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Floyd The Droid is the first game from Dutch software house Radarsoft, to be imported into the UK by Ariolasoft. The aim of the game is to guide Floyd around the sewer systems of several major cities clearing them of blockages and vermin. Luckily Floyd is a Probot and is specifically designed for the job. His energy cells have (what should be) enough energy to get you around the sewer, his welding torch will soon fix any leaks and his laser should be enough to clear any blockage or kill anything that you might find down there.

Unfortunately it isn't quite as easy as it seems. The problem lies in the vermin that lurk in the sewers. The bats are fairly easy to despatch but you also have to deal with cunning rats and alligators as well as an armed escaped prisoner and malfunctioning probots that are now out to get you.

The screen display shows a 3D scrolling view of the sewer you are in as you trundle about your work. When you meet a blockage or a critter then the display changes to a 2D side-on view where you must deal with the problem. If it's a blockage or a leak then Floyd will automatically deal with it. Bats are also quite simple as a quick blast, with your laser will fry them nicely. Rats and Alligators are a little trickier since both have to be squashed by jumping on them. Mistime the jump and they may get away or, worse still, bite you costing you some of your valuable energy.

Should you manage to clear the sewer then it's on to the next one with a healthy score and an energy to top up.

You can add dramatically to your score by playing the game in automatic mode where Floyd deals with any vermin he finds by following predefined procedures. These procedures can be defined and altered by you at any time during the game and consist of twelve steps that can be constructed from moves forward, jumps, diagonal jumps, turns and firing of the laser. This may sound complicated but it isn't as with a little trial and error and frequent use of the test option where you see Floyd going through his paces you'll be able to sit back and let Floyd get on with it.

Down the sewer an automatic Floyd will follow the correct procedure. If he gets in right you'll get a bonus but if he gets it wrong then the critter will escape and you'll probably lose some energy in the process.

Floyd the Droid features superb graphics and animation particularly of Floyd himself as he rattles around the sewer.

An original game that's fun to play - what more could you want?