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With over 900K of data, Mega Blasters is probably the biggest game ever to blast its way on to the CPC. But does it have enough game-playing dynamite to make it a classic? Karen Levell and Angela Cook light the fuse...

What with the termination of the Cold War. the IRA cease-fire, and the Palestinians' attempts to 6ain this year's Nobel Peace Prize, ifs hard for long-term, dedicated terrorists to know what to do with themselves. Okay, so there's a sizeable kerscuffle going on in Bosnia, but if s just not the same as planting bombs under your neighbours' noses. With Mega Blasters, however, even the most button-happy terrorist has cause to celebrate.

First off, the game is absolutely huge - we're talking Mike McShane after seventeen Big Macs and four thick shakes! 900K of compressed data makes this the biggest game ever to hit the CPC (probably), and with gorgeously scrummy graphics (the whole thing's done in full overscan - so there's none of those tacky borders), dozens of in-game tunes, eleven worlds and over 90 levels, this game has plenty to offer even the most professional of gameplayers.

If you haven't already guessed from the screenshots, Mega Blasters is the CPC's answer to the top-selling SNES game Super Bomberman. And with an option that enables up to four blast-happy gamers to compete, it's more than a match for the console title.

Whether you're playing alone to beat the game creators' best scores, or dodging the bombs planted by so-called friends, Mega Blasters is addictiveness taken to a new high. As well as steering your Pac Man-shaped Ninja Turtle around the maze and blowing up similarly designed opponents, you also get to indulge your fetish for power-ups. There are plenty of bonuses on offer, including choice morsels that make you go faster, turn invisible and, rather nastily, reverse the controls. There's also a special secret stage - but I can't tell you about that, because it's secret...

With top guardian types to defeat, a choice of difficulty levels and a superb password feature, there really isn't much to complain about here. Well, except for the fact that it's on!y available on 3" or 3.5" discs - the tape deck just isn't man enough for this type of action it seems.

You're also going to be soundless if you're toting less than 128K. That aside, though, Mega Blasters is certainly the best game to come zinging our way in quite some time. Worth 14 quid of anybody's money. Get it!

Graphics 90%
The good, the bad and the ugly all feature here.

Sonics 82%
Pretty good if you've got 128K but deafeningly silent if you have less.

Grab Factor 97%
Gets its claws in straight away, whichever way you choose to play.

Staying Power 98%
Make sure you have the pizza delivery number on hand when you start, because you won't want to stop for anything.

Overall 94%

Mega Blasters, which is available on both 3" and 3.5" discs (but not tape), costs £13.95. To get your copy, send your cheque to Radical Software, 57 Lebrun Square, Kidbrooke, London SE3 9NS. Or telephone: 081 856 8402.