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This true milestone in C64 software takes the Ancient Japanese martial arts theme of its predecessor to present-day New York, with the hero Ninja chasing the evil Kunitoki through a time warp.

He arrives in a bandstand in Central Park which is populated by karate-mad corrupt police as well as the usual muggers. These are fought with a variety of punches and kicks - both combatants' energy is shown by decreasing spirals.

It's not all mindless fighting though. The game's substantial puzzle element consists of collecting useful objects and activating switches to allow you through the exit. Six more levels take the hero through dangerous streets, rat-infested sewers, a drugs factory, offices (with martial-arts-mad secretaries!), a secret island, and a temple where you finally go head-to-head with Kunitoki.

All these flick-screen levels are portrayed in stunning isometric 3D, with an incredible attention to detail in the varied scenery - some of the finest graphics ever to appear on the C64. Sound is also very good with twelve different tunes adding to the atmosphere.

Naturally, Issue 41's reviewers were ecstatic, awarding it a Sizzling 94%, Gordo's comments were typical: "...a game which is both faultless in appearance and playability. The numerous locations which you visit are even better drawn than the original's, with much more colour... the scope of these graphics is huge, and puts the heroic ninja in many situations, from leaping to catch a helicopter which then whisks him away to the shogun's island, to battling a Samurai secretary on the narrow ledge of a skyscraper. Last Ninja 2 is a brilliant combination of martial arts combat and arcade adventure puzzles, and as such, is unmissable by fans of either genre."

That about said it all, and the game has aged remarkably well. It's already appeared on several compilations, but if you still haven't got it, this budget re-release is a must.