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There no real substitute for the motorbike. Ask anyone who's had one and they'll tell you. The motorbike stands for freedom, Great Britain, bacon breakfasts and not having to stand behind 300 old age pensioners in the bus queue so imagine all the bikers distress when in 1995 extreme legislation bans the motorcycle as we know it.

No self respecting speed freak is going to stand for that and so Finnius M Houlder, who is rumoured to be the world's richest man (and known to be several jam butties short of a picnic) decides that no-one is going to take away his favourite pastime and sets his research labs to building a bike that would get around the law - legally.

So, the year is 1999 and the Future Bike is here. An anti gravity wheeless wonder capable of speeds in excess of 300 mph. Finnius may have an lift that doesn't go to the top floor but he's also bought large amounts of motorway. The result is the Strip. Here you must do battle against fellow riders. Your only ambition ride fast and die - of natural causes.

So step up into your dream machine and do battle on the strip. The screen displays all your information on energy, lives, score and how much money you've collect by shooting the enemy (which is anyone who's in front) and collecting the money sack that they bequeath to you.

The money is used to purchase items to further your cause and how much money you've collected determines how useful a gizmo you can buy. There are missiles, side arms and even Radar with some surprising add-ons at later levels all of which are bought in the shop which just appears at various stages in the game. Select the item(s) you want, press E to exit the shop and presto! You're back on the track blasting anything that moves.

Future Bike is fast. There is no speed control because you just go flat out and try to stay on the track avoiding collisions by steering left, right and using the occasional 'hop'.

Oh yes, the bike of the future moves up and down too and there's no kickstart. There's one thing that will remain the same though. The sign of a happy biker will be dead flys sticking to his teeth.

Label: HITEC Author: Dave Thompson Price: £ Memory: 48K/128K Joystick: Various Reviewer: Garth Sumpter

Good graphics combined with amazing speed make this a fast, absorbing and compelling cut 'em up.