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Shaun Southern, author of KikStart, Hero Of The Golden Talisman and Trailblazer, brings you Proof Of Destruction - POD.

An alien force is invading your power-grid network, and armed only with a small POD craft, it is your task to remove them - using as much force as you feel necessary!

The POD is controlled by keyboard or joystick, and appears at the bottom of the first grid system ready for battle. Alien ships move along the grid lines, firing in all directions and releasing missiles which plummet down the grid. Explosions damage the grid network but the tracks are repaired in a few seconds to reform the lattice. Motion of the POD is limited to the grid system - thus, any breaks in the network can seriously hamper your manoeuvrability until the grid 'heals'.

The aim on each of the 25 levels is to stay alive or the duration of a time limit, shown at the top of the screen. Every fourth level is a bonus screen, presenting you with a chance to considerably improve your score by blasting as many aliens as possible.

Completing a level rewards you with an extra life (up to a maximum of five) and scoring is dependent on the level completed and the number of lives remaining.

There is an option to play a two-player game, whereby both combatants appear on-screen together, working as allies to do battle with the aliens. Again only five PODs are available, and this time the score is amassed jointly.

POD is very reminiscent of Gridrunner, only this one's been tweaked for added playability. The bass line provides atmosphere and drives you on (and on and on).

The graphics are sparse, but the emphasis is on highly colourful visual effects. There's not a great deal of variation, but it's packed with action and compulsively playable. If you're a shoot-'em-up fan, put this at the top of your 'must buy' list.

Shoot-'em-up fans on a tight budget have never had it so good - Zone Ranger, Void Runner and now POD. This is another colourful and frenetic annihilation game requiring dextral digits and good hand-to-eye co-ordination. The program is devilishly addictive, extremely challenging and should keep any trigger-happy maniac occupied for weeks.

Finally, the two-player option is the icing on the cake - a foot of icing at that! Can you afford to miss it?

Mastertronic certainly seem to be getting their act together these days: last month saw the release of Void Runner, and now we are treated to POD, a similarly frenetic shoot-'em-up.

This could well have been written by Mr. Minter, as it's very colourful and plays brilliantly (the Two-Player option is tremendous). The 25 levels should present a reasonable challenge to even the most die-hard of blasting fans, and it's varied enough to sustain interest. Go get it!

Presentation 78%
Simplistic but pleasant in many aspects - including the superb Two-Player option.

Graphics 81%
Some neat visual effects combined with attractive colour cycling in the background - which unfortunately obscures aliens and their bullets at times.

Sound 91%
Thumping good bass line plays throughout, interspersed with decent spot effects.

Hookability 92%
Grabs you from the start, and doesn't let you easily.

Lastability 76%
Little variety, but plenty of action and levels, which are reasonably balanced to allow progress.

Value For Money 92%
Two pounds well spent.

Overall 84%
A wonderful little shoot-'em-up - highly polished and very playable.