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Fractalus, alias Behind Jaggi Lines, was a real blockbuster on the Atari. Lots of fast and furious action. But things have slowed down on the C64 - and the game has suffered.

The basic idea of Rescue On Fractalus is to pilot your Valkyrie fighter over a hostile planet - rescuing fellow pilots who have fallen victim to the laser towers and enemy ships which patrol the skies.

You have to monitor your instruments to spot the fallen pilots' homing beacons, watch out for enemy ships and blast the mountain-top laser towers - all the while zapping along between jagged peaks and down into deadly rock-filled valleys.

You must land near the pilots - watch for their flashing beacons among the rocks - and they come trudging wearily over to your ship. They bang on your airlock door, you open it and they climb in. This is accompanied by some neat sound effects!

Then it's off to find more pilots - or if the mothership is around - back to base to drop off the rescued fliers.

Initially Rescue On Fractalus is a fun game - but it does get a bit boring after a lengthy session with your C64. The Atari version is completely the reverse - it'll keep you hooked for hours. Must be something to do with the speed!

Rescue comes with a comprehensive instruction sheet, complete with tips on flying your Valkyrie craft.

There are many skill levels - including a night flying instruments only sequence which is fairly difficult.

Conclusion: If you've got an Atari, get this game, if you're a Commodore owner - well, play your friend's copy before making up your mind. £10 is a lot of dosh!