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For anyone who played the excellent first instalment of Harbinger: Convergence you may be surprised to find that the sequel has sneaked under the radar and is out and ready to be played. Once again Maxi Ruano has used the Mojon Twins MK2 engine to wonderful effect to create another classic which merits any Speccy fan's attention. It has to be said that everything about this release screams quality. From the stunning cassette covers to the detailed game manual (which has been beautifully graphic designed) everything is of the highest standard. The game is also split over no fewer than four cassettes with an introduction and three game cassettes. This is a game of mammoth proportions.

Upon loading, the introduction to the game immediately sucks you into the storyline. Written in a comic book style you are introduced to the design team before some excellent artwork and text boxes explain the plot of the game. After the exploits of the first game our hero is on his way home when his ship is caught in the gravitational pull of a black hole (The Void). This causes damage to his ship's Tau engine and leaves the ship paralysed and our hero helpless until the sensors in his Harbinger exosuit spot a strange structure. With no options left our hero has to fight through 80 screens of intense shooting and action platforming to disable the threat posed by the evil Space Pirates and save the Galaxy. No pressure then.

The MK2 engine ensures the gameplay is smooth and intuitive and the level design is excellent from start to finish. There are some extremely tough screens to clear before the final showdown but the ending itself is a bit of an anti-climax as it's far easier than most screens before it. The familiar QAOP control scheme is in place but I did notice that there is no Joystick support. Upon querying this Apsis has emphasised that this is a bug which will be sorted in due course. This may put off those emulating the game who are unaccustomed to the old Spectrum controls but for many of us it's the best and most nostalgic way to play.

The action itself involves jumping and shooting, precise platforming and clearing each screen to progress. The tapes can be loaded in any order but are labelled A,B,C for a reason and to enjoy the game as it was programmed to be played they should be tackled in that order. Another point which sets this game apart is the outstanding soundtrack from Augusto Ruiz. I would put this right up there with the very best tunes the ZX Spectrum has to offer. I can think of no higher acclaim to give than the fact that it has recently become my ringtone.

As with many Spectrum games there are flaws throughout with some scenery becoming confusing and the odd clashing of colours but these are the most minor of points in the grand scheme of what is a wonderful game. The game was written as a tribute to Maxi Ruano's cousin David (who sadly lost his battle with Leukemia) and a fitting tribute it is too. This is clearly a labour of love and that shines through from start to finish.

The action kicks off at 100 miles per hour and never slows down. The gameplay does not become repetitive as each screen offers a fresh challenge and playing through them again is great fun as you master each one in turn getting a little bit further every time. The presentation is top notch and the attention to detail is fantastic. The music is outstanding and suits the atmosphere of the game perfectly.

The lack of support for the Kempston joystick or even the ability to change the keys will be a drawback for many gamers. On occasions the background clashes with the foreground a bit leading to some confusion over what areas the player can land on.

Harbinger 2: The Void is a wonderful game and if it was released during the manufacturing life of the Spectrum would be up there with the best titles we so fondly remember today. It deserves to be played by as many people as possible as it is a fantastic achievement. I will return to this one over and over again over the next few years and I am looking forward to the final release in this fantastic trilogy!