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Picture this: A giant of a man, with flowing blond hair, and more muscles on his little finger than most mortals have in their entire puny bodies.

Who is he? He's He-Man, the world's most powerful man, famous toy, star of the Masters Of The Universe film and Gremlin Graphics' game.

Through time the eternal conflict has continually raged - the battle between good and evil. Whoever manages to gain the key to time will eventually triumph and rightly claim the title "Master of the Universe".

And it is the struggle for the key to time which once again brings those age old enemies He-Man and the evil Skeletor into conflict.

That struggle between good and evil will be erupting across the silver screen after Christmas when the Masters Of The Universe movie, starring mega hunk Dolph Lundgren - an awesome 6ft 6ins and 240lbs - as He-Man, goes on general release.

And now you can take part in that struggle with Gremlin Graphics' Masters Of The Universe game based on the film.

The planet Eternia, familiar to all those who have seen the Masters Of The Universe cartoon series, has been devastated by war. Skeletor, that skull-faced incarnation of evil, and his equally awful henchwoman Evil-Lyn, are plotting to destroy the sorceress of Greyskull Castle and rob her power.

Opposing this dastardly plot is He-Man, Gwildor, a genius dwarf (this is a new character you won't have seen on television) Teela and Man at Arms.

The film and the game open where Skeletor has imprisoned the sorceress and is absorbing her power. He-Man and friends arrive but fail to rescue her.

He-Man, Teela and Man At Arms retreat inside the hovel of Gwildor, who possesses a cosmic key - a small cylindrival device that can magically transport them anywhere in the universe. Gwildor punches out a tonal code that will allow the group to exit the palace, but a stray bolt of power alters the location. The group disappears through a dimensional 'door'. Suddenly they are on the planet Earth, in a little Californian Town named Colby.

And that is really where the game begins.

On the way through time to Earth, the key is lost and separated into eight musical chords. These have been scattered around the various playing areas which you, playing the part of He-Man, must find before the ultimate confrontation with Skeletor back on Eternia.

The game starts in the street with a shoot-'em-up where, if you score enough points, you'll collect your first chord. This involves a lot of wandering about and being shot at. It struck me as a little aimless.

Having received a message from Teela that your services are required elsewhere, the scene zooms over to a scrapyard where you do battle with two of Skeletor's top henchmen, Blade and Karg. If you win, you're another chord better off.

With two chords under your belt, and having received another SOS, you find yourself on your way to Charlie's Electronic Store where, if you're clever, you'll collect another chord on the way and still have enough energy for a good shoot out when your get there! This time the action is sky high as you race to the top of a ladder and then onto your 'space disc' for the shoot out.

This is make or break: Will you claim victory or be outnumbered by Skeletor's troops? If you're taken prisoner, you'll be held captive at the infamous Castle Greyskull. If you haven't collected eight chords, Greyskull has defeated you and his evil power will reign supreme. If you have eight, you have the right to challenge Skeletor.

Masters, for me lacks immediate playability to maintain interest. But if you're a fan of the cartoons or the film, you'll probably enjoy the game.

It's interesting that the previous Masters Of The Universe game by US Gold has now been re-released on the Americana label at a budget price. That's quite good as well.