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Gargoyle Games have now forsaken Celtic mythology and ventured into space for their latest game. However, Marsport does retain the style of the earlier Tir Na Nog and Dun Darach, in that the game puts you in control of a large, animated figure (named John Marsh) who moves around a large playing area, has to solve various puzzles and deal with many creatures in order to complete his task.

In this instance, that task is to save the Earth from conquest by an alien race. You must control John Marsh as he finds his way through a large and complex space station, in order to reach a force field generator that will help to defend the Earth.

The basic style of animation is much the same as Gargoyle's earlier games, but this time the movement of the main character is even smoother than before. The background graphics, depicting the corridors, lifts and various entrances in the space station - are more complicated than those of Darach/Nog and scroll slightly less smoothly as a result, but even so the overall effect is excellent.

The mechanics of the game have also been enhanced, and Marsport is more complex than its predecessors in some ways, because you now have a greater ability to manipulate objects and engage in combat than before, although trading this off against the memory available has meant that there seem to be fewer independent characters to deal with. Mind you, that's not a criticism as I think I prefer the slightly greater emphasis that this puts on the action elements of the game. Dun Darach was an extremely engrossing game, but couldn't equal the surprise that Marsport will give you when you walk straight into the head baddy.

Marsport is the first in a planned trilogy of games, and if this game is anything to go by I'll be looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.