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If the words PK430 are mentioned to you, what do you think of? An element? Nope, slap on the wrist. A type of missile? No, think again. Your country's latest fighter plane, which just happens to have been stolen by an enemy force who are going to use it to start World War III? Yup! Congratulations, you're now qualified to go on a solo mission into enemy territory and rescue it.

Luckily, the government don't expect you to go in on foot like one of the Super Joe - 'Bazooka Hat' - Rambo sisters. Instead, they have given you the world's most sophisticated armoured vehicle to help you complete the mission. This vehicle of death and destruction has to be driven through enemy territory to where the plane is being held.

Naturally the enemy are loathe to let you just wander into their sacred fatherland and waltz off with their newly stolen plane; after all, it's the greatest invention since the Wright brothers' historic monoplane, so you can expect some stiff opposition.

The journey to the captured plane involves negotiating five different types of enemy terrain; mountains, a bridge, a prairie, a city and finally the enemy airfield, all of which scroll from right to left as the armoured car trundles along. The car can be made to move anywhere on screen (landscape allowing) by logical tugs on the joystick, but it explodes if it clanks off the road, resulting in a loss of one of the three reserve cars.

What makes this vehicle so special is its jumping ability (that's where the sophisticated label comes in - forget superduper lasers, this car leaps its little engine out); this is useful for negotiating rockfalls, broken bridges and other hazards which infest the crumbly enemy highway.

As the vehicle wends its way across the treacherous landscape it is ambushed by enemy lorries, cars, tanks, flamethrowers, the kitchen sink, the enemy's granny and whatever else the villains care to put up against it. If any of these are crashed into, or if they hit you with their missiles or flames, then another reserve car is lost. There are other static hazards too, including land mines and gun emplacements. Luckily the car is armed with missiles which can destroy anything that seems even slightly dangerous.

Deeper into enemy territory, more and more hazards appear in order to hinder the space-car. The bridge section entails leaping over great chasms, the prairie requires a huge leap over a lake and by the time you reach the airfield everythng the enemy can muster is thrown into the battlefield. Never mind, saving the world is never an easy task, but think of the job satisfaction!

Conversions come and conversions go, but this has got to be the worst that I've ever seen. Why bother spending a fortune on an official licence when you're going to turn out a heap of rubbish like this?!

The graphics and sprites are awful, with totally unsympathetic use of colour and no real attention to detail. As for the actual game... Bleugh!!! The enemy vehicles float about the place like flies; they even impersonate a well-known religious figure by walking on water!

The bridges are the best laugh - your missiles hit them, then fly over while you travel underneath. There are an amazing number of annoying faults that you wouldn't even expect in a budget game, let alone one which sports a tenner price tag.

Don't insult your Commodore by even considering buying it.

The original arcade game isn't anything special, but it's fun to play. This conversion isn't anything special either, but unfortunately it's not much fun to play.

It would make a reasonable budget release but for ten quid it represents poor value. Conversion comparisons aside... well, Breakthru is still dire.

Apart from the superb (Fred Gray?) tune on the 'title screen' there is a distinct lack of decent sound and graphics: the backdrops are simple and repetitive, the sprites are even worse, and colour has been used most unimaginatively.

The overall look of Breakthru is shoddy and unfinished. Perhaps it is? If this was the only game in the world and I was the only boy... I'd top myself.

There are rush jobs and there are coin-op conversions, both one and the same on the majority of occasions. What we have here is a game that has nothing at all going for it - except that it will make money.

I just can't believe the lack of professionalism in Breakthru - shoddy, ill-defined graphics and dire gameplay make the whole thing unworthy of any amount of money. Avoid it and be happy.

Presentation 54%
No title screen or options and adequate packaging featuring misleading screenshots from the arcade original.

Graphics 25%
Unimaginative sprites, backdrops and use of colour.

Sound 83%
A great tune and a few simple spot effects.

Hookability 45%
The basic gameplay is easy to master, but doesn't give much satisfaction.

Lastability 26%
Even the most ardent of arcade Breakthru fans will turn down the offer of another go.

Value For Money 12%
Expensive - even at a budget price.

Overall 19%
A complete waste of time and money.