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Saving the Earth from invasion is one of the most popular themes in computer games and Parallax follows this tried and tested scenario for its storyline. The idea is to pilot your space probe IBIS around an artificial world which is split into five zones - Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon. Each zone will reveal a letter of a code which will help you to save the world by destroying the master computer.

There are three distinct travelling phases: flying and landing the IBIS, walking across the city and searching the hangars which you eventually find.

In the air you are assailed by all manner of alien ships which will try to wreck your ship as you search for the hangars which contain the slave computers which you need to crack to get the code. When you find a hangar, you must lower your undercarriage and land on the nearest flat area. Sometimes you will have to leave your ship and walk a fair way under enemy fire to search all the hangars in the area.

Inside the hangars you find three types of computer. The main one is the Central Intelligence Unit, or Big One. One of these computers holds the key to entry to the next level and requires a code obtained from the other computers on the current level. If you don't have the code then the location of this machine is noted until you have the necessary information.

The other Big Ones can only be accessed if you have the relevant data card obtained from the scientists who patrol the hangar buildings. Only two data cards can be carried at a time so a lot of to-ing and fro-ing is needed to find the computer which matches the card code. Each successfully accessed computer will reveal a letter of the code for the main machine.

The first scientist you meet will be kidnapped and must be with you when you access the main computer. Any other scientists can be dealt with as you see fit.

When you get each letter of the code you are rewarded with money which can be drawn from the second type of computer - the Computer Bank. The money obtained can then be used to buy supplies from the Computer Shop, the third machine.

Supplies are essential to the mission. Oxygen has to be taken with you when you leave the IBIS, ammunition is needed to stun scientists or disable guardian robots inside the hangars. Drugs are also supplied because the kidnapped scientist will not help you to crack the main computer if he's not drugged first.

All of the supplies for extra-vehicular activities are drawn from the IBIS computer in units and you must ensure that you have enough oxygen and ammo to succeed in your next foray into the outside world.

When you crack all five main computers on each level you can disable the master computer on Epsilon level and escape in the teleporter.

The game is played in plan view and the graphics are very good. The code-cracking elements lift the game from being just a crude shoot-'em-up and the strategy element makes this a challenge worth accepting.