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Blasting bubbles may not sound like the most exciting of pastimes, but when you're a professional globe-trotting bubble blitzer, it's all you can think of. And that's what you've got to do in Pang, a conversion of the wacky Mitchell coin-op.

You (plus a friend, if playing in simultaneous two-player mode) have to travel the world, see the sights, and blast the heck out of loads of bubbles with your trusty harpoon gun before they bounce you into the middle of next week! It's not as easy as you might think. Once a bubble is show, it splits into two smaller bubbles, each of which splits in two even smaller ones!

The odds aren't all against you, as some bubbles release power-ups which give you a better chance to clear the screen. Once all the bubbles are disposed of, it's on to the next part of the world, with even more bubbles!

Some of the power-ups are useful. Some not so. Here's a list of which to grab and which to avoid...

1. Magnetic Clamp Enables the harpoon cable to stick to the ceiling or a platform. The cable then either disappears when a bubble comes into contact with it, or when it's been on screen for a set length of time.

2. Shotgun Okay for screens with few or no obstacles, but when there are a lot of platforms, leave it well alone.

3. Dynamite Eeek! This explodes every bubble on screen, turning them all into the smallest variety - which move like the clappers and are dead difficult to avoid!

4. Twin Cable Well handy because it increases your rate of firepower, giving you more of a chance to hit sneaky smaller bubbles.

As well as bubbles to burst, Pang also features a variety of baddies who like to make life difficult. Birds fly around the screen and are shot for bonus points. Crabs sneak around the edge of the playfield and stun you for a second or two, while snails bite your trigger finger so you can't shoot for a limited period of time.

Avoid 'em or shoot 'em before they knobble you.

Pang has to rate as one of the Mean Machines' crew's favourite coin-ops, and the GX4000 version is probably one of the best conversions you'll see on this machine for a long while.

Bright colourful sprites, along with some absolutely gorgeous backdrops, make the game a joy to watch, let alone play. And the boppy, bouncy music and effects only enhance the game further. My only niggle is that the collision detection is a little unforgiving at times, but with a game that's as addictive and fun to play as this, these things can be overlooked.

Pang is a brill game that'll have you hooked from the word go - it's definitely one to get hold of at the first opportunity, mateys!

Pang is one of those incredibly simple, but amazingly addictive games which once you start playing you just can't stop. Combining detailed and smooth-moving graphics with irresistible gameplay, it's both challenging and enormously enjoyable.

I know that bubble bursting doesn't sound particularly thrilling, but the action is fast and gets incredibly hectic, especially if you accidentally pick up the dynamite and end up with a screen full of mini-bubbles!

On later levels icy floors make life difficult, and the bubbles move faster and faster, requiring much joystick-jiggling and reflex-testing!

Pang is easily the best GX4000 title yet seen, and is an absolute must-have if you've got such a machine.

Presentation 80%
A pretty nice still pic between levels, but that's about it.

Graphics 93%
Brilliantly drawn, colourful sprites and backdrops, along with a natty map screen.

Sound 83%
A jolly, boppy, bubbly sort of title track, along with some popping spot effects.

Playability 95%
Instantly playable from the start...

Lastability 91%
...and will have you hooked to your joypad until you've completed it!

Overall 93%
A brilliant conversion of a fun coin-op that simply demands purchase.