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So. You think you're an experienced space pilot. You consider yourself to have nerves of steel, laser-sharp reactions and an intricate knowledge of advanced battle techniques. Then it's time you embarked on mission Fortress. It's guaranteed to shatter your illusions.

Make no mistake. This is no casual entertainment to be taken on lightly. It's the real thing: a 3D attacking raid of such terrifying realism that, if you're of a nervous disposition, I strongly advise you to stick to space invaders.

Atari owners have already experienced this kind of action in a game called Zaxxon which has swept the United States. Fortress is loosely based on Zaxxon, but it is not identical.

Both games achieve stunning 3D realism in a unique way. Instead of flying left to right as in 2-D games like Skramble, or away from you as in most attempted 3D games, your space craft travels diagonally toward the tup right-hand corner of the screen.

That at least is the illusion. In fact, the position of the craft changes little. But the terrain you fly over is constantly scrolling in the opposite direction.

Your craft: a handsome, delta-winged beast, flies at constant speed, but using two keys you can steer it to the left or right. Two more keys will alter its height above the ground, this being indicated very convincingly by the craft's shadow.

As you dive, you move much closer to the shadow, and at the same time your engine-noise changes in pitch.

The effect is superb, but what makes Fortress so special is that it combines this 3D realism with hair-raising action.

OK, the scenario isn't original. You're simply trying to get through a barrage of obstacles in order to destroy a nasty four-legged robot. But the pace at which things happen is electrifying.

You begin by flying over deserted terrain, offering you four seconds in which to adjust to the perspective, position your fingers over the controls, and steady your nerves.

A wall looms up. There's a gap at the top. Climb, move starboard and you're through. But already your fuel gauge has plummeted. You must quickly dive and begin taking out the fuel dumps scattered over the terrain.

Skimming the ground, you jab instinctively at the fire button. Two fuel dumps disappear with a satisfying whoosh giving you a few seconds more fuel.

But look out! There are booby-trapped missile sites all over the place. Fly over one and you're dead.

Keep an eye open too for the laser turrets which keep up a constant barrage of fast-moving projectiles. You swing into line with one as soon as it comes into view, unleash a quick burst of fire and rapidly bank away to avoid being hit. Whoosh! You hit it.

Your pulse rate increases as you climb to clear a second wall and then drop to ground level for another fuel dump. Then comes your moment of greatest danger. A huge Concorde-shaped missile is hurtling toward you. You swing left, it follows. You dive, it follows. It's locked on your course!

Your only hope is to wait until one second before you're hit, climb sharply for half a second and then dive. The guided missile can't quite respond fast enough... You're clear!

Thirty seconds of terror later another wall appears. You climb to clear it and aaagh! A force-field has appeared blocking your path. Only a tiny gap is left. You hammer the 'down' control and open fire. There! Your shots are going through the gap. Your height is right. You're through.

In this next phase of the game, fuel dumps are few and far between. Your evil four-legged robot which you must wipe out is approaching. Hit it four times and it's destroyed.

Believe me, my friend, it'll take you many flights before you succeed. And, when you do, a new obstacle course awaits you. Succeed at that and the action gets even faster.

There's no doubt about it. Fortress is one of the most impressive games available on a home micro. For the BBC owner, it's an exciting buy after several months which have seen few major releases.

In many respects, the feel of the game is even better than that of Zaxxon. The scrolling and movement are beautifully smooth, the sound authentic. One valuable feature is the option of redefining the control keys to those you find most natural. There's also a high score table and you have the satisfaction of being able to start a new game as soon as the old one is finished - no frustrating pre-game sequences to sit through.

The program uses four-colour, high resolution graphics and takes up even available byte of the BBC's memory. Early versions of the program disagree with some machines and crash after about 20 minutes play. But Pace say they'll put this right.

That bug apart, Fortress is an absolutely magnificent piece of programming. Play it if you dare.