PC CD-ROM minimum system requirements:

486DX2/66mhz 8MB RAM;

6MB hard disk space;

DOS 5.0; Dual speed CD

ROM drive; VGA.

£34.99

TIME is your enemy: history is the battlefield. Time Commando leads you through eight of history's great eras to arrive at the ninth level, a showdown against the virus destroying the military's computer system.

You begin in prehistoric times and, as in Ancient Rome, Feudal Japan, Medieval Europe, Conquistador, Western, 20th Century Battlefield and The Future, you have little but your bare knuckles to defend yourself with at first.

However, as you progress, you can pick up weapons of the age - in Prehistoric you can gather some stones or clubs to defend yourself in Medieval Europe shields, swords and crossbows are a necessity.

Each of the eras is divided into two episodes and at the end of each you find the standard, end of level boss. In traditional fashion these are tougher to kill and unless you have managed to collect the appropriate weapon before you engage them in combat, you will die.

But unlike other games, in Time Commando you cannot go back to places already visited. If for instance, you arrive at the end of a level without having the necessary defences, the game will not allow you to retrace your steps to locate something a little meatier. This is also true of the power ups within the game and it is frustrating and unnecessary. Because Time Commando guides you along a set path you may never, in fact, get the chance to collect some of these bonuses.

Coming from the creator of Alone In The Dark and Little Big Adventure, Time Commando certainly doesn't lack pedigree. The main difference between Time Commando and the aforementioned games is the fact that it is fundamentally a combat driven game with adventure running a very distant second. The only decisions that need to be made are what weapon to use next.

However, Time Commando is very similar to its stablemates in its excellent scenery and character animation. The sabre toothed tiger and robot terminators are particularly impressive. The accompanying soundtrack is also excellent and enhances the game's atmosphere no end.

Time Commando is a difficult came to rate. It has a lot of good points, but also has a lot of bad. Perhaps it is the richness of the varied and contrasting locations that drives you on to finish your quest, because the fighting can certainly be frustrating - especially on the more difficult settings. But, it's certainly worth a look.

Graphics: 93%

Sound: 90%

Gameplay: 80%