It seems like we're back in blasting mode again here. Oh well, never mind. Shooties always seem to do well around Christmas time and, if the full-price performance of this beauty is anything to go by, this one should shoot up the charts very quickly.

As Major Rock Hardy and Captain Ace Gunn, this two-player blast takes you down into the subterranean fortress of the master Xybot and his cronies, who are threatening to take over the world and do nasty things to us humans.

As you enter the maze-like corridor complex of the fortress, cock your laser gun and be prepared to do some serious damage, before the xybots do the same to you.

Making good use of the transporters, your task is to find the exit elevator to take you to the next level.

However, you'll need to despatch with a few baddies first and also pick up a few energy pods, keys and coins to improve your playing power.

Complete a level and you can spend your booty in the special armoury ship, buying extra Zap power to stun your opponents, extra laser cannons, or even a very handy enemy mapper, enabling you to trace the xybots' movements at all times.

At the end of certain levels, you will have to take on the Master Xybot in a one-to-one duel. Victory will mean advancement to the next stage. Lose, and you'll be bumped back down a few levels. This can be very frustrating, but it will certainly fuel your resolve to get him the next time around.

Again, Xybots is very cleverly thought out and offers superb blasting power against some smart backdrops and very different opponents.

This one is quite a toughie, but getting through to the final levels is certainly rewarding and, if you like to put a little effort into your blasting, Xybots could well be the offering for you.