Good versions of Defender on the Vic are few and far between, so this game is particularly welcome, The graphics are excellent: chunky, colourful and clear.

All the usual Defender features are there in their frightening glory.

Least interesting graphicaIly are the humans you are trying to save from alien kidnap. They resemble nails rather than men. Purple nails at that.

However, all the other creatures are well up to the mark. The landers are the lowest form of alien life, green-eyed monsters who hover near the surface trying to abduct your men.

Should they be taken to the top of the screen the human victim will turn into a mutant and will chase after you if all your men are stolen you will find yourself in the middle of a swarm of mutants. Very unpleasant indeed.

This is the time when you might like to use one of your three smart bombs, which destroy everything on screen.

The other main obstacles are the space-hums, large diamond-shaped things which move slowly and are easy to hit.

A useful feature of this version is the star-gate. If you move into this rectangle, you're transported to a point where a human is being abducted.

The only real drawback to this game is that you must use the keys as well as the joystick: lives can he lost as you reach out for the return key to fire your smart bombs.