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A kidnapped ex-US president is held hostage in Africa, but the government has decided not to use military intervention.

Instead, they've decided to hold a peace summit with the Zutulan revolutionaries in order to secure the former president's release through diplomatic means. You have to sit around a big table, bandy words, make statements to the press... [Very ideologically sound - Ed].

Hrmph, tricky! Okay let's ty this. You must play the part of an elite corps of mercenaries who toddle off to Africa without a care in the world (for peace), to kick seven shades of rebellion out of the Zutulans, for cash... and release the aforementioned American official [That's a ho'lotta gung there - Ed].

It's a one- or two-player game (the two player option being simultaneous). The screen display is vaguely similar to Commando, your characters being viewed from overhead at a 45 degree angle. But that's where the similarity ends.

There are eight levels to descend. They scroll with a bit of side-to-side wobble thrown in for good measure. You're equipped with a basic gun but more potent firepower can be obtained by shooting crates that lie scattered among the scenery. These crates also contain power-ups and bonus energy. You also have a limited number of smart bombs which are accessed by pressing and hold the fire button for a short time.

Your opponents are rebels who look the same as you but wear green trousers. They have gunners surrounded by sandbags, tanks, and inevitably end-of-level super nasties. These take the form of oddly floating jet fighters, mammoth tanks, helicopters - potent military hardware dreams.

If your tired little mercenary legs aren't up to the challenge, you can, on certain levels, seek out alternative forms of transport. Level two for instance contains an armoured car. Sadly it's completely useless as it moves the same speed as a regular foot-soldier, soaks up hits at an appalling rate and fires slowly. In one of the later levels you can board a dinghy. Alternatively get bored in a dinghy.

Your biggest problem is the random nature of enemy attacks, including the EOL baddies. There are no attack waves to learn, no shortcuts to discover. It's basically a case of wading in and hoping the continue options last long enough to get you through.

The one-player option is deathly dull for this very reason, at least in two player mode you can get a bit further to relieve the boredom. A little more thought on the playability front would have made this game quite palatable. There are some real graphic hits but there's no consistency. The best graphics are interspersed with appalling explosion effects. Average sounds don't rescue it from this dullness. A game based on a peace summit would have been far more exciting.

1. There are eight choc-a-block levels to completely thrash.
2. The simultaneous two-player option provides the best entertainment.
3. The action is frantic
4. Some of the scenery is eye-catching enough

1. There are no tactics to learn - you just plough on in.
2. The end-of-level baddies require the same treatment.
3. Not a single exciting sound effect to be heard.
4. Special vehicles are a let down - they just move too slowly.
5. Especially dull for the single player.
6. Let down by some poor special effects - explosions are poor.