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It's a funny old game, isn't it? I mean, what sort of person would want to jump in a ring and have the living daylights beaten out of them? Oh well, it takes all sorts.

Despite being highly illegal and oh-so painful, pit-fighting draws huge crowds and many young hopefuls (mugs!) who want the Pit-Fighter crown. Alone or with a partner, you play one of three chaps, all newcomers to this particular contact sport but tough as old boots.

The choices are Ty, an ex-kick boxer, Kato, a karate expert, or Buzz, an ex-pro wrestler.

Once the characters are selected, you're pit against the toughest pitfighters around, including the Ultimate Warrior, the current champion. Your task is 'simply' to eliminate all contenders.

Your battle starts with the pleasantly named Executioner. Each competitor has an energy bar depleted by hits; move fast and deck 'em hard. There's a finite number of kicks and punches available plus a unique move for each character. Once a combatant's energy bar hits zero, they're out of the contest (and probably dead!). If, by any remote chance, you win a bout, your score is totted up, according to how well (and how aggressively) you fought. A basic 'fight purse' is awarded to the victor, then KO and brutality bonuses awarded, if warranted.

Every third bout is a grudge match, where you battle either a computer-controlled clone or a mate. Yes, the pit's a tough place to be, but you're no big girl's blouse.., are you?

Unfortunately, it's a pile of doggy doos. I'd hoped games like STUN Runner and Hydra were a glitch in Domark's marketing plan. But sadly, Pit-Fighter is, ironically, the pits!

The graphics are horrendous. The sprites seem to have been expanded from half an inch to around four inches in height, resulting in a blobby mess lumbering around the screen like a pregnant hippo! Combined with very jerky scrolling, this makes for a very disappointing game, which is a shame 'cause Pit-Fighter in the arcades is very spiffy indeed!

You have got to be joking! This isn't a computer game, it's the poor reception you get during a thunderstorm! On loading, there's a display of badly digitised animation and pathetic expanded text accompanied by a tune which drives you potty. I battled through the control selection and started a game, only to be stunned in disbelief!

Each sprite seems to have been defined really small and blown up to fill the screen. Perhaps this was done to compete with the likes of Final Fight - failing, of course.

The graphic artist has used some colour in the graphics... pity it leaks out of the fighters and into the background, really!

Come on, Domark, what are you playing at? There are much better beat-'em-ups available for a couple of quid, down the market. I know the Spectrum doesn't have the graphic capabilities of 16-bit machines but its games don't have to be this bad. If I'd paid £10 for this pile of rubbish I'd be well cheesed off. Keep away!

Overall 27%
Oh dear, whatever's happened to the ace coin-op? It's been poorly converted, that's what!