Mastertronic
£1.99

Here's a rocket for your pocket from Mastertronic, a sort of space age Band Aid. Earth has finally run out of food and instead of using trad means like genocide to solve the problem, we're sending out space pilots to filch the food from alien transporters. Trouble is they've all been squelched and it's up to you to fly the firmament and feed the world. The more grub you get (and aliens you zap, of course) the further up the astral plane of promotion you'll move, from rookie to the ultimate accolade of hero?

Your first task is to set your approach speed and seek out a target from one of the three types of alien ship. Then plot your course across the star map, keeping a close check on your fore and aft viewers and astral compass. Readings are given for system status (shields, ammo, fuel) and player manifest (warp drive, robo bike, equipment). Warp drive'll get you out of a star system (and trouble) but is heavy on the galactic gasoline.

Get this all sussed (phew! not easy!) and you board your target. Jet pack propelled (inertia effect'n'all) you can now search for stores supplies and flashing food aboard the ship - but beware, she's heavily protected inside too. A mini-maze ensues, and I think you'll be mega-amazed at the features squeezed into this package.

With eleven ranks to be achieved and fifteen star systems to be explored this game's worth the money for sheer longevity. But it's far more than a cosmic maze or alien shoot 'em up. To call it a cut down version of Elite is a complement to both. But Space Hunter isn't just a cheap imitation - it's a valid game in its own right. A wonder at £1.99.

Publisher: Mastertronic
Price: £1.99
Memory: 48K
Joysticks: Sinclair, Kempston

Feed the world takes on a global note in this new cheapie, casting you in the role of a space hunter of food for an overpopulated earth. So into your rocket to boldly go etc - in search of the grub transporters of 15 star systems.

The game has two distinct parts: flight through space and docking, then hunting for food. The first is a cockpit view as you fly through space. Despite the apparent complexity of the controls, it's not too involved. What Mastertronic has done is to take the bit of Elite that drives most people mad - docking!

Nothing is ever simple and if you wait around wave upon wave of enemy ships fly out of nowhere to engage you in a little boisterous horseplay. You'll never survive one of these bouts of combat by blasting them so the only escape seems to be to dock successfully while the battle rages around you.

Once on board you have a jet pack with thrusters to steer around a cave system picking up various valuables. Here there are aliens and contact with them saps your strength. Providing you negotiate the caves successfully you retrace your steps to the exit and into space for the next victim of your piracy.

The main appeal of this game is high scoring and Space Hunter goes so far as to add an Elite-style system where you start out a rookie and have to progress through 11 ranks to space hunter. It's all very competently programmed and though, despite its two rather incongruous sections it's probably limited in its lifespan, it's also extremely cheap.