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Hell Gate is the latest offering from the pen of that renowned mutant camel, Jeff Minter, who isn't exactly noted for turning out duff games. But this one, well, I'm not too sure...

The presentation is superb. The titles literally explode on to the screen, and then pulsate with colour.

The trembling gamester stares at the display with bated breath as the program belts out the final warning: 'Prepare To Die...'. The screen is suddenly inundated with colour, sound, and flying missiles. What the hell is going on??

The display consists of a large square, in the middle of which aliens of various shapes and sizes appear. You control four lazer bases, one situated on each side of the square. In each corner there's a gap, and the bases can't move from one side to another, but only from side to side (or up and down).

The bases are controlled as pairs - while one moves up (or left) its opposite number moves down (or right). When you fire, all the bases blast away simultaneously.

The idea, of course, is to blast the aliens before they reach the edge, whereupon they will bear down on your lasers and destroy them. The action is blindingly fast, and the sound furious. The trouble is it's often impossible to tell what's going on. A fantastic looking game that will have your friends gawping, but not, perhaps, playing for very long.