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The graphics may be a bit crude and the representation of the mighty robot's well defended asteroid not quite the same as the arcade version, but the CBS version of that classic space shoot-out, Zaxxon, for the Atari VCS, has all the addictive qualities of the original.

Everyone with a VCS has been waiting for a decent version of this game for a long time - and I don't think you'll be disappointed, despite the graphic limitations of the VCS console.

You won't get the 3D scrolling asteroid when you plug the cartridge into your Atari. Your jet skims forward over the asteroid head-on and not at an angle as in the arcade game. But the various nasties that inhabit the floating rock - including Mobots, floating gun turrets and Dodger Guns - all comeat you at different altitudes, so you'll have to duck and weave as you blast away to stay alive long enough to meet the Mighty Zaxxon himself.

You can judge the altitude of your opponents by the shadows they cast on the asteroid's surface - a nice touch repeated from the original game. You tell your own height by the altimeter at the side of the screen. To keep in the air, you must blast the fuel tanks dotted along the way, as well as avoiding the various barriers which appear to make your life even harder.

When you make it past Zaxxon's first ground force, you'll zoom out into deep space where the mighty robot's fighter fleet is waiting for you. Eliminate as many fighters as you can before you dive back toward the second asteroid and more low-flying antics.

If you make it across this asteroid, then you win the chance to meet the mighty Zaxxon face-to-face. But he's not very pleased about you beating his defence system and is armed with a heat seeking missile.

Only one spot on the giant robot is vulnerable and that's the missile under his arm - destroy the missile and you'll destroy Zaxxon. However, it takes several accurate hits to detonate the missile, and you'll have to be accurate in order to succeed in your mission. If you don't hit it, Zaxxon will fire his weapon and you are almost certainly doomed. If you do manage to destroy the mighty robot, then you qualify for another crack at the asteroid run - this time at a much faster speed!

The game has six skill levels - each time it takes more hits to destroy Zaxxon. You'll get a bonus fighter each time you score 10,000 points and one or two players can join the fight against the big metal chap.

As I've already mentioned, the only real spanner in the works is the graphics. I reckon these could be a bit better even on the Atari VCS. Having said that, the game is extremely playable and a good addiction to the CBS range for the Atari VCS. Zaxxon is available now at £29.95.

At last, a good version of this arcade classic for the Atari.