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Mandragore is a new arcade type game from a new software house, which just about symbolises the metamorphosis of the Dragon market recently. Gone are the old stalwarts like Microdeal and Quickbeam to be replaced by new producers such as Dragonfire, Orange and in this case Kouga.

With 'gore' tucked away in the title it would appear that this would be a shoot everything game. Not quite the case, as you play a more tactical role. 'You' in this instance are Mandragore, an exploration robot sniffing about in an Egyptian pyramid. Unfortunately for you, a complex defence system is set off, with all kinds of creatures and objects lurking and loitering with intent.

To complete the game you have to conquer two levels each composed of five floors, a floor being like a level in Kung-Fu, where you progress either in an Easterly or Westerly direction while the screen scrolls in the appropriate fashion.

As for the game's objective, that seems to be to avoid hazards or to shoot them and not only that but to get to the end of level 2 with one your precious five lives intact. I don't know what happens then, as it's a difficult game. The first floor is relatively easy; you move up and down the pyramid lanes shooting mutant aardvarks portrayed in excellent graphics and which transform into equally impressive skeletons once shot. Although once dead they can no longer spit venom at you, to touch them is still deadly, unfortunately. Other objects on the first floor include a fairly tame mummy which fires the odd bullet and small pyramids on the floor which block your way.

In fact there is no aspect of the graphics I can criticise. Once the first floor is completed other well drawn objects and creatures appear, such as swooping eagles and ants which fire relentlessly at you. All this is portrayed in hi-res green-black, which I always think is less visually effective than the Dragon's only other real option, black-buff, but is perhaps less strain on the eyes.

Joysticks are in action again here, with traditional Dragon sticks being more effective than my Atari favourite, as small taps on the stick are needed for up-down movement rather than big lunges.

With Mandragore and Lucifer's Kingdom being the last two new Dragon programs I've looked at I can safely say that quality software isn't drying up. Mandragore is one of the best graphic games I have seen for the Dragon; it's quite fun to lose a life to see yourself fall into a pile of ashes while your cap spins round in the air before falling to earth. The only problem is that I don't find it the most addictive game I've ever played - not quite as addictive as say Lucifer's Kingdom, but any program so well written can only deserve the accolade of five Dragons.