Do you want frenzied shoot-'em-up action, a collection of some the best outer and inner space blasting ever seen on a CPC! Then watch out for the Christmas Collection from Hewson, it's a hot one and it's coming this way.

Uridium, Lightforce, Cybernoid II, Eliminator, Exolon and Hydrofool are the games, the CPC is the computer and rip snorting fun is the result. Hewson have long enjoyed a reputation as producers of some of the best looking and fiendishly hard games to hit the market. Superstar programmer Raff Cecco and friends have put together some truly mind bending games, and now you can enjoy the best of Hewson with the Christmas Collection.

Star of the show is Exolon, a Cecco classic. Run around a space station encountering all the usual tricks and traps. Infuriatingly difficult it has the trappings of the much later Stormlord. The graphic style may have aged a touch but the gameplay's as intense as ever and is guaranteed to have you tearing your hair out trying to solve that next stage.

Cybernoid II, AA39 Mastergame. is a sequel that takes you deep into the heart of a pirate starship. Quick and constant blasting and deft joystick control will see you through this visual extravaganza that threatened to give shoot-'em-ups a good name. A mould breaker and a joystick snapper of the highest degree.

Uridum and Lightforce are two more traditional finger aching shoot-outs. Hardcore firepower for those who live to waste countless alien nasties for no other reason than it's fun.

Hydrofool is the wildcard, escaping from the outer space motif and going into the water. You get to explore a strange and puzzling undersea world, all drawn out in three dimensions.

The rotten apple in the barrel is Eliminator. A shoot-'em-up of sorts, it's just not fast enough to make the grade on its own. Packaged in this sort of company, however, it's more than a welcome filler.

Hewson have been producing quality games since the CPC was a twinkle in Mr. Sugar's wallet, which means that any compilation featuring their greatest hits will be great indeed.

Mathematically Christmas Collection scores a mighty 90.5% and, considering the price, this one's a bargain. If you want some slamming space (and sub aqua) fun, Christmas Collection is an opportunity not to be missed.

Overall 87%
Awesome package, fearsome fun!