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If machines had emotions, the robot in Spectron would have a persecution complex. 'Spectron' is actually the name of the robot that you control in this fast-moving descendant of the arcade game Berserk.

The screen shows the arena where the action takes place, lightly peppered with electric blocks that can sizzle you on contact. 'Spectron' can be moved only by the keyboard but the keys are well chosen, and movement produces fire in the direction of motion, including diagonally.

There are four sorts of enemy androids after you, starting with the red swarmers, whose one object is to head for you and destroy one of your three lives on contact.

The first wave has ten of these, and more appear on each successive level. A few waves on, green speeders appear, who are like swarmers but quicker. Both have a habit of queuing up behind you as you flee, making convenient massacres possible when you turn back.

On higher levels, you'll meet launchers; cunning devils who launch missiles shaped like Iron Crosses, which home in on you.

Finally, electrons build lines of electric fences, sizzling and almost impassable. Imagine if Acorn got their Electrons to do the same at Sinclair Research!

All four types appear by wave 8.

There are 9 skill levels all in all, each starting ten waves above the last. Getting through early waves intact is soon mastered, but by wave ten, sheer weight of numbers takes its toll.

Theoretically, you could blast your way right through to wave 99, but that's a pretty tall order. The waves come on thick and fast, the enemy androids multiplying like babies in a Bombay slum.

After each wave, you score is calculated on-screen. Apart from points per kill, there's a big potential time bonus as well as an efficiency bonus.

The calculation of the bonuses is accompanied by sounds like a crazed electronic cash register during a Harrods sale. Then the next wave is itemized before being let loose on you.

Spectron is as addictive and challenging as games come, and is of true arcade quality.