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For some time now Elite has been one of the best games to be devised for the BBC computer. Now it is being converted for other machines everyone can enjoy the thrill of flying a Cobra class trading ship from planet to planet through the universe.

The aim of the game is to rise to the rank of Elite through careful trading and skillful flight, but few reach this elevated position.

At the beginning you are the owner of a craft which is a basic trader, with limited cargo space and humble fire power, in a universe full of pirates and rebels. You can choose whether to be a law-abiding trader, an asteroid miner, a dealer in illegal goods or even an outright pirate. As your financial services increase, the Cobra can be modified to suit your chosen lifestyle and increase your chances of survival.

You start your journey from the Corilois space station orbiting the planet Lave with 100 Credits to spend on cargo. Once loaded up, you can take your chosen payload to any planet within seven light years of Lave. The greater part of the journey is completed by hyperspacing to your chosen destination but it's still a long haul to the safety of the space station and there is always a chance of pirate attacks.

Battles require great dexterity using the keyboard to accelerate and decelerate, with the joystick controlling direction. Failure to win an engagement means death and a new game; success wins a bounty which may be added to your coffers.

If you reach the space station safely, your troubles may not be over depending on the payload you are carrying. Slaves, narcotics and alcohol are forbidden substances and if the police suspect you are carrying contraband you are liable to attack. In the early stages of the game it is best to keep on the right side of the law or you will not last long against the powerful police vipers.

At each Coriolis station you can trade in goods for cash, if the price is right, and then fresh goods and fuel or weaponry can be bought.

The game is complex and the 3D wireframe graphics are amazing. There is a novel 3D radar which is soon easily read and the position and height of an attacker can be seen at a glance.

The game allows you to save your position at any space station, so you can restart each stage if disaster strikes.

Although parts of the game seem very slow, I suppose this is acceptable because light year space travel must be immensely boring at times. All things considered, the Elite package is unbeatable value and every home should have one.

E.D.