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This is a game to test the mettle of hardened shoot-'em-up fans. You play "teenage superhero" Ricky Steel who is spending his formative years blasting everything in sight, but it's all in a good cause as the excessively evil Dr Vardos is intent on conquering Earth and Ricky is out to thwart him.

There are four phases to fight through before the ultimate showdown with the Doc. In zone one, Ricky is a pedestrian in search of his "hyper alloy combat vehicle" Nightwind. He sets off up-screen along a smooth scrolling road, swarming with android troops, enemy helicopters, etc, etc. The main screen gives an overhead view of the devastating proceedings and the graphics are large and well defined. Below the animated action is a road map indicating the position of approaching enemies and one eye has to be kept on this as there is little time to react if you are unprepared especially if you are attacked from behind.

You have four lives and believe me you need them. Losing a life is spectacular - Ricky totally disintegrates with fragments scattered in every direction accompanied by a rather unpleasant scream from the Spectrum beep box.

In the next zone you team up with the car and wipe out more waves of android troopers and in the final zone you are airborne using "uranium thunderbombs" to blow submarines out of the water (Using these bombs in the previous car-leg merely results in self destruction). The final leg of the game is taken up with a search and destroy mission to get Dr Vardos struck off permanently.

Stainless Steel is a graphically sophisticated shoot-'em-up with enough sequences to maintain your interest. If you enjoy a sustained bout of blasting, this game is worth checking out but - be warned - it requires an agile wrist and quick reactions. In fact, if you happen to have a steel arm already, make sure your wrist is well-oiled.