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Take two tanks, add fourteen space stations, a few tangs and flashes and what have yon got? You've got what sounds like the ideal formula for a no-holds barred arcade conversion, that's what. As Tengen's first launch, Vindicators is the shape of things to come... but what shape is that? For the answers to these and other questions, read on, MacDuff. (It's not every computer mag that offers you Shakespeare quotations in the first paragraph of a games review!)

As reported last month, Domark has secured the licence for the conversion of at least five Atari coin-ops over the next three years. The lofty boasts of the launch can now be examined in the cold light of a CPC monitor, as Vindicators comes to town.

The Tangent Empire (any relation to the Logarithms and the Cosine tribe?) are trying to take control of the Outside Galaxy, TR15. You, commander of a SR-88 Strategic Battle Tank, are trying to stop them carrying out their evil plan. There are fourteen space stations to be captured if you are to halt the invasion. So it's into the mother ship and a-warping we will go, to start Vindicating.

You start by selecting which station you liberate first, and then sit back and watch as the stars glide by in warp drive (very 'Star Wars', like it). Now these are not your average white on bluey-black, but pretty little multi-coloured things that fly past, setting the tone for a colourful and fast game. Then, as if by magic, your tank (or tanks) are unloaded and it's time to go off at the Tangents.

So. The waiting is over and wasting begins. The balance of power is good: your tank is better armed and armoured than the Tangents, but they have the numerical edge. This is the plan: duck and dive the shots of the opposition, using the interior walls of the station for cover. Then sneak up on the enemy tanks from the side or behind, and let them have it. If a head-to-head shooting match develops, your SR-88 will come out tops beyond doubt, but only once or twice. Your armour very quickly gets blown to pieces if your concentration lapses.

The Tangents are a vicious and vindictive bunch and would probably make good magazine editors [I heard that, Webb - Ed], and if you sit still for more than a minute they gang up and come down on you in force. This is an advantage if you're well up on armour, because it saves hunting them down, or a real downer when supplies are low and there's nowhere to run.

The waiting game is not helped by a bomber slowly pursuing you. Remain stationary and it drops bomb after bomb on your shiny new tank, sapping valuable armour. And since he's flying you can't shoot him!

All the protection you can find is needed for that other old chestnut of the Tangent world, pill boxes. These literally pop up everywhere and are both good and bad news. Good because when destroyed they leave behind nice little presents (more of that anon); bad because destroying them is not easy. The turrets are square fortifications that fire in almost any direction, and have only one vulnerable spot. Timing is essential to gain the reward without taking a hammering.

The goodies the exploding baddies donate to the Vindicators war effort ('stars' or fuel) can be traded like tiger tokens once you have liberated the space station. Other bonus stars and fuel can be found abandoned by the fleeing Tangents, or by attacking a tough station. The stars help you furnish the tank of your dreams, with extra shots, armour and powers that give you a little more bang for your buck. The fuel gives you the power to get through the station (last petrol before the motorway sort of thing).

The great feature of Vindicators is the two player function. This is nothing new, but often it just confuses the gameplay with too much action. This is not the case here because the tank sprites are clearly defined but not overly large, allowing two players enough of the screen to know what's happening.

The 3-D multi-directional scrolling screen, faithful to its Atari ancestors, is full of colour - not all tasteful - and strong on solid stable settings. Everything moves well without flicker, and the visual effects, explosions and warp drive are a pleasure. The CPC's colours and graphic capabilities are expertly exploited to give the game variety and character.

Your tank is not simple to control. The problem is the nature of the original arcade machine, which featured two hand-grips per tank, one for each caterpillar track - which cant be reproduced even on a CPC. A com promise has been achieved. Four keys are used: one each for forward and reverse, and for turning left and right. Sounds simple, but in the heat of battle when your tank has rotated several times it's an achievement, just remaining orientated and not accidentally firing on your partner (the last thing you want to do, especially if they're ahead on points, hint hint).

Vindicators is a great arcade conversion. It's fast, furious and fun, especially in two player mode. Many hours work will go into reaching your 14th space station, only for you to mix up the controls and get blasted by your teammate (whoops!). There's not much think about, but the game's pace ensures this doesn't really matter. You just keep blasting.

At the launch of Tengen, Mark Strachan (joint Managing Director of Domark) expressed their aim thus: "We want to provide the end-user with high quality, faithfully converted and thoroughly-enjoyable games". As the first release on a new label they *had* to get it right, or Atari would have slapped their legs.

The question, though, is whether they can maintain such a high standard? If they can it looks like a good year for CPC owners everywhere - if not so hot for the Tangent Empire.

Everything Trenton says is true, though perhaps he doesn't quite get across what a good looking game Vindicators is. In fact, my only complaint is that the title of the game is so boring. The game itself certainly deserves better!

Trash a space station!

Gameplay is fine, if dull in comparison.

Graphics 92%
P. Vibrant sprites and backgrounds.
N. Vile blend of colours (love it!).

Sonics 82%
P. Vicious explosions.
N. Very tiring after a short while.

Grab Factor 79%
P. Versatile tanks are an immediate hit.
N. Vacuous plot, but it doesn't really matter.

Staying Power 86%
P. Violent fun for hours of destruction.
P. Great battle in space.

Overall 90%
P. Vent those vile, violent tendencies and got vindicating.
P. With luck the vanguard of a new wave in arcade conversions.