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Flight simulators seem to be in fashion these days so it was inevitable that one would be produced for the Oric.

A flight simulator puts you in control of some aircraft or another - generally a Boeing 747 - which you have to fly around and land safely, overcoming everyday hazards of air travel such as mountains, crosswinds, lack of fuel.

You have to control speed, climb, descent and direction of the plane and put it down safely on a very short runway to win the game. Should you fail, points are deducted from a fixed score.

Throughout the game a bird's eye view of the plane and surrounding terrain is displayed. There are also several digital readouts to show direction, speed and the like.

As you try to land, the colour of the runway changes to indicate where you are.

Setting up the game proved to be a little difficult - surprising, because the instructions were clear enough. One side of the cassette was labelled "F" and the other "S". I took this to mean fast and slow recordings but after much vain trying, I discovered the labels had been switched.

The game takes about 30 seconds to load, displaying messages like "Fasten your seatbelts" and "Extinguish all cigarettes" before take-off.

Then you get a view of the scenery with the runway on the far right of the screen. You have to steer your aircraft on to the runway through crosswinds, over the mountains, and past other hazards.

Once the plane is lined up with the runway, a 3D view of it is displayed (although it suddenly becomes night) and you have to land. I never achieved this.

If you crash you get a 3D action replay showing the plane hitting the ground and a parachute floating gently to earth, accompanied by a few bars from Colonel Bogey.

A post mortem is then conducted telling you what went wrong, your score and an invitation to play again.

Throughout there are sarcastic messages to keep you on your toes.

As flight simulators go, Oric Flight is refreshingly different with plenty of comment and things going on. Excellent use is made of the Oric's graphics and sound and, on the whole, the game is great - which is to say, addictive.

My only grumble is that at the easiest level, it is still well nigh impossible to get the place down in one piece.