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The C64 version blasted its way onto the cover of the July issue of Zzap! and in the Amiga version, again by Tony Crowther, the plot is identical. The evil Phobos has trapped the Galactic Emperor in a sun and plus fifteen planets between him and the one or two space fighters willing to save him.

Each planet is infested with nightmares and phobias aplenty: spiders, enclosed spaces, snakes, dentists and Death himself. There's also a large mother alien at the end of each level (Where else?).

Conquer a planet and it's off to see the sights in narrow underground caverns before jetting off to deepest space and beyond to more planets with even worse fears.

Phobia on the C64 proved one good looking, highly playable blast, and the Amiga version had the potential to do likewise but in even better style.

The graphics are certainly detailed and everything is larger than life. But the simple parallax scrolling is unimpressive and the colour scheme isn't subtle enough to create the nightmarish atmosphere needed - it all looks garish and hardly frightening. Thankfully it's all very playable R-Type-ish shoot-'em-up fare, but not one to turn you into a nervous wreck.

Personally I'm not too fond of spiders so seeing them come to life brings a shiver down my spine, even if the Amiga doesn't quite go to town creating a dark, organic atmosphere.

Two-player shoot-'em-ups are always fun and on this note Phobia delivers. It's nice to see some variety in the levels to blast through, not only graphically but in gameplay as well with planets, caverns and deep space - all nicely done too.

Presentation 76%
High/low resolution mode, single or dual play options.

Graphics 72%
Above average but not really horrific.

Sound 60%
Standard blasting effects.

Hookability 75%
Great playability, slick two player mode.

Lastability 80%
Plenty of planets and moons to blast through.

Overall 73%
Good, solid alien blasting with unique graphics.