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Think of ducks, and what do you see? Cute little critters bobbing on the village pond? Orange sauce and a piping hot Sunday lunch? Or rocket launchers and boxing crocodiles? If the latter is the answer than you've been playing Dynamite Dux...

From the Sega coin-op comes the story of Bin, birdland's answer to Rambo. Achacha the Great has kidnapped Lucy, Bin's owner, and Bin must leave the family pond to waddle to the rescue of his beloved Lucy.

Our heroic duck waggles and jumps his way down the street armed only with his mighty duck fist (always thought they had wings!), three lives and a whole load of energy. Onto the road spills the first wave of monsters, the red dogheads. Glove puppets without a hand, they see Bin and charge, trying to bounce some energy out of him. Your choice is either to run or punch. If you keep the fire button pressed, round swings Bin's wing - until you release the button and his fist lands with a resounding Batman POW punch.

This is all you have to do, wandering along meeting (or avoiding) various baddies until you reach the middle and end-of-stage monsters. Gameplay, though, is not merely a set of complicated controls but what you have to do within the game itself. Dux scores simple but conclusive points here.

In your path are scattered various pieces of kit: water cannon, bombs, guided missiles, flame guns and the poultry equivalent of a Ml6. Keep an eye on your ammo counter, and if the bad guys hit you, some weapons don't function afterward, so stay sharp.

Killing monsters often means they drop a snack to replenish energy. Burgers and cake are favourites. Casks of cash can be nabbed en route too, and they earn some real points. Remember, though, that your primary task is to rescue Lucy, so don't go points crazy. After all, what's the point in being a rich duck? You haven't even got anywhere to keep a credit card! [Don't answer that! - Ed]

The monsters are real in-game entertainment. Sumo piggies, boxing crocodiles, cats with spring stomachs, squashed tigers, flaming birthday cakes, violent rock gardens and huge green serpents are but a few of them.

The levels vary in colour, but not in how they play. The routes are ever more difficult to follow, most levels giving you a choice of direction. On level one you can go via the road or the subway, and contrary to popular belief you're more likely to get mugged on the street than the underpass!

The game just oozes character. Sound effects are functional, but the graphics are entertainment extreme. The backdrops are pure Tom and Jerry, while Bin bears a striking resemblance to Woody Woodpecker. When dying, he leaps into the air, feathers all a-flutter, looking as if he's being strangled and electrocuted simultaneously.

Few games have this much instant appeal. The small playing area is easily overlooked when you are sucked into this Roger Rabbit world of tongue-in-cheek ultra-violence. Playing is easy, and so - with a little practice - is great success.

But in this game it doesn't matter if you finish in one night or one year, the fun factor here has gone critical so you'll be back for more.

Bin the duck is a 'toon who doesn't pull his punches, or his rockets, or his bombs, or his...

Dynamite Dux is as cute as they come. A vast arsenal of firepower is at your disposal, making it a great blast-'em-up. The game might actually be a bit too easy, but it's great fun nevertheless.

Certain backdrops are indistinct.

Reach level three.

Graphics 93%
P. Cartoon-quality capers on the CPC.
P. Great opening sequence.

Sonics 56%
N. Unimaginative effects.

Grab Factor 99%
P. Fun. Instance, addictive fun.
P. Simple to play for the first time.

Staying Power 60%
N. Too easy?
P. A simple game that will last.

Overall 88%
P. Dynamite!