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Vindicators is the first title in a series of coin-op conversions by Domark's new label, Tengen. If you haven't spotted the advertisements littered about the pages of your brightest daily (well, monthly), Tengen is the result of a contracted amalgamation between Domark and Atari's coin-op division.

The time is 1400 hrs, on a Wednesday in the year 2525. 'Neighbours' has just finished with somebody switching off the stasis machine that has kept Scott and Charlene's love alive for more than five centuries. This has left you in a mean mood, so you, and a friend if you so wish (if you have any that is - Gary Whitta is looking for some - check "Sell Out" for more details) strap on your "I Rolled The World T-Shirt", climb aboard your SR-88 Strategic Battle Tank and set out to wipe out the evil invasion force from the Tangent Empire that's attacking some space stations outside Galaxy TR15.

The game is a 16-way scroller set inside a confined space. Scattered about each level are three types of things. The first is obstacles, such as walls and holes in the floor. The second thing that you find are the nasties. These can be gun turrets embedded in the ground, or tanks, just like your own. All are a pain, and all have to be wiped out.

Finally you can find goodies. These exist in the form of fuel deposits, which replenish your fuel/shield, the key to open the exit to the next level, or stars. In the year 2525, stars are currency, and by collecting them, you can buy add-ons for your craft that turn it into a mean son of a mutha. Things like boosters increase the top speed of your craft, longer range shots, greater power shots and special weapons. Some enemies can only be killed with the special weapons, in the way that airborne enemies can only be hit with rockets.

At the start of the game, you can choose which of the three levels you wish to begin on, easy, medium or, yes you guessed it, banana. On medium or hard level you get a big star bonus if you complete the level, but you don't if you start on easy. Who wants to credit a wimp?

The graphics have been converted well from the coin-op. The backdrops look metallic in a metallic sort of way and the tanks rotate smoothly. The scrolling is quite nice as well. The best bits, though, are the explosions. Large, colourful and loud.

The sound is fab. Lots of samples to be heard all the way through including the countdown, as well as tank engine and firing noises.

A good start to the label that looks set to provide us with some pretty nice products this year. One to look out for.