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Freescape has always struck me as the game system with the most potential, but sadly Incentive has yet to use it. For anybody who doesn't know, Freescape is a game system which is based around a world created entirely from 3D filled graphics, in which nearly everything can be manoeuvred by shooting. The problem with Freescape on the C64 was that it involved the machine chewing up vector calculations and dribbling them out at a very slow rate - this problem, at least, no longer applies to the Amiga version.

In this episode, an unfriendly bunch called the Ketars have decided to take revenge on your world, Evath, by erecting a giant weapon known as Zephyr 1 on the dark side of the second moon, Tricuspid. To prevent a wave of panic, the government have kept everything quiet, and in a bid to save Evath, have dropped you in your all-terrain yuppie space suit in order to wipe out a network of Energy Collection Devices (ECD's) to prevent the weapon from gaining the power it needs to fire.

Patrolling the surface of the moon are tank-like objects called Plexors who don't take kindly to people taking pot shots at their ECDs and as soon as you come into range, they'll open fire.

Obviously your suit is equipped with the latest lasers and a jump jet pack with a limited fuel supply, which can be topped up, but it's a matter of finding the right locations.

One infuriating feature is the way you lose shields every time you collide with an object such as a table or a wall. Still, who said life was easy?

Apart from travelling around blasting everything there are a number of logic puzzles to be solved which greatly increases the atmosphere of Dark Side. And don't expect it to be easy going, there's plenty of terrain and surprises around every corner.

The graphics work well at generating atmosphere, though a few touches like lightning and stars would have greatly enhanced it. There isn't too much on the aural side, though what there is ties in well. It's hardly outstanding though.

Dark Side is a game for the more conservative player who is prepared to sit down with a paper and pencil, take notes and maps, and assess a location from every possible angle. If you've already got Driller on the Amiga and liked it, you'll moon with joy over this. If you've had no previous experience of Freescape and its friends I still think you should take a look - it's starting to go places.