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To begin to review Elite was rather a daunting prospect. Instead of writing two pages of praise on this masterpiece I hope it will suffice to say that it is the best piece of software I have seen on any games-playing micro. From the author of Planetoids, another feat of programming, comes a game with at least five different aspects to keep your undivided attention. These include great arcade action, strategy, adventure and unbelievable graphics. The aim of the game is to trade between planets, buying and selling different products.

You start at the planet Lave, in one of the eight galaxies, each of which contains over 250 planets. You are given the following choices.

1. Buy Cargo
   Pressing F7 will display a list of the seventeen available products, ranging from radioactives to minerals. When you have decided which products are reasonably priced, pressing F1 will enable you to make your purchases.
2. Sell Cargo
   If the products you purchased at another planet are selling for a higher price on the planet upon which you are currently docked selling would be advisable if you aim to make money quickly. For example, if you can buy minerals at 10 credits per tonne and sell them for 20 credits you would make 100 % profit. Other goods such as narcotics can be bought and sold at huge profits but these may affect your legal status as narcotics are illegal to trade. Your legal status begins as 'Clean' but can become 'Offender' or 'Fugitive' if you trade in illegal goods or shoot the police ships that patrol the galaxies.
3. Long Range Chart
   This is a view of the galaxy that you are currently in. By use of the joystick or the cursor keys you move across around the screen towards the planet of your choice and press F6 for information on that planet. Each of the planets has its own data and this data is all very relevant. You cannot travel to any planet that is further in light years than your fuel status will allow. You may only purchase seven light years of fuel at any one time, therefore there is quite a restriction on the distance you can travel.
   
   Data on planets is also useful for several other reasons i.e. If a planet is anarchistic you may be risking life and limb entering that zone, although the profits to be gained could be very high. All data on the planets, by the way, is significant to the game in that the constitution of the planets directly affects the play of the game.
4. Equip Ship
   When you have traded prudently and have amassed sufficient funds you are then able to equip your ship. Lasers are available for the aft view as well as port and starboard and advanced lasers may be purchased at 15 times the price of normal lasers. Other more sophisticated equipment can be bought, including fuel scoops, which can be used to pick up cargo seen floating in space or debris from ships you have attacked. If you're low on hyperspace fuel you may use the scoop to pick up energy by flying close to any passing sun.

The objective of the game is to trade as astutely as possible thereby amassing credits with which you purchase extra equipment to transform your meagre space ship into an invincible war machine. Having attained this objective you may then begin to think about fighting seriously. Based on the amount of ships you destroy, you are judged with various status levels. These levels are harmless, mostly harmless, poor, average, above average, competent, dangerous, deadly and finally, elite.

When you have reached a satisfactory stage in the game you have the option to "save" the data for later playing. Don't be fooled into thinking that you will be able to reach any of these levels in one session. It has been said that it could take several months to reach even 'Dangerous' whilst 'Elite' possibly a year. However, I shall let you into a secret, games ace that I am, after a week of intensive effort I have achieved the status of 'Dangerous'. Modesty forbids me to say how long it will take me to reach 'Elite', but watch this space.

In summary therefore this has to be the best game ever for the BBC, or indeed for any home micro, and a must to buy for any serious arcade/adventure/strategy addict. Do not be put off by the high price, it is well worth it. Go out and buy it now! Do not borrow it from a friend as once you have it you will not want to let it go, and above all once you have bought your own copy do not lend it to anyone as you will never see it again.

The best buy of the decade.