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Millennium 2.2 is a sort of high-tech Adam and Eve. The human race has virtually been annihilated by a massive meteor smashing into the Earth, and the only humans let live in colonies on Mars and the Moon. As Moon Base commander you've got to 'go forth and multiply' to ensure humanity doesn't go the way of the dinosaurs. Sadly, the moon is not the sort of place you can go for romantic walks in the countryside, well not yet at least. Instead you must build unromantic 'nodules' - domed buildings to contain more people - and construct spaceships by which to colonize other planets and moons. To complete the game you must re-establish life on Earth, a task which will take vast quantities of raw materials and scientific research.

Decision-making in Millennium 2.2 is purely by windows-and-icons; Moon Base consists of seven domes each of which brings up a window if clicked on. The Life Support dome is obviously important, but the window here simply reports how many people are alive and well. Similarly the vital Energy dome window can only be used to select which solar power generator (Solagen) to use. To get a more powerful Solagen you must have the raw materials (turn on the Mining Dome) and construction plans from the Research Dome. Once you have these you can set the Production Dome to making it. Other items which can be made include orbital lasers and fighters for the Defence dome, and spaceships and probes for the Hanger dome. The Defence dome is obviously used only when you're under attack. Click on the dome then and radar shows the numbers of enemy ships. Select lasers and defence is handled by computer. Select fighters and one is launched with you in the cockpit. The only arcade section in the game, this has the enemy attacking you one by one, in solid 3D fighters which zoom in and out blasting away with their lasers.

The main part of the game though is choosing which items to research and produce. Then when you've got some spaceships where to send them - a voyage to the outer planet takes hundreds of days, so its as well there's an efficient time acceleration feature.

Spaceships are particularly useful for ferrying resources from colonized planets back to the Moon, since the Moon lacks various minerals vital for some items.

This strange and unusual game crosses a relatively simple strategy with an atmospherically presented adventure. The desire to see more of these adventurey bits, combined with slick 16-bit (albeit ST) presentation, make this an exceptionally compelling game. The only drawback is the relative ease with which this £25 game might be completed after around 20 hours play.

Nevertheless, with such a great atmosphere, and high addiction quota, I for one certainly found myself playing into the early hours until I completed it.

Like the space virus of Alpha Centauri XII, Millennium 2.2 began to grow on me very quickly upon first playing it, but it is by far more pleasant to experience than the former.

The best graphics yet for this type of game (incorporating many other styles of game - from strategy to arcade - an odd mixture), Millennium 2.2 oozes quality presentation - a damn shame that sound is limited to little more than spot effects (very effective though!).

A little slow to start with, Millennium 2.2 quickly becomes engrossing with interesting problems all the way and is easily the best looking strategy-cum-adventure game for a long while.

Presentation 91%
The many menus are attractively presented and a joy to use.

Graphics 88%
A variety of well-drawn sub-screens plus a solid 3D arcade section.

Sound 60%
Atmospheric spot effects.

Hookability 90%
Once you understand what to do, the intense atmosphere draws you in.

Lastability 91%
Such a wide variety of gameplay should keep interest high.

Overall 90%
An unusual, compulsive mixture of game styles.