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Yet another conversion for the Amstrad from those ever tireless US Gold people. One advantage of reading a broad spectrum (no pun intended) games magazine like Gamer is that you can get all the news and developments in the games world, whether they are for your machine or not. The Dam Busters was released for the Commodore 64 over a year go - and was duly reported in Gamer, but Amstrad owners are only just seeing this game.

However, the discerning Gamer reader will instantly recognise the title. The point of all this is that I have to assume that some readers will not be regular readers and will have merely bought this issue to see what will be in other magazines in a couple of months, so I'd better explain what this game is all about.

The Dam Busters is a game based around the exploits of 617 Squadron (and is endorsed by them) who, in the middle of the last big war, busted a few dams in the industrial heartland of the Rhur Valley. This is where Germany was producing most of its weaponry. The idea being, that if you flooded half of Germany, the other half will soon lose interest and everybody will be able to go home.

The plan required the use of a new weapon, popularly called the 'bouncing bomb' - mainly because that's exactly what it did. However, the operation of this bomb requries you to be flying at a precise speed and height, and at an accurate distance from the target. These are the main problems foryou to solve in the game.

The game is something more than a flight simulator. Mainly because you can choose the jobs you do around the plane. There are six different posts assigned to pilot, navigator, engineer, front gunner, tailgunner and bomb aimer. They are switched between by using the appropriate numbered keys. If anything needs your immediate attention - like a barrage balloon suddenly appearing - then the number will flash at the bottom of the screen to tell you that you are needed elsewhere.

The pilot's station shows a forward view along with some instruments. These control the attitude of the plane as communicated via the navigator, which shows a map of the route from England to Germany. The map is very well done and detailed showing up places of interest to avoid - heavily defended towns etc. and ends up looking like an AA road guide.

The two turret positions are similar and allow you to fend off attacking aeroplanes and balloons, and also to shoot out searchlights. The forward gunner's position also doubles as the bomb aimer's when it comes the time to drop the bomb. Showing the broom handle sights.

The engineer's position shows engine status information and has all the appropriate controls to alter fuel mix, engine speed, etc, etc. Getting the hang of this bit is probably the most important part of the game.

The bomb aimer's usual station shows the controls for spinning up the bomb prior to launch and the controls for the light beams that were used to control the height of the plane - keeping it at a steady 60 feet.

All these positions are illustrated graphically (in the pure literary sense of the word) and show levers and lights being moved just as they would have been.

The game is played realistically from start to finish and requires you to fly out over the channel, pick a route through the heavily-defended fatherland. Then you have to navigate well enough that you find one of the dams the right way around and you are pointing in the right direction.

Dropping the bomb is probably the greatest challenge of them all, there are just so many things to watch out for. Though you can rightly feel proud to have completed it.

Flight simulators always get indifferent reviews in the computer press with cries of "Oh no! Please don't give me another flight simulator to review!" being heard from the Editor's private suite in our office where he deals out the day's assignments. But The Dam Busters has some point to it rather than just to fly around in circles. Great idea, great game.