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Mastertronic is yet another recent entrant into the ST arena, firstly with Ninja, and now with Outcast, an air-to-air blast, rather like a futuristic Skyfox (see Feb '87 issue).

The action takes place in the Magellian Cluster which is under the control of a semi-mechanical insectoid race known as 'The Mind'. The scenario and game instructions, although a little on the epic side, are neatly combined into a briefing document.

The document explains that you have been sent a simulation disk which exactly recreates a 'Mind' offensive on three pyramid bases on the renegade Gyran's home planet. Your aim, as always, is to defend the bases by destroying each successive wave of the "Mind's" offensive.

The game begins with your flying over the surface of the planet, viewed through the top half of the screen which gives you a pilot's eye view of the proceedings. Cockpit displays flash information on shields, energy, kill percentage, heading, altitude and speed, as well as telling you how many insectoids are remaining.

In the centre of the cockpit is the map or scanner display which shows enemy activity in scanner mode, and the whole game arena in map mode. Map mode is also used to set hyperspace co-ordinates.

In scanner mode, three of the four types of enemy, Seekers, Swarmers, and Seigers, are shown in different colours. At least you know that kind of alien is trying to kill you then. The fourth, and most deadly brand of insectoid, known as the stingers, don't show up on the scanner at all, and are monstrously tricky to destroy.

The game itself involves you flying around the place, protecting your three bases, docking with them for repairs and extra energy when necessary, and generally blasting anything that moves.

The screen handling gets a little slow when there's a lot happening at once, but apart from that, and considering the price, Outcast is a reasonable blast and well worth the money.