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The emergence of Virtual Reality in the Eighties attracted the interest of some large sinister corporations in the United States. Organisations like 'The Shop' realised the potential of the technology to programme and manipulate individuals, giving them computer-like powers of intellect. Their interest in this process is limited to its uses in warfare...

This chilling cabal have studied the work of Dr. Angelo, a Virtual Reality scientist who has experimented with VR as a means of education, for some time. His experiments have been on Jobe, a local simpleton, who has shown a remarkable leap in IQ.

'The Shop' seize on Jobe as a superweapon, but the plan backfires, as on all-powerful Jobe CPU threatens the entire world. Only Angelo has the means to stop him.

Converted from Storm's Super NES game, and based on the Virtual Reality-themed motion picture.

Defeat Jobe by entering the various cyber zones and destroying the terminals.

Shooting plays a fair part in the game. The Cyber War zones intersperse the Cyber Zones. In these you face a number of system sentinels poking out over battlements and firing at you. Outside there are many weapons to locate: plasma rifles, projectile throwers and a particularly neat energy wave.

At the terminals which Angelo disables, the security mechanism is five reflex puzzles that must be sorted out in a strict time limit. The puzzles use colours, numbers and shapes for you to determine which is next in the sequence.

There are several areas of play within the game, diced up into succeeding sections. Different game styles prevail in each, described here in detail.

1. Cyber Zones
   These are short 3D flying zones, where left and right direct Angelo through Jobe's defences. The themed areas are progressively more difficult, with dense barrier formations. Too many collisions means ejection from the system.
2. Exterior Zones
   Reality central: Angelo makes his way on foot to the various entry points to the system. He is also looking for CDs, which increase his strength, and weapon power-ups. These areas are swarming with 'Shop' agents.
3. Cyber Run
   These long zones divide different level areas from each other. On a flying jet bike, Angelo penetrates a pssychedelic system defence mechanism, with front-mounted laser cannons.

Virtual Reality has become a bit of a dirty word in Megadrive circles. Sega dropped their headset idea, and someone's spent God knows how long putting this together.

It's a tough proposition recreating the dazzling effects of the film, and the programmers have aquitted themselves well, with the entertaining 3D sections. The scrolling shoot-'em-up bits have also improved on the Super NES version, with some of the frustration taken out.

However, like the film, the whole affair is pretty lightweight. There are no real moments of climax or excitement.

We saw a pre-production version of this a few months back, and were well impressed with the 3D sections. They're still there in all their glory but now run even faster than before and, consequently, are even better to look at and play. However, whilst The Lawnmower Man impresses with its fast update and VRT scenes, a fault of the Super NES game is still present - the dodgy platform bits!

With the advantage of hindsight, Time Warner have tried to tighten these sections up a little, but they are the first scene you play, and this may prove initially off-putting. Even so, The Lawnmower Man is a heady mixture of game styles which somehow gels together to create a very playable licence. Innovation is a rare enough thing, so make sure you don't miss this VR trip.

Graphics 73%
P. Some of the 3D bits have you reaching for the Optrex - pretty lurid, man.
N. The titchy graphics of the reality zones lack detail and variety.

Sound 79%
P. The thumping soundtracks work well, especially in the racey Cyber Zone sections.
N. Effects are pretty weak overall.

Playability 71%
P. There is a fair amount of variety in the way the sections are tagged together.
N. The sum of each of the simplistic parts is not that great.

Lastability 71%
P. The three skill levels cover all abilities well, and hard is very hard.
N. The initial frisson of excitement passes quickly with Lawnmower Man.

Value For Money 74%
P. Very much par for the course with this size of cart, and it is original.
N. You may resent paying for some of the weaker sections...

Overall 73%
Not the greatest moment in the history of the Megadrive, but not the worst either. An above average title made from weak material.