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Air Strike 2 comes in both a 16K and a 32K version, the latter having a radar-scanner, similar to Defender, and extra sections of play.

When the game is loading a gauge shows how long to go - much better than a plain blue screen to look at while you are waiting. Once loaded, a title screen appears. This is the same as in Air Strike, having flashing, three-dimensional letters, but now there is an accompanying tune, which plays after each game.

To select, you have to press 'Start' to obtain the playing screen, which shows the current skill level (up to 5) and number of players 1 or 2) on a dashboard. These are chosen using the 'Select' and 'Option' keys.

The aim of the game is to get through various landscapes, shooting enemy missiles and other obstacles such as meteors, to gain points. At the beginning of the game you have five lives (Air Strike 1 has only three) a full tank of fuel and a large stock of missiles and bombs (controlled by upward movement of the joystick plus "fire", or space bar). Your fuel and ammo supplies have to be replenished every now and then by shooting small lorries and red trucks, which double up as micro-missile launchers.

The landscapes consist of mountains; munching caverns (the walls move), radar stations and enemy office blocks, which all have well-concealed missiles to protect. Some sections have airlocks which you have to shoot through. In others there are alternative ways of progressing.

Overall, Air Strike 2 is better than its predecessor. With additional obstacles and interesting scenery the game is more exciting. Joystick bomb-control is definitely easier to use than the space bar, especially in such a hectic game. The graphics are superb and, as usual on English Software games, the picture is sharp and clear.