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I've not always been that enamoured with Mastertronic's output, preferring to think that you're better off hanging onto those two sovs for a better cause. Until now, that is.

You may remember our review of Ultimate's Outlaws a few issues back. Well, here's a better game all round that weighs in at a quarter of the price.

The action takes place across four screens each taking a typical - well, sort of typical - western scenario for its inspiration.

You are Marshall McGraw a Wild West hero, charged with the task of making peace with the Wagari Indians (nice non-racist touch). Long-term peace however, is jeopardised by the machinations of the NAST railway company who plan to drive a track right through sacred Indian burial ground.

As McGraw you have to keep the natives sweet whilst fighting off a variety of renegades and mercenaries hired by the NAST Railway Co.

Your first task is to win the respect of the Wagari. Strangely enough, this is done by shooting down hordes of tasty ducks. Should have a Jack Charlton licence on it. Well perhaps, but you're shooting the little blighters down with a bow and arrow, not a 12 bore.

Good shooting earns you peace medals and it's these token of Indian esteem that you have to get back to the President to conclude the peace, though the sound a stricken duck makes should have been reward enough I feel.

So you rush off from the duck shoot, mount your horse and charge across the plains to Kane. This I found to be the most difficult bit, because if you mistime a jump you're painfully unsaddled. If you make it to Kane you can expect an ambush by the local hired ruffians. '(Thought: if they liked soul music, would they be called the Kane Gang?)

Defend yourself from the attack, by dodging about picking men off. All their actions are designed to stop you getting that train outta town to Washington intact with the peace medals. Race to the depot and try and grab that train before it's out of reach.

This game has got enough action in it to fill a John Ford western. It's addictive and it's fun. The sound effects are more than adequate and the graphics are clear and colourful with smooth scrolling. McGraw's bow action and the horse's galloping are particularly good.

At last I can honestly say two quid well spent.