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Now this is what I call a game. Fort Apocalypse was originally a smash hit on the Atari. It has now been faithfully converted for the Commodore 64.

Fort Apocalypse is a tightly defended stronghold in which 18 of your buddies are confined. Using your rocket copter, a powerfully equipped helicopter, you must penetrate the fort's innermost chambers and carry out a daring rescue. The chopper can turn and fly horizontally and vertically, firing or bombing in the appropriate direction.

You always begin near a fuel depot where you fill up before commencing your daunting task. To assist you, a long-range Navatron at the top of the screen shows where you are in relation to the terrain and the oncoming enemy forces.

You must bomb a path through the gates leading to the Draconis level. Believe me, it's no piece of cake trying to hover and bomb a gap through the defences while being fired upon from all sides by missile firing Robo-choppers, Kralthan tanks and self-propelled mines.

If you manage to smash a big enough hole in the gates without getting blasted from the skies, you must descend into a series of low-roofed chambers where the first of the prisoners can be seen scuttling to and fro.

To rescue one, you simply hover close to him and he will be picked up automatically. Harder than it sounds - the enemy are about and the chambers make manoeuvring a nightmare. More gates bar further progress.

Beautifully smooth scrolling, crisp animation, lots of noisy battlesounds, much variety and a really mean challenge - one of the best all-action games you could wish to get obliterated in.