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The Full Metal Planete of the title has got mining companies drooling throughout the galaxy. Cobra Steel has sent its very best pilot to grab as much ore as possible in the 25 days left before the Big Flood swamps everything...

2-4 players can take part in the scramble for valuable minerals, with the computer playing as many players as you want. Each player is assigned a flag, which you can design yourself with a built-in graphic utility. Following flag selection the strategy screen appears, showing a map of the entire world, 37 by 23 hexes. You must choose where to land your freighter, which cannot then take off until either turn 21 or 25. While landed you can control your units through the close-up screen - where all the attractive graphics are.

Inside your freighter are Destroyers (attack boats, tanks, supertanks, and fixed turrets - your freighter has three of these). For these to destroy an enemy vehicle two of them must be within range of it. Normal range is two hexes, but supertanks can reach three hexes - as can normal tans on mountains. In addition if two destroyers get directly beside an enemy vehicle it can be captured, coming under your control. Moreover, destroyers can capture enemy freighters; if this happens that player is out of the game and you take over all his units.

There are also Transporters such as barges (which can carry four items across water) and crabs (two items across land). Transporters can also pick up the vital blocks or ore which are scattered across the world. But probably the most important vehicle is the weather hen (!). This can turn ore into tanks, crabs, or pontoons (to bridge rivers). It can also predict the next tide - crucial as high tides can immobilise your land vehicles, while low tides do similarly for ships.

The aim o the game is simply to have the most units of ore and vehicles stored inside your freighter (and any captured freighters) when you blast off. Actual gameplay is divided into 25 days, or turns. During every turn each player has his (or her) go (taking a maximum of three minutes). You have fifteen energy points per go. Every action, from moving a boat one hex to turning ore into a supertank, costs points. You can also save either 5 or 10 units of energy to be used with your next go.

Full Metal Planete is yet another board game conversion, and a strategic one at that. But easy-to-grasp rules, a rigid three minute time limit, and attractive presentation got even me interested. Pop-up, icon-driven menus make all aspects of the game easily accessible, and are much more fun than messing around with the lead pieces in the £30 boardgame!

While simple to understand, the rules make for some very challenging games, the computer players providing tough and varied opposition. I'd say it was a first-class introduction to strategy, if that wouldn't put too many strategy haters off. Instead I'll say it's "fun for everyone" and leave it at that.

I like a good board game but I must confess I'd never heard of this (apparently very popular) French strategy game.

Thankfully lacking the fiddly lead pieces and stones (honest!) of the board game, the computer version benefits from detailed graphics, plenty of options and the fact that you can't cheat - so there are none of the usual arguments over the rules!

Unlike most strategy games, Full Metal Planete is surprisingly easy to pick up. However, mastering it proves infinitely more difficult. The computer players all have different strategies, although playing against friends is more difficult and more fun.

Presentation 90% Average title sequence (which can be avoided0, custom flag facility, save game (and flag) option, good instructions... and a free metal crab!

Graphics 80% Nothing spectacular, but the planet and vehicles are all very well done, creating a good atmosphere.

Sound 68% Weird, but nice, intro tune. Good, clanky in-game FX.

Hookability 86% Very easy to pick up and hard to leave alone.

Lastability 83% The six computer opponents aren't that hard to beat, so it's better to play with friends.

Overall 84% A fine conversion of a well designed board game. Even non-strategists will enjoy this one.