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If Gremlin continue to release games like Xcellor 8 and Trailblazer, C16 and Plus/4 fans have a lot to look forward to. Xcellor 8 features the kind of metallic, bas relief graphics only previously found on the C64.

The storyline, it's true, is nothing exceptional: "A city of the future, Xcellor 8 plays host to the low-life of the universe. Known as runners, these criminals keep you employed as you are a mercenary bounty hunter of the future; your job - to shoot and capture these desperate villains."

Xcellor 8 is, in fact, a quite simple maze. The runners nip around the maze at lightning speed for seemingly no other reason than to give you something to shoot at, though they are no doubt engaging in 'low-life' activities of a highly illegal nature.

There is a little more to the game than just zipping around the maze zapping low-lifers. There are a few inhabitants of the labyrinth who are innocent law-abiding citizens. If you blast one of them it's unfortunate, but not as unfortunate as if you blast three because then the game ends.

This unhappy situation can, however, be avoided by a hasty visit to the hospital, which will patch up the innocent, no-questions-asked for a mere 78 credits.

But where do you get the cash? From the bank, of course. The bank pays a good price for terminated criminals. The only problem is the rate drops from the moment you walk through the door, so you have to muscle your way through the crowds (queues of dots) if you want to get a good price.

If you're careful and manage to make a killing without wasting too many innocent passers-by, you will soon accumulate a hefty wad in your back pocket. This can be blown on extra equipment and fancy gadgets to make the task of cleaning up the streets that much easier.

I suggest that, as soon as you've got the cash, you head for the shop and fuel up. Running out of gas has the same effect as shooting mum, dad and the kids out on a weekend shopping spree, i.e. game over.

Xcellor 8 is a pretty simple game really, it doesn't have a megamaze (you can map it in ten minutes) and the gameplay is straightforward. But it does have amazing graphics - everyone thought it was actually a C64 game, and it was great fun for a couple of hours. Arcade addicts might find the attraction a bit short lived.