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As if shoot-'em-up buffs didn't already have enough to be getting on with after the last release Marauder, Hewson has just released Netherworld, a strange mixture of shoot-'em-up and arcade adventure.

The game has you trapped in a strange alien world inhabited by all manner of dangerous creatures. Obviously you want to get out of there ASAP, so you decide to try and collect enough of the planet's local currency to buy yourself out, a bit like how Prince Eddie got out of the Marines.

Diamonds are the local currency and you must collect a set amount by steering your wheel-like structure around the bubbly landscapes that form Netherworld.

The diamonds can be collected simply by running over them and picking them up. To hinder your progress, the creatures that make their home in Netherworld will do their best to get rid of you as fast as they can. Demons, for example, lie on the bubble platforms and spit their deadly poison at you. Alien generators look like weird beehives and blurt out different sub-nasties, while alien eggs are a pain in the bot, because they block off passageways and have to be blasted with your four-way laser to clear them.

In contrast, there are a few features in the Netherworld that can help you out, should you use them correctly. For instance, Diamond squeezers appear from time to time and can be used for changing rocks into diamonds by pushing them into the mouth of the diamond squeezer. In addition, metamorphosis walls will change a mine into four diamonds should one hit it.

There are hosts of features such as teleports, brick smashers, surprise bonuses and extra weapons.

You're in for a treat with Netherworld. It's just what you have come to expect from Hewson, with gorgeous animation on your ship and well-defined and animated nasties.

All in all, Netherworld is a great game and one that you should definitely think about splashing out on this month.