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It looks like Imagine has done it again, and released another one of those arcade conversions we repeatedly keep seeing. All that ever seems to be written nowadays is either updated versions of old games or converted arcade games.

More often than not, these are pretty appalling. But this is not the case with the conversion of Renegade. Although the actual arcade original was nothing much to rave about, Imagine has done a marvellous job at converting it.

You play the part of a streetwise vigilante who is on his way through the squalid streets of an infamous city to meet his girlfriend Lucy. The only problem is that she's on the 'bad' side of town. "So what?" I hear you cry. So what indeed. But this guy has to defeat a series of attacks by the most vicious gangs in the city.

There are five different levels: Subway, Pier, Sleezy Street Scene, End Street and Interior. You have to pass all these levels, until you are eventually united with your girlfriend.

Each of these scenarios is infested with thugs and villains, brandishing a selection of harmful weapons. To attain completion of a level, the gang leader must first be defeated. This is done by repeatedly hitting or kicking him. Each time you successfully deliver a blow and knock him to the ground, his energy will greatly deplete. This is shown by an energy bar which is at the top of the screen, just beneath your own energy bar.

Level 1: Subway. This is the first of the stages. Here you are attacked by a number of armed and unarmed assailants. They have to be knocked to the ground approximately twice for them to be killed.

Level 2: The Pier. Here, you are confronted with a gang of motorcycle thugs. You are immediately attacked by four Hell's Angels on Motorbikes who attempt to run you over. They must be knocked off their bikes by using a flying kick. Each time you are run over, you lose a small amount of your energy. Once all four are subdued, you are attacked by a bunch of unarmed Hell's Angels. As you gradually bump off each of the Hell's Angels, their leader appears, and he certainly takes a lot of beating.

Level 3: Sleezy Street Scene. The fights that occur here take place in the sleazy downtown streets, where gangs of female marauders hang out. These crazed women are armed with extremely lethal-looking clubs and whips. When a number of these nasty ladies are defeated, their leader, 'Big Bad Bertha', is brought onto the scene.

Level 4: End Street. This and the next level have got to be the hardest levels of all. The level comprises of a number of razor wielding thugs. Be extremely careful with these guys, one touch from their sharp blades is fatal. The thugs also have a unique attack strategy, they come at you from behind - so always watch your back.

Level 5: Interior. Defeat of all the characters in the last level only results in more fighting with the same gang.

Completion of this last level will ensure that you keep your date with Lucy.

Graphics are excellent, colours are widely and wildly used. The sound, or should I say music, is very good too.

Apart from the loading procedures and also the tedious character control the game is superb value for money and will give you hours of knucklebusting fun.

All of you ST and Amstrad users will be glad to hear that the versions for your computers are well above average and well worth spending all your hard earned pocket money on. Any of you who are Spectrum or C64 owners will, I'm afraid, have to see the game for yourself, just so you can make your own opinions about the game.

Playability on all versions is excellent and animation on all characters is very smooth. The C64 version, I thought, could have been a lot better. The Imagine team has a lot to answer for. Looking back at their earlier games, it makes me wonder if Renegade was a rush job. The Spectrum version uses all its capabilities, and produces a pretty good conversion.

Graphics and colour are well used throughout the game, it's a pity that the sound was not used the same way. The Amstrad version has been programmed well and looks as if quite a bit of time has been spent on its production.