Speedy spy spectacular

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Have you ever fancied yourself as a bit of a James Bond behind the wheel of a car but never had the chance to put your driving prowess to the test? If so, Spy Hunter could provide the opportunity you've been looking for.

The game begins with an aerial view of your spy car being dumped on to the road from the back of a weapons van. A quick stab at the accelerator and your car surges forward.

At this stage of the game your car is armed with machine guns, and a fat lot of use they are too. Most vehicles seem impervious to your bullets, so this is a good time to practice your ramming technique.

Fortunately you rendezvous with a supply truck a little further down the road. Having had a missile system fitted you are now in a much better position to eliminate the enemy. Other supply vehicles will provide you with smoke and oil with which to hinder any attack from the rear.

Following a bit of high speed road work you take a fork to the left. Suddenly the road ends and you are tearing towards a river bank. As you crash through the boathouse your car is miraculously transformed into a speed boat and the chase continues.

Having catered for every eventuality, the enemy have also taken to the water, their boats laying mines as they go. Locating a second boathouse, you rejoin the road and begin a second lap of this increasingly tortuous circuit.

In true spy tradition the enemy cars are fitted with a series of vicious spikes, one on each wheel, to shred your tyres.

At last someone has taken the trouble to produce an accurate conversion of a Commodore best seller for the BBC Micro. The graphics are detailed, the theme tune excellent.

Full marks all round.

Jon Revis