Budget games are the ideal excuse for mindless violence without the distraction of any unnecessary plot. Solar Coaster (clever title) is a hybrid of Galaxions, Zalaga and Phoenix which is fast, colourful, and violent enough for any Amstrad headbanger. Optyx is a new name to me, and although Solar Coaster is way down in the low nothings as far as originality goes, I look forward to seeing more of the company's games. While the first three screens of aliens are fairly easy - you don't even have to move off the bottom of the screen to finish them off — things get more difficult later on. First you have to destroy the giant egg-shaped mother ship, blasting the guard fighters, then cutting through the bottom of the ship; then the second phase starts, and things get nasty as swooping lines of aliens force you to abandon the bottom of the screen, and thrust out to where no being has gone before. Some excellent spot effects, particularly the space-searing explosion when you die; rather annoying sound effects, but that's what the volume dial is for, isn't it? Otherwise, a little gem.  
Chris Jenkins, PCW
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