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You've been imprisoned in a cell, in suspended animation - for two hundred years - for a crime you didn't commit. Then... "I think it has been two days since I woke up. All I remember is hearing a low hum of machinery and then realising I could feel myself against the cold metal slab. It took me about three hours to pull some of the tubes and stuff out of me and think about getting up. That was a mistake."

The only way to escape your prison is via the briefcase handily found nearby. Within is a computer, used to control four robots - who happened to respond to your SOS call. Each droid is divided into component parts, enabling a variety of configurations (different types of arms, legs, heads etc). The four droids move around together forming the classic RPG party.

To escape, you must manoeuvre the droids through ten bases holding the fortress prison in orbit. Destroy the power source in each base and find the spacecraft needed to transport the robots to the next base.

The opposition is varied and imaginative. Dinosaur sea monsters, dragons and mechanical tanks must be combatted using the friendly icon interface. Each cluster of icons performs specific actions, e.g. the movement icons turn you to the left/right, forward/backward, up/down and rotate. Each droid can be moved around in the party, its icon displaying a simplified health and power meter (although more detailed stats displays can be accessed).

The view window is the largest section on the screen. This screen is the view through the eyes of one of the robots. Incidentally, if you look through the eyes of one of the robots with an insectoid head and multi-faceted eyes, you will see a blurred, distorted picture - nice touch.

The view window resembles Dungeon Master with its 3D style. Combat is completed by clicking on a droid's hand. If it is empty he will punch; if he holds a weapon he will fire it. Skills dominate the success of many actions, combat included. So a reasonable proficiency in the weapon you're carrying will be required to inflict serious damage.

Damages lead to injuries. You will need to wander around searching for a shop to repair. Or replace limbs and buy other items. Above the main view screen are five mini-screens displaying extra info such as seen through remote cameras. Captive is a must for Dungeon Master fans. As a true RPG, it has many of the drawbacks that Dungeon Master had (very little interaction, fictional combat, etc). However, the game world is well-designed, the plot and the opponents are imaginative, and the puzzles ore challenging with many thrills and spills to keep you on the edge of your chair. Captivating stuff!