It's a fact of life that it takes five minutes to load 16K games; fortunately this one is worth the wait. You are presented with a fully-expanded screen with a backcloth of twinkling stars (nice touch here) and a green mountain range. Humanoids are lined up ready to be defended by a multi-colour laser base. Giant Abductor hawks swoop, soar and dive through a repertoire of several formations to attack your gun and snatch the humans.

The sonics really do mimic flapping wings. Four very accurate shots are needed to down each bird, causing them to change through cyan, purple and green before tumbling into the mountains. In reply, they drop eggs which hatch into homing mines. You will need quick reflexes and a mastery of a (unique) joystick action to despatch these. After you are completely wiped out, it's on to the hall of fame!

Altogether a good game with a most attractive screen display. The insert instructions are adequate. With their attention to detail and customer comforts, Anirog are again setting standards...