Shoot em ups nowadays seem to concentrate on 2 things, graphics and sound. They go for all out mega 3d experiences with soundtracks from ace artists and look the biz. However they lack the great gameplay associated with the great shooters of the past.

Remember Nemesis, R-Type, Xenon ? All these games were at the peak of the genre, awesome 2d blasters that stuck to a few simple rules. Search, shoot and destroy (oh and power up on the way)

Bangai O marks a glorious return to that ideal, controlling the worstly described character ever (Rick the ultimate man of all men) you must traverse 44 levels of insane blasting action to save the world (or something like that)

The ga,me premise is simple, each level is an 8 way scroller, you gan go any where and there are loads of things to shoot.

You must destroy as much as you can before confronting the boss, but often you can race to the boss at your own risk, its all great fun.

Your character has 2 weapons, hioming missiles or ricochet lasers (which bounce off walls)

This adds a tactical element as you can do better in certain parts with each weapon, and you must decide which to use.

But Bangai O comes up tops with the sheer amount of blasts, the enemies are nonstop and the explosions rain all over the screen, if you kill enough you can unleash a super blast which acts like a kind of smart bomb.

The graphics are basic, but do the job and slow down is a non event here despite the frantic action.

The music and effects are basic but work, but its the super addictive gameplay that adds so much to this.

Currwntly available at a small tenner, this is a must for all shoot em up fans.

Great !