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A huge force of cyborg monsters is trying to conquer the Galaxy. Having become entirely naffed off with this revolting development, the hero they call Saint Dragon has taken it upon himself to rid the peace-loving people of this nightmare.

There are five levels in all. I know that, not because it's written on the instructions but because I finished the game after only a few hours of play. I was treated to a wide variety of background graphics and enemies during my bash, though. Level one, for instance, takes place in a forest, whereas level two takes us to a sort of asteroid belt where, as well as the bad guys, you have to contend with plummeting (and even upwardly mobile) lumps of rock. The screens in level three are bordered by a strip of machinery, suggestive of being inside a huge space station. Level four is a another change again in that the top and bottom of the screen burn with blue fire (which does you no harm). Finally the techno level: all sorts of weird and wonderful devices hug the walls and partially block your path making your progress very, very tricky.

Your opponents are different on every level. A lot of thought appears to have gone into the baddie types and their modes of attack but there are no really distinct attack waves. Each type of St. Dragon-basher appears on and off throughout the level until just before you reach the end-of- level guardian. Then they all turn up at once, determined to cut short your fire-breathing career. On they come, these mini dragons, jolly green giants with bazookas, laser firing witch-like creatures, huge missile-firing walkers, bullet-firing tree claws, giant worms, jet-packing whatsits, I could go on all day [Oh no- - Ed].

Collectible weaponry is one of the most disappointing aspects of Saint Dragon. Although you can accumulate firepower, you only enhance your initial weapon's clout. The lack of original or unusual firearms is a missed opportunity.

The graphics (both backdrops and sprites) are varied but unoriginal and the colour scheme is vile in places.

Sonics are mostly standard shoot-'em up fare but a few beefy explosions and a good soundtrack get it the thumbs up. Playability is smooth but inconsistent: the end-of-level guardians in particular are much too easy.

Where Saint Dragon really comes into its own is as a first-time buy for aspiring shoot-'em-up fans. Your hardened mindless blast merchants and your smart bomb addicts will find insufficient challenge here to whet their appetites, but if you got your C64 for Christmas and you want to tentatively try some serious fire button fever, go for it. It's not a bad place to start.

1. Too easy for hardened shoot-'em-uppers. This reviewer completed it after only a few hours.
2. The colour scheme on most levels is appalling - too much yukky brown and white.
3. The end-of-level guardians are far too easy to beat.

1. Each level is very different along with monster types and their attack methods.
2. Well-implemented theme tune and sound effects.
3. Highly manoeuvrable dragon: the tail is very effective against aggressors.
4. Extensive variety of opponents. They're well thought out and do a lot for the game's atmosphere.