Phoenix Rises Yet Again

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Firehawks is yet another version of Galaxians, the old arcade game. A bunch of ravenous energy-consuming Firehawks drop from the top of the screen. They are trying to get to the bottom where they will regenerate into the legendary Phoenix. As they dive they're delayed by a series of plasma fields through which they have to weave their way.

Once past these there is only your spaceship's laser canon to hold them off. This is easier said than done as there are some 225 levels of difficulty - how anyone can play the higher levels defeats me. Yet I've seen it done!

While the noises it makes are the loudest I've ever heard on the BBC Micro, the graphics aren't all that impressive and the game itself appears simple and fairly standard at first. Not much to write home about you might think.

Then you see someone playing it and immediately want to have a go, convinced that you can do better. It can get quite compulsive and, at the higher levels, exasperating. It may be simple but it's fun. So, if you want a fast, action-packed version of an old arcade favourite then this will probably meet your needs.

Eileen Young