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Goggle-eyed Chris Jenkins tries to ignore the naughty box artwork for Dinamic's Game Over II and concentrate instead on the software within - only to find that it's hardly the stuff to keep you glued to your joystick.

You may or may not remember, but the original Game Over (which never appeared on 16-bit) was one of the first titles where its artwork aroused more interest than the game itself. Its scantily-clad space princess crops up in an even more pneumatic form on the packaging of the sequel - and on the colour poster included with the package. This despite the fact that she doesn't even play a part in this game. But if you can tear your eyes away from the box, you'll soon realise - as I did! - that the software itself is nothing to get excited about.

The plot is run-of-the-mill arcade-adventure fare. You play steeljawed hero Major Locke, who must rescue Arkos, hero of the previous game, who has been imprisoned by the forces of the evil Queen Gremla on the prison planet of Phantis. This task comes in two parts, and to load the second, you have to get an entry code by completing the first section.

Part One is split into four sections, the first of which is a space shoot-'em-up with a basic lack of imagination and ambition. The main playing area is lamentably small, and as you proceed from left to right your space-fighter is attacked by an unimpressive selection of enemy ships. The second phase sees you speeding over an unimpressive, monochromatic landscape, shooting more alien craft and things get more difficult as the volcanic landscape beneath you begins to erupt. Gas bubbles and giant snakes abound in the cavernous confines of the third stage, which can get impossibly difficult at times.

Assuming that you can fight your way through the first three phases, you land on the planet and mount an ostrich-like Adrec (which resembles a Taun Taun from The Empire Strikes Back). This is a bit more entertaining, as you gallop across the swamp, fighting off guards mounted on giant toads and flying lizards.

Complete this section and you're given the access code for Level Two. Re-boot and enter it to embark on a journey through the six levels of a labyrinthine alien complex. The first section isn't much fun since you can't shoot the aliens; instead you have to guide a bouncing blob into them or avoid them until you find the entrance to the caverns.

Once inside, you soon find a laser weapon, and later on its booster pack. Some of the alien guards shoot at you, but most just float along hoping you'll bump into them, so it's blast and plod all the way as you make your way through the caverns. There are still problems though; you can't walk and shoot at the same time, although you can shoot while you're flying.

You have five lives in this section, and can recharge your energy by finding pulsating hearts. Some of the background scenery is nice, but the usual business of finding access keys and mapping the maze doesn't generate much excitement. On later levels you encounter sea-monsters, a (very short) helicopter journey through volcanic caves, and finally hordes of devils guarding the prison. But I doubt if you'll be rivetted enough to want to play this far.

It's not really true to say that Game Over II is a disappointment, because I didn't really expect much from it. It seems a pity though, that time and effort should go into producing a game which makes little or no real use of the ST's advanced abilities. The graphic design is crude, while the music and snatches of speech are simply unremarkable.

Games like Carrier Command, Starglider 2 and Mirrorsoft's forthcoming Interphaze, with solid 3D graphics, fast animation and complex gameplay, are becoming almost the norm for 16-bit software. Game Over II is basically an 8-bit game which shows its origins only too clearly.

There are no plans for an Amiga version, which shouldn't cause Amiga owners too many sleepless nights.

The PC version is available now, at the same price as the ST. Gameplay is identical, though both sound and colour are inferior, as the program does not use the EGA card.