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The drums... the drums...I can't stand the drums... they're driving me wild...

Actually, they're rather good. If Mastertronic keep turning out games such as this they'll be in grave danger of giving budget software a good name.

Well, once again, Flash, saviour of the universe, all-time-good guy and hero, must battle the evil Emperor Ming.

The game is really three in one. You get arcade adventure, fight simulation and high-speed race action. You only have to play them in sequence if you want to complete the game. Otherwise, it's just take your pick and play away.

The first section is set in a jungle. Flash must find Prince Barin in his cave. A map is essential if you don't want to get lost. Monkeys, lizards, wolverines and skeletons lurk in the undergrowth. Snakes lurk in the trees. Flash can blast away, reloading his gun from boxes of ammo. But remember, if you bungle in the jungle, Flash pays with his life.

In the fight section Flash must fight Prince Barin. The idea is not to kill him but to earn his respect. If you can do this he will allow you to pass through his caves onto the surface for the final confrontation with Ming.

The fight action is typical of the numerous other martial arts games around. Both characters can jump, kick, punch etc. Try and concentrate on combination head and body blow. If Barin start to give you a right pasting, back off before going on the offensive again. The longer the fight lasts, the more Barin will tire, reducing his jumping and mobility.

The third and final section is bike race action. This itself is divided into three sections. Flash must first shoot down the winged robots. He has to do this to attain full speed on his bike. Next he must face the perils of a minefield and finally comes the ultimate confrontation with Ming.

I never made it to the final confrontation so I'm afraid that area of the game remains a mystery.

Overall Flash Gordon is excellent fun and a real bargain, putting many of current full-priced games to shame. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.