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'Stunning use of 3-D graphics do not a good game make', as my Chinese grandmother always used to say. Actually she say "Wong-cho ho fat ping-wah chung ah woo", but that's what she meant, and I'm sure she had Driller in mind.

The Freescape 3-D graphics system, which lets you explore the moon of Mitral in total freedom, is a brilliant example of programming.

The trouble is that your mission is extremely boring - literally and figuratively. You have to gain access to each of 18 centres, find gas pockets and drill holes to relieve the pressure before the moon blows up.

A complicated control panel shows your location, viewpoint, energy and shield status, time remaining and so on; the other half of the screen is taken up with the Freescape graphics, consisting of polygonal buildings, vehicles and installations which you can view from all angles.

Yes, graphically it's brilliant probably one of the best bits of programming ever on the Spectrum. But it's dead dull as a game, and is probably a good example of many games that are set on the moon, especially as Driller has no atmosphere.

Label: Hit Squad Memory: 48K/128K Price: £2.99 Tape Reviewer: Chris Jenkins

Looks great, moves great, soon grates. Bore yourself boring for gas in this over-inflated epic.