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Iwo Jima is the latest in the Wargamers series from PSS. Written by the author of Falklands '82, the similarities between the games cannot be ignored. Where Falklands '82 simulated the British assault on Port Stanley, Iwo Jima simulates the US Marine Corps attack on the island of Iwo Jima in the Pacific Ocean during WWII.

Considering the rapid development in programming, we expected at least a few improvements over '82, but were disappointed.

The object of the game is to land US Marine regiments on the island, capture airfields and (yawn) destroy the Japanese to the last Toyota. By use of either joystick or keyboard, units are designated and then each must through the tedious process of attack, movement or landing.

Play takes place in the usual turn sequence of such games - the player moves/fires/lands all of his units, then the computer does the same for the Japanese. Combat is accompanied by possibly the worst machine-gun-fire sound ever simulated on the Commodore.

At frequent intervals little airplane icons fly across the screen in 'bombing runs' or 'kamikaze' attacks which are made all the more annoying by their apparent pointlessness. No doubt they mean something, but it's not immediately obvious to the player, and that's the cardinal sin of programming this type of game.

Terrain, minefields, headquarters units, artillery, tanks, they're all here, and the programmer obviously did a lot of background research, but the wealth of detail provided does little to enhance the playability of the game.

Graphically, the display is weaker than Falklands '82 - more detail, but everything is so cramped together on the screen that the extra hassle of peering at a tiny icon to determine whether it's a tank or an infantryman, will probably leave you with a permanent squint.

The Pacific War has never been a very popular wargame topic, apart from, of course, in the USA. Frankly Iwo Jima does not stand up against the numerous releases already established, it neither has the broad base of a detailed campaign to draw on, nor a quirky graphic or sound system of note.

Dedicated wargame buffs will no doubt buy it, those with a passing interest will ignore it and those looking for something new and different would be extremely disappointed if they do buy it.

The initial promise of John Bathell's talent as seen in Falklands '82 has lived up to expectation. It is very hard to see what John did between writing the two games except look around for a similar situation, an island, a naval landing and a bloodbath battle to the end. PSS no doubt thought they had hit on a winning system. Try something else lads for god's sake! No Wake Island, Normandy or Sicily games like this please!

Let's see John's skills utilized with a small scale infantry and tank action game, we'll promise not to criticise his machine gun.