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Ice is a TCS game which really shows off the BASIC compiler! We found it hard to believe that it was written in Basic as it is very fast indeed.

In fact, it is a faithful reproduction of the arcade game Pengo. The object is to squash the ice-monsters that are chasing you by pushing blocks on to them.

You move using the arrow keys and push with the Space Bar. On the first level, you have to squash four monsters before squashed monsters cease coming back to life, and on the next levels you have to squash more and more of them, all within a time limit. The action is accompanied by a pretty tune and the graphics are very pleasing. Particularly satisfying is the squelch effect when you manage to squash a monster.

The monsters can chomp their way through blocks in their efforts to get to you, and so the grid layout is constantly changing. There are three special ice blocks that monsters cannot demolish, and if you manage to get these blocks into a straight line, you get an extra bonus.

The general feeling in the office and by visitors is that Ice is one of the best and most addictive arcade games available for our machine. I do not hesitate in giving it 100% on all counts. It uses the LGR screen and runs on any Colour Genie.