Out in the vastness of space lurks a comet, and what does it have in store for the peaceful citizens of Erin...? What bargain offers, what special reductions await the lucky populace? Why, death on a majestic scale, of course. Flaming, apocalyptic death for everyone. You can't say fairer than that.

Damocles is the name of the comet which is not so much hanging over Erin by a thread, but rather it is on a collision course with the planet [Bad pun - Ed]. You have been summoned to Erin by the State President to try and save them. Naturally, with this game being the hopelessly delayed sequel to the 1986 game Mercenary, the remarks thrown in about getting there late are rather ironic.

You are escorted down to the planet surface and given the keys to a groundcar and directions to the presidential apartments. All this happens in 3D of course, with the airfield and groundcars looking very nice. You can't half shift as well, but after a while it will dawn on you why.

Paul Woakes has retained the same outdated control panel, which makes reading documents (one line at a time!) dreadfully tedious, and indeed the same method of controlling speed (pressing 1 to 0 on the keyboard).

Once at the president's building, which is as devoid of inhabitants as everywhere else since the populace of Erin has decided to flee, a document unveiling the comet problem is handed over, along with the key to another spaceship. Apparently, a professor was working on the problem and had in fact come up with a solution. Until one night, after a game of chess with the president he stormed off, never to be seen again.

Next stop, the professor's lab, and you'll start to get the flavour of the game by now. Inside the buildings the game feels just like a Freescape game. It has the same strengths and sluggish weaknesses.

Also by now you'll have realised why you can fly so quickly. The world of Erin is as flat as a snooker table, and objects are spread far and wide. Even the road has a continuous line down the middle rather than strips.

After visiting the professor's lab and reading his notes, you'll be engaged on a mad hunt for explosives, the nova bomb, and the means to destroy the comet. All of which, says Novagen, will lead you through 20% of the game. As there are other planets in the system with locations to visit, this isn't surprising. You don't have all day to do this either, just over three hours before the big bang.

In the final analysis, Damocles only really becomes exciting when you are close to completing your task and there are only a few minutes left. That situation aside, Damocles doesn't impress technically, nor from a gaming point of view. If you like Freescape games then you'll love this, but after four years in the making Paul Woakes hasn't really come up with the gobsmacking sequel that everyone was expecting.

Duncan Evans