H.E.R.O.

Dave: H.E.R. O. is a game in which, as the name implies, you get to play the hero - Roderick Hero to be precise. Roderick's job is to rescue trapped miners caught when Mount Leone erupted.

To help him he has a miniature helicopter thing strapped to his back which allows him to fly up and down the vertical shafts, a microlaser helmet for shooting nasties, and several sticks of dynamite which are capable of 'removing' any thin walls that happen to get in the way (if necessary the laser can also be used to break through walls, but this uses up a lot of power). As well as having to shoot his way past spiders, bats and other mine-dwelling creatures, Roderick also has to contend with lamps that can be put out by careless shooting or flying and, in the later stages, 'molten lava' walls that kill on contact.

Graphically the game is simple. The walls are large blocks, and the control of the backpack leaves a lot to be desired. But it has got that 'one more time' addictive quality that keeps you playing and, because after level 17 the mines are randomly generated, there's no way it'll be mastered. 4/5 HIT

Ross: The delay on our hero's contraption makes control tricky - though not to a detrimental extent. But the plain blocky graphics for the cave walls are very dull. 2/5 MISS

Roger: Wot is Roderick Hero doing with this 'rescuing miners' stuff? Doesn't he know the political consequences? Being an 'all-round Good Guy' does have its advantages and sleep inducement seems to be one of them, despite increasing difficulty. 1/5 MISS

Activision
Shoot-'em-up
Spectrum
£9.99

Assuming anyone ever goes down a coal mine again, you may be called upon to rescue them if they get trapped. Our hero has to drop down mine shafts, blowing up a wall here, zapping a nasty spider there, and so on till he saves his man. Sounds simple enough, and it is to start off with. However, each successive shaft is harder. In some the walls are deadly, in others you can't even see the walls!