Great graphics, fun game

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According to Bug Eyes, a new release from Icon Software, things are looking pretty desperate...

The enemy spacecraft is closing in on Earth, the one civilised planet standing between the Bug Eyes and Galactic rule. The call goes out for Agent Starman. Only he can board the alien spacecraft, penetrate the 10 well-guarded levels and destroy the master generator to save the Earth.

Sounds fun and it certainly is. You control Agent Starman and it's up to you to complete the ten screens. The screens them selves are in the Manic Miner vein, though you don't have to jump - only move left and right.

The game is in Mode 1 and consequently the graphics are truly astounding.

The sprite definitions such as the chubby Starman - complete with paunch - the various bright-eyed nasties and the lifts going up and down are quite beautiful. I'm impressed.

This is combined with smooth animation to provide an almost cartoon-like effect.

Enough of graphics. The sound is adequate, consisting mainly of blips, zips and thuds as our hero runs and falls about the screen.

Yet another nice touch is the choice of playing keys at the beginning. Although, with only two keys you can't go far wrong.

The screens are imaginatively named with such gems as Squidged Flat, where you must complete the screen before a rather heavy column falls to the ground.

The quicker you finish a screen, the more points you score, so it pays to keep your wits about you.

To sum it all up. it's a fun game to suit all ages with plenty of amusing cartoon-like graphics. A winner.

Phil Tudor