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The first Galactic Conflict broke out a thousand years ago on the US West Coast with the Amiga-based coin-op Xenon. A single pilot saved the Federation then by defeating the Xenites and rescuing Captain Xod. The Xenites aren't ones to forgive and forget though, so with aid of the mega-hip Bitmap Brothers (who made lots of dosh converting the original war) they've kicked off the Second Galactic Conflict in revenge.

Five Time Bombs have been planted in the Process of Evolution, a surreal dimension made up of five evolutionary phases. Life started in the sea of course, so the first level is filled with sea anemones, tadpoles and a massive Nautilus Shellfish which resides at the end of the stage. Maddened by radiation from the Time Bomb planted beside it, this horrendous crustacean is mega-dangerous!

Level two sees the rise of the insects with beetles, flies and a massive, revolting spider gnashing its mandibles at you. As on all the levels but the first, this level has two massive creatures to be defeated so it's as well there's Crispin's Swop Shop. The Real Cash deposited by blasted aliens can be collected and spent here. You enter the shop automatically when you get so far in the game, and once Crispin turns off his Walkman trade begins. Firstly you can sell off any add-on weapons you've picked up or bought previously, typically Crispin will pay half what it costs to buy an item. Next you can choose what to bolt on your ship from a range of 24 hardware items.

Many of the items, such as the vital speed-ups, shot power increase, energy recharge and cannon pod, can be picked up from debris of destroyed aliens. The hardcore, mega-blasting stuff has to be bought though. And prices are steep. 6000 for homing missiles, 4500 for mines, 5000 for a flamethrower. What's more, these awesome weapons can be built up together, and even duplicated. A taste of the possibilities is offered by the Super Nashwan Power, 600 for ten seconds of mega-blasting with a full kit of bolt-on weapons.

One of the most remarkable add-ons however, is 'Dive' which allows you to swoop down to the uninhabited lower level scrolling beneath the main action. You can keep your head down here for up to ten seconds at a time, but while you're hiding the aliens multiply making it that much harder when you pop up.

Fantastic, superb, brilliant, bloody marvellous - I could go on and on calling out superlatives about Xenon 2. It's had enough pre-release hype to rival Batman and it's blown away all other Miggy shoot-'em-ups to date and I can safely say, for quite a while to come as well.

The slow scrolling belies the frantically awesome ferocity of the game and it all gets worse with each yard gained. It really is a "Mega-Blast" when you're armed up but can you believe it, even coin-ops aren't this tough!

As for the choice of in-game music... Pah! What about some Heavy Metal?

The game of the Bomb The Bass album track kicks of with an appropriately impressive version of the Megablast, which continues in simplified form in the actual game.

It's the graphics though that really take your breath away. While the visual themes of the levels are imaginative and unique, their execution is well nigh perfect. From the silky animation of the tadpole enemies, to the retro-rockets on the fighter to the pilot light whch ignites the gas of the flamethrower, Xenon 2 sets a new standard in presentation.

But what of gameplay? Well, to begin with it's not that much more than a standard vertically scrolling shoot-'em-up. But as you get further into the game the ability to scroll the screen back, dive down, and the unbelievable range of wonderful weapons, provides the vital difference.

With the urge to get ever further into the game for yet more of those brilliant graphics, and build up a completely over-the-top ship, Xenon 2 oozes addictivity. Quite simply the definitive Amiga shoot-'em-up.

Aren't shoot-'em-ups dead yet? Nope, not by a long chalk if they're going to keep improving with games like this one. I'm no big fan of the game-type, but this one had me battling to get the joystick off Robin like everyone else.

To start with the unbelievable presentation (both visual and audio), combined with the sheer number of enemies is overwhelming. You soon get the hang of things though - the difficulty/frustration level seems just right - and the megablasting begins.

As for any tiny little flaws, apart from the slight delay of the Swop Shop loading in I can't think of any. This is the one to hock your grandmother for!

Presentation 84%
Great intro and two-player option.

Graphics 98%
Any of the five levels would be spectacular on their own. Together they're unbelievable.

Sound 94%
Good in-game tune and attractive sound FX.

Hookability 98%
Starts off hard but you soon learn the patterns necessary to complete level one. Graphics, weapons and sheer playability keep you glued to the joystick.

Lastability 95%
Even when your ship's trebled in width with weapons, it's tough. Packed with value for money in short.

Overall 97%
The Bitmap Bros aren't going to lose any street cred with this one.