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Pang is another of those surreal Japanese arcade games, this one involving bouncing balloons. One or two players work through single-screen levels, each containing a number of platforms: some destructible, others connected by ladders. To complete a level, one or more balloons must be destroyed using a vertically-firing energy beam. A balloon divides into two smaller ones when it's hit. The largest balloon divides three times before it's broken down into the destructible smallest balloons.

Marauding creatures can take away the ability to fire for a short time but some balloon explosions release collectable items: bonus points, extra time, a stopwatch which freezes everything, dynamite which divides all balloons into their smallest form, a grappling hook and a rapid-firing pistol.

Why are Ocean bothering to license obscure little coin-ops? Last issue it was tile-splitting 'action' with a potato (Plotting) and now it's crusty old Asteroids with platforms, Ghostbusters-style beam weapons and 'sweet' Japanese sprites.

Balloons can be surprisingly difficult to dodge, particularly the low-bouncing smallest ones, and when a number of them have been divided and sub-divided the screen becomes crowded and gameplay hectic.

Tactics can be developed in the way beams and pick-ups are used and balloons tackled, but I found it all too frustrating and samey to play for long.

Like Wozza, I initially found Pang primitive. However, after a few two-player games I became totally hooked by the ridiculously simply concept.

At first it's very confusing, with balloons bouncing all over the place, but you soon discover ways to limit the number of small balloons and use the collectables to best effect - it's often unwise (suicidal) to use the dynamite!

The presentation style is typically Japanese with cutesy animal sprites and jingly tunes, hardly making best use of the Amiga but a suitable enough accompaniment to the fun action.

Presentation 84%
One or two players, demo mode, choice of starting location, map screen and inter-level character portraits.

Graphics 83%
Cute characters, neat bouncing balloons and some nice backdrops.

Sound 76%
Jazzy title music, twee Japanese in-game tunes and good effects.

Hookability 90%
Balloon-bursting is a simply-grasped and addictive concept.

Lastability 76%
Perhaps a tad repetitive in the long run.

Overall 82%
A polished conversion of a playable coin-op.