In this cruel world, existence is never easy, and it is only in your dreams that you can escape its harsh realities. In a sleeping vision, you are taken into the future to pilot the spaceship Pegasus and destroy eight reconstitutions placed around a distant moon. Cor, isn't life really tough sometimes?

Phantasm puts you in the pilot's seat, and, once one of four skill levels has been chosen, a target section of the moon is selected before launch. A large viewing window is surrounded by various indicators which show the levels of anti-missile energy, height above ground, shield power, fuel remaining, laser temperature, speed and speed booster. A compass, missile counter and inrange/tracking/damage also have displays. A small radar screen gives your approximate position on the sector of the moon.

The first thing that hit me was Phantasm's music - it's very good indeed, and doesn't consist of a long sample, for a change. The game itself reminds me of Backlash, only with less attractive graphics.

The revolving heads-up display is almost an exact replica of Paul Woakes' design, and Phantasm plays like his game as well, only it's not as fast-paced.

Hunting down targets, and hopefully finding a reconstitution building (why couldn't Exocet give them the usual kind of silly pseudo-sci fi name, like any other software house would!) brought out my aggressive side - I don't know where from!

Some shoot-'em-up thrills can be gained from this derivative game, if you're prepared to stump up the high asking price.

A cross between Backlash and Tau Ceti in both appearance and gameplay, Phantasm is fairly predictable shoot-'em-up fodder. However, it does have some appeal: the selection of an attack quadrant from a map of the globe is original(-ish!), and is followed by an effective picture of the Pegasus ship launching.

Lack of new ideas doesn't affect the land skimming fun; most shoot-'em-ups are worth playing if they're competently done, which this is. The 3D effect is minimal, and the action a bit on the slow side, but Phantasm is decent, if overpriced.

Presentation 66%
An attractive title screen but joystick response is sometimes slow.

Graphics 70%
Excellently defined action screen surround and reasonably effective 3D.

Sound 88%
A brilliant piece of music and a few average sampled effects.

Hookability 76%
Initially playable because of the exploration involved.

Lastability 59%
Only the enemy attack formations and reconstitution positions change.

Overall 55%
A playable but unoriginal 3D shoot-'em-up.