is hard to get past. So things can move a bit slowly. The mission from then on is a real battle and great fun. With so many different types of games (including a sort of diving simulation in a moon buggy) included in one program Braxx Bluff is a game not easily mastered.

Overall, a very good game and another hit for Micromega.

Braxx Bluff is the latest offering from Micromega and, as is becoming usual for them, it features sheet after sheet of amazingly smooth 3D graphics. These certainly make for a beautiful-looking game. The trouble with Braxx Bluff is that it's so difficult there's little chance of seeing the higher levels. I was lucky - my review copy had the higher stages saved on the B-side.

However, it is an intriguing game and the persistent should find it enjoyable - so long, that is, as they save each new sheet onto tape.