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This is another in Firebird's range of budget games, a Silver release. The Microcosm of the title is actually an interstellar freighter with a number of plant species being transported to a new galaxy.

The problems are twofold.

Firstly, the maintenance ladders have been damaged and your job is to transport new sections of ladder to the required position. Secondly, there are a number of rather evil looking insect mutants wandering about trying to give you the kiss of death.

The game is without a doubt a jet pac type and your controls are left/right, thrust and fire. The graphics are good, certainly as good as most full price BBC games and the movement routines are very smooth indeed.

I had very little difficulty controlling the character although a joystick option might have been a real advantage.

I have underestimated the baddies a little. There are also drops of acid constantly raining down upon you as you move about and on later levels a number of very nasty looking spiders and beetles. A final difficulty is the plant's need for refreshment.

Whenever the plants are running low on Phloem (look it up in the biology book) you have to drop your power pack and pick up the watering can. You then move around shooting the plants with the food that they desperately require.

The difference between this budget game and many full price ones is so little that this has to be great value for money.

R.S.