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Hewson's budget label, Rack-It, hasn't come up with any classics yet. Herobotix isn't going to change things - it's a competent but unexciting arcade adventure with all the usual attention to backgrounds and sound effects, but not much in the way of innovative gameplay.

Forget the plot - it's the usual fluff about space pirates, captured laboratories and, would you believe it, a "Z-Ray Particle Generator". Your task as an heroic droid is to move around the lab, searching out the six parts of the weapon, tapping into the master computer then making your escape on a rescue shuttle.

The corridors, machinery and equipment of the lab are shown in the metallic graphics style, which has become so popular that it's boring. The sprites of the droid and enemy guardians are even less inspiring, floating around with little attempt to give the movement any sense of realism.

Your main challenge is to blast the guardians as you move from screen to screen. This isn't too challenging, so to make things more complex you have to find switches, stand on them, and flip them to deactivate the electronic barriers which block off parts of the complex.

You will also find computer terminals which can activate two helpful functions: a map showing the area around your current position, and a freeze facility which will turn off the conveyor belts for a short time. These belts operate in one direction only, and so block your access to some areas; at one stage a circle of belts will let you into the centre of the screen, but not let you out again, leading to your inevitable death by energy drain.

Other functions include energy points where you can refuel, teleports each of which has its own identity code, and an energy-draining "smart bomb" which will clear the screen of all guardians.

If this all sounds terribly familiar, you'll get the idea that Herobotix doesn't do much to make tha drenalin flow. It would be different if the action took place at a breakneck pace, but it's all rather relaxing and more likely to make you want to put your feet up and take a nap.

Not much incentive to buy, unless you are the sort who enjoys slogging through a complex game merely for the pleasure of finishing it, and doesn't expect too much excitement along the way.