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Way Of The Exploding Fist is the first ever Karate simulation game. Inspired by the hit arcade game Karate Champ, Fist, as Melbourne House are calling it, looks certain to be a big hit with C64 gamers.

Arcade game conversions have been pretty thin on the ground this year so far. Daley's Decathlon was the last big hit that owed a lot to an arcade game.

With no less than sixteen different Karate moves to implement with your joystick this really does have the feel of the martial art.

Your objective is to become so skilled in the martial art that you win the ancient honour of "Shaolin Monk". This will not be easy. Anybody who has ever done any karate will tell you that it is a long and competitive route to honours.

It is equally long and competitive in the game. Set in a tournament situation, you pitch your skills against a friend or the computer.

Melbourne advise that as in the true way of the orient the way to outwit your opponent is not always through aggression.

Certainly speed of reaction is only a small element of the skills required to become a C64 Shaolin Monk. More important is to master control of the joystick to give you the maximum number of moves in your repertoire.

There are no less than eight different kicks to be mastered - representing the eight possible positions of the joysticks.

Some of these kicks are more difficult to master than others. The flying kick will take a great deal of practice.

There are also four different punches, somersaults, and blocks to master.

Some of these moves - when nicely executed - are truly spectacular. The use of large characters - about an inch and a half in height - enables you to see clearly each kick, chop, block or punch.

All of this superb animation takes place against several scenes from the orient - beautifully drawn and full of the bright colours of the east.

Add to this an authentic piece of Chinese-style background music, dull thuds as punches hit their targets, and shouts and cries from the opponents and you have one of the best games launched this year.

Must be a strong contender for an award.