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Torvak's got himself into a bit of a fix. Having returned to his homeland of Ragnor after five years of fighting in the Tormanian wars, all the muscle-bound warrior king wants to do now is go home, hang up his sword and sleep. But he hadn't reckoned on the evil Necromancer.

Torvak's homeland has been destroyed. His people are dead, their homes burned down and the gnomes broken. Now Torvak seeks revenge against the Necromancer. But it won't be easy. Only by hacking and slaying his way through five scrolling levels of scum-infested landscape can Torvak avenge his people.

Hack 'n slash romps are few and far between on this machine, with Barbarian II being the most notable example. Torvak, however, more than adequately fills the gap. A healthy balance has been struck between exploration (getting lost is easier than you think) and slicing action, which never lets up.

It's all very pleasant to look at (although the main character's animation does leave a little to be desired) and listen to, with plenty of slashings and groanings accompanying the proceedings. None of the levels are at all easy, but none is so difficult as to lead to frustration. The five lengthy levels are more than adequate, and with the more powerful weapons and magic spells to collect along the way there's suitable incentive to persist. It's a hefty slice of beef which shouldn't be missed.

Apart from a minor depreciation in ST speed, Atari Torvak should be near-as-dammit identical to its Commodore stablemate.

Alas, there are no plans for an IBM-compatible version at the moment.