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The xybots are a bunch of murderous robots who occupy an endless series of vast mazes (50 different ones which then repeat). Rock Hardy and Ace Gunn are sent in to sort them out, each with their own perspective on the 3D action.

Strangely enough between each level the robots have thoughtfully provided a shop where collected coins can be spent on extras such as better shields, slower energy loss and paralyser bombs.

In fact, the game itself seems semi-paralysed, with the characters moving sluggishly and rather oddly, while colour has been leached out to give a banal monochromatic view. Sound is sparse and playability is repetitive, even the option for players to shoot each other can't save this dull product.

Back in Issue 54, Xybots clocked up a rating of 27%, making it second only to Hard Drivin' in the league of disappointing Tengen conversions [Actually it's third worst, Dragon Spirit got 24% - Ed]. Robin complained about a lack of gameplay variation with "endlessly similar mazes" and Stu wondered why Domark bothered even releasing it, although there was at least a "recognisable version of the coin-op without multi-load hassle".

At £3 it just about manages to maintain its old mark.