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Eurgh! Nasty scenario this: infected laboratory, genetically altered killer spores, pesticides.

Despite risk of terminal infection, Spore is a pretty good game. It resembles those Gauntlet-type games in which generators pump out hordes of nasties that swarm around. In this case, the nasties are mutant spores.

The scene is the inside of an infected laboratory. This is divided up into sections by flashing yellow barriers. Barriers are laser beams that travel between two pale squares. Some of the beams are deflected at right-angles by mirrors, the spores start swarming. So you get ready for some manic blasting to get rid of them. The best way is to zap the beam, make a quick retreat and then blast them as they come at you. Being pretty dump spores, they all travel in a straight line so it's easy to get rid of them quickly if you're in the right position. Between waves of spores, you blast the generators.

Any spores that you hit you will drain a little energy, which is displayed at the bottom of the screen. Run out of energy and you're terminally contaminated - and your friends will no longer want to know you.

Also on each level there are the usual items to pick up. The antidote for the spores is in barrels dotted around the lab. Each barrel picked up earns you 100 more points. There's also the occasional flash which gives you more energy.

The only disappointing thing about Spore are the graphics. The scene looks nothing like the inside of a lab. What you get is a mass of squares, the spores being the ones that flash. And it's the same for each level.

If you manage to complete all the levels in Spore, the programmers have included a function that lets you design your own levels.

With its DIY level designer, Spore has got to be good value. This type of game may be a little dated now but they still can't be beaten for sheer manic blasting. Now where did I put that Dettol?