Second thoughts prove better

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I've always prided myself on my ability to recognise a good game when I see one.

After a couple of plays. I can tell if a game is going to be a dud or not. Or so I thought.

Estra, by Firebird, has proved me wrong - and I feel I owe an apology to the programmer.

You see, after a couple of games I thought "boring, boring", and put it to one side for a week. Now. having given it a good playtesting. I've changed my mind. It's excellent. The theory behind the game is as follows. The sacred statue of Estra. the Snake God, has been stolen, and broken into 24 pieces.

These are strewn around the edge of the screen, and your job is to collect them and transport them one at a time to a safe area at the centre of the screen where they are automatically re-assembled.

Of course, you have to avoid various baddies while doing this - Niodis, which are randomly moving flashing diamonds that explode on contact. Escorils, small purple blobs that blow you up if they reach the centre of the screen, and Gosrads, yellow nasties that follow you around with the persistence of a professional debt-collector.

All the dashing around drains your energy level, but you can restore this by picking up supplies from inside a horse shoe-shaped forcefield.

However, this forcefield also causes you to explode, so great care is needed.

This may sound complicated and very similar to many other games. However. Estra does stand out.

It's very professionally put together. The graphics are good, the instructions concise and the sound is truly excellent.

There are all sorts of satisfying explosions, thuds, whines and burps while you are playing, and as the program loads, a strident version of March of the Gladiators rattles the furniture.

Above all it's fun. and it's a challenge. Each screen increases in difficulty, and despite a concentrated attempt last night, I still haven't completed screen three.

So. if you're scanning these reviews looking for an interesting game, try Estra. You won't be disappointed.

James Bibby