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If you've managed to get a look at the Atari ST version of Starglider, it will cause you to rediscover the gasp. Just when you thought nothing could surprise you, you end up surprised.

Then when you discover that Rainbird intends to convert the game to the Spectrum, you begin to question their sanity. It can't be done and if it is, it'll look awful. Well, Rainbird has and it doesn't.

What you get is an excellent 3D arcade simulation combined with strategy.

The game is based, and programmed, around a 64-page booklet written by James Follett, author of the film Who Dares Wins. It deals with the Egrons' invasion of Novenia, a peace-loving planet. You are in command of Novenia's last Airborne Ground Attack Vehicle, equipped with lasers and a limited number of missiles. Fuel won't last forever either.

It's really quite essential to read the booklet, which contains information vital to the mission.

Around two thirds of the screen is taken up with the view from your craft. At the top of the screen is the heading display. It's always handy to make a note of various positions of various depots and re-fuelling areas.

When you launch into the game it's very easy to go rocketing off, zapping at anything you come across. But ultimately that won't get you very far. It's far better to get to know your enemy first. And to do that you'll have to find and enter the missile depot. Once inside you can reload with missiles and interrogate a computer which gives you the lowdown on all the things you can expect to meet.

Luckily, there's a depot in sight when you start the game. It looks like a wedge of cheese. Move up to the silo until it fills the screen. Kill your speed and try to keep your craft stable. The depot will automatically rotate and you'll soon see doors opening up. You can centre your craft successfully and then hit the speed at the right moment you zoom straight in.

At your leisure you can then size up the opposition - including huge tank-like walkers, stompers and, most spectacularly, the Starglider - a huge craft with flapping wings.

The second most important thing to master is re-fuelling. This I found the most difficult. You have to fly down a pipeline, keeping as low to the ground as possible, and keeping an eye on your fuel gauge to see if it's increasing.

The B side of the cassette contains a 128K version of the game containing extra missions, music and digitised speech providing warning messages and advice from the AGAV's computer. The voice is that of C&VG's belle of the arcades, Clare Edgeley.

Whether you've got a 48K or 128K Spectrum, you'll find Starglider engrossing and addictive to play. Check out the 3D vector graphics and I think you'll be impressed.

And don't worry all you Commodore and Amstrad owners, conversions are on the way for your machines.