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Kouga Software is a new name but the man behind the Dragon's latest entry into the market, John Foster, has been involved with the Dragon for a long time. After his failure to set up Chera Design, he has set himself up as Kouga Software and is working on games for several computers including the Dragon.

In Kouga's first release, Mandragore, you play the part of a mandragore - a highly advanced exploration robot. During a routine investigation of an ancient pyramid, you inadvertently trigger the pyramid's self-defence system. You must battle your way through two levels of mummies, ghosts, trapped eagles, laser-firing ants and large mutant aardvarks. How can you tell if an aardvark is a mutant? - Ed.) There are also several rambails and tiny pyradmis which you must avoid in your attempt to escape from the pyramid.

You must also beware of the sentinels who watch over you as you progress further along the pyramid.

At the end of each floor, should you reach it, you must battle with one of the sentinels to the death. Should you manage to destroy it, you must fall down the hole to the next floor where your mission will continue. In all there are five floors on level one. On completing the fifth floor, you will be sent to level two, which has the added complication of rogue bullets flying about.

After a dramatic loading screen, a short burst of music will be played. When it comes to an end, a message to press a key will be displayed and upon doing so the game will start.

Control of the Mandragore is by joystick only, and it takes time to master it fully. The surface of the pyramid is displayed in 3D and it's often very difficult to judge whether or not you are on the same lane as one of the numerous obstacles.

You must learn how to move just one lane (by tapping up or down on the joystick) and by no means is it as easy as it may sound. This mastering of the robot's movement is essential if you are to complete level two.

The first floor is not particularly difficult if you are careful. On this screen you must contend with the aardvarks, who fire at you, mummies, who also fire at you, and numerous pyramids which must be avoided.

A score is achieved each time you man age to turn an aardvark into a skeleton by firing at it or when you destroy one of many mummies.

The ultimate battle comes at the end of each floor. Here you must destroy one of the sentinels which appear on the wall. This required quick thinking and an even quicker hand.

After dropping down the hole at the end of each floor, you continue to the next floor.

Level two is a totally different kettle of fish. Here, as well as the aardvarks, mummies and pyramids, there are eagles, ants and other nasties.

Mandragore is not a terribly difficult game to start with but as you progress, lives start to vanish very quickly. One good point about the game, though, is that when you are killed, you continue where you left off.

In all you have five lives and while this may seem a lot, it's surprising how quickly they disappear.

The graphics are in 3D (for the most part) and are breathtaking. Never before have I seen a game achieve graphics of the standard of Mandragore (Phone the Guinness Book of Records, quick!). They really have to be seen to be believed. As you progress further, they get better.

The screen is displayed in PMODE4:SCREEN 1,0 graphics. Perhaps PMODE4:SCREEN 1,1 graphics would have achieved a better degree of sharpness. As it stands, though, the screen contents are still a marvel.

The music is well written and the sound accompanying the game is of the highest standard. I have nothing but praise for this masterpiece. It is also a very challenging game which should challenge hardened arcade fanatics to the limit. I can say with hand on heart that rarely will you find a game as good as this one for under £5.00.