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The Starfire package actually contains two games; the other is Fire One, a submarine game. The two-game idea is a bit suspicious - perhaps the games aren't up to scratch? It's not always true, but the description of the game as 'arcade classics' and the credits to Exidy only reinforced my doubts.

Starfire's scenario is "save the world" - in this game it's by blasting Exidy freighters carrying lethal weapons Earthwards. To add spice they're protected by enemy fighters. An unusual feature is that the enemy pilots have varying flying skills, and your score increases according to the rating of the pilots whose craft you destroy.

The main display is star-scattered space, with your gunsight central. Joystick control is arcade style, pull back to climb, but the perspective movement of the stars isn't that good. Below the main screen is your instrument panel. The limited display includes a radar panel, which tracks local fighters and freighters.

There's a laser meter which shows if your weaponry is in danger of overheating from indiscriminate firing. Also indicated are the current level of play, score, fuel and the bonus target.

Reach this and you get extra flying time and move up a level (there are ten).

The enemy are Star Wars veterans of different colours. They're fairly well done but the freighters are rather crude and dodging the random meteors is hardly taxing.

Your fighter is equipped with a computerised aiming system which gives enemy co-ordinates and helps line up your sights. It also beeps when you're targeted for a fill. Pressing fire produces four laser darts which proceed to converge on the cross-hair.

Starfire would have been great were it released a year or more ago, and given the price isn't too bad now. But there really isn't enough to make the game appeal beyond a couple of plays. CBS should have left Starfire in the US.