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Out in deep space a hideous monster has evolved, the ultimate killing machine which destroys galaxies in mindless spasms of violence. Now it is heading to Earth, a planet brought to virtual collapse by the onslaught of an alien race. In the ruins people are determined to rebuild their former lives, and swiftly let lapse once formidable defences. The last, remaining pilot of a crack space unit views these decisions with disdain and refuses to part with the ship which carried him through so many battles.

When, finally, it is the turn of Earth to vanish in the maw of the monster it is this pilot who the government turn to, frantically offering any price from him to once more fly his Dominator spaceship into battle...

The first level is a vertically scrolling one, with a heart to be broken at the end of it. The graphics and gameplay are quite different on the C64 and the Amiga, with the latter sending you right back to the start whenever you die. The remaining three levels are all horizontally-scrolling, and have add-on equipment such as speed-ups, vertically-firing guns and lasers. As you'd expect, there's a wide range of aliens (including vicious tadpoles!), anti-Dominator gun turrets and end-of-level monsters. On the Amiga, you go straight back to the start of the game if you lose all your lives, whereas on tape with the C64 you only go back to the start of the level.

The marked difference between Amiga and C64 versions should mean good use of the host machines, but sadly this isn't really the case. The Amiga version is sluggish, graphically unimpressive and, on level two, extremely difficult.

Thankfully the C64 version is much better, with reasonable graphics, better playability and slightly faster control response.

It's nice to see a challenging C64 game for once with a clever multi-load as well (get killed on a later level and you start from that level again). Smart graphics start the game off well with subtle colours and good sound effects although later levels aren't always so subtle (note the garish and odd colours of the second level). A tough game with good presentation but nothing to worry games in the Armalyte or Salamander league.

What is above average on the C64 is a major mistake on the Amiga with an infuriatingly sluggish ship, imprecise collision detection and average graphics lacking any extensive colour or variety. Below average is being nice to the Amiga version.

Presentation 71%
Nice box, good quit option and a 'washing machine' control panel.

Graphics 72%
Interesting and varied, but not outstanding.

Sound 70%
Good intro tune and good in-game FX.

Hookability 65%
Tough to start off with, later levels are more attractive.

Lastability 70%
Varied graphics, but only four levels.

Overall 75%
Interesting graphics combine with good gameplay to make an above-average shoot-'em-up.

Presentation 34%
Same packaging as the 8-bit versions.

Graphics 25%
Coarse landscape graphics and unattractive sprites.

Sound 20%
Mediocre intro tune and poor in-game FX.

Hookability 25%
Going straight back to the start of level one is extremely frustrating...

Lastability 30%
...as are the difficult later levels.

Overall 34%
A gory piece of software which is unattractive for all the wrong reasons.