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A plethora of fighting games are available for the 16-bit machines, most of them in the mould of the ageing Data East coin-op Karate Champ. But there are few of any commendable quality. Arguably the most memorable is System 3's International Karate on the Atari ST, written by Hungarian programming team Andromeda. IK+, by the author of the original 8-bit incarnations, Archer Maclean, knocks its predecessor into a cocked hat.

Three players fight it out in front of the pleasant, animated backdrop seen here. One of the fighters is always controlled by the computer, using one of eight different fight strategies to keep you on your toes, while the other two fighters can be either human- or computer-controlled.

There are seventeen moves available from the joystick, including the old favourites such as the punch, low kick, shin kick and flying kick, plus three nifty new ones: an athletic backflip which would cause any gymnast to turn green with envy, a cranium-cracking headbutt, and a double head kick, which, when used effectively, knocks out both opponents in style. Points are awarded for putting the other players on their backs, and each knockout earns the attacker either one or two combat points (depending on whether the victim was hit from either in front or behind). When the 30-second time limit expires, a mystical judge appears to announce the winner and loser. The player with the least combat points can no longer play and a computer-controlled player takes over. In the event of a tie, the players' scores determine a winner, but if the scores on the doors are the same then both players continue to fight.

Having got to grips with the Amiga, Archer is busily beavering away and hopes to have this version finished before October. It won't differ greatly from its Atari counterpart, although the already superb sampled sounds should benefit from a bit of stereo.

Out of all the fighting games that have appeared since the ST first hit the streets, International Karate+ is undoubtedly the best. Granted, it may not be as visually immediate as its ageing predecessor and there's only one backdrop - but cosmetics don't necessarily make a playable game. IK+'s strength is its playability, which is greatly enhanced by the use of some execellent sampled sounds. The moves and blows are accompanied by Bruce Lee-esque swishes, extremely painful-sounding cracks and even the occasional yelp. Brilliant stuff.

IK+ is the sort of game you can dig out in a year's time and still enjoy playing. If you buy a beat-'em-up this year, make sure this is the one.