It's a shame isn't it? There you were resigned to another day or two of quiet relaxation and holographic snooker, when you get the call. It seems some guy on a far-off planet has decided he's going to hold the world to ransom and anyone who argues with him is going to have to go without tea! You work for the "Bureau of Astral Troubleshooters", in fact you're their top agent. Consequently you've been parcelled off to do the dirty on Mr Nasty.

BAT is a graphic adventure. Having said that it's quite unlike any graphic adventure you're likely to have played thus far. The reason for this is the complete reliance on mouse control for getting the game player. BAT uses a system called 'active icons' which need little interpretation and are very intuitive. For example, when you need to speak to someone you simply move the icon over the person and it'll change to a speech-bubble. Then you simply click on the right message in the on-screen list and the person will answer... hopefully.

Of Life, Love and Aliens
There are some very weird beings on the planet. What's more you can shoot them, chat with them or even engage in a little rumpy-pumpy. Occasionally someone will pick a fight with you, so you'd better be ready for it when it comes. The fight sequences are a case of picking your weapon and letting loose a few bullets in the person's general direction. You also have the chance to run away.... if you see the hills run in completely the opposite direction. You'll receive a similar response when you want to chat to someone. They'll either tell you to go stick your head in a vat of acid or offer you some information - for a price - about Vragnor (that's Mr Nasty) or the city of Merrigo where you're based.

A Very Comic Scenario
BAT plays like a comic book. You travel around the world by moving the mouse pointer over an entrance or a street. If you can enter somewhere or plod down a road an arrow will appear and you simply click on it. Another window will then open up, showing the scene you're now in. Sometimes you might have four scenes on screen at once, so you really get a feel of having gone somewhere.

When you need to use a machine or perform an action on someone or something, a different icon will appear. For example at certain points you'll need to use the videophone. To do this you click on the machine, insert your credits card and type in the number. If you've dialled correctly a face will appear and you can engage in a little conversation with them. All you do to eat is head for the nearest fast food joint, insert your card and choose your meal.

B.O.B. You're a Fine Strap 'Oh Me Lad
Don't get the impression that you're in this strange land on your own. Nope, you have a nice little trick up your sleeve - literally - who goes by the name of BOB.

BOB is a computer, sorry he's a Bidrectional Organic Bioputer who's built into your arm. He can do a lot of tasty tricks which prove to be extremely useful. For example, he can slow down your heart beat when you're sleeping so you get a nice rest. If you don't understand the aliens then slip your BOB into translation mode and he'll interpret for you.

You can also program BOB, for example you can have him detect when there's a killer droid in the vicinity, whilst stepping up your heart-beat to something close to a vein-busting, adrenaline-pumping rate.

It's Well Wicked Man
BAT is great. It's very easy to get wrapped up in the game and start to annoy the citizens of Selenia. One of the best features, though, is the fact that there's no set route through the game. You can deduce, stumble on and wring all and sundry of people, clues about what's happening with Vragnor.

In this French RPG, you play an agent of BAT (Bureau of Astral Troubleshooters), on the trail of the evil Vrangor who has threatened to blow up the planet Selenia.

After creating your character you can move around the game world. Control is totally joystick-driven, using icons and menus for command choices. The joystick pointer changes its shape when over specific areas of the screen, e.g. placing the pointer over a character may bring up a speech bubble. A door turns it into an arrow and so on.

Clicking on these 'action' areas may bring up additional menus. Menu and icon design is pretty logical and easily learnt.

The Amiga version is, understandably, a better looking game but does retain many of the same problems as its C64 counterpart (65%, Issue 68).

There is far too much eating and drinking required, which ruins the flow of the gameplay. I also became confused, all too often, as to which arrow moved me to what area. Then there's the weird programming section that allows you to create mini BASIC-like programs which, due to the vague manual, I couldn't understand how to use properly.

On the good side, graphics are excellent with small animated 'things' flying around the screen now and again, giving a real alien atmosphere. This is aided by some nifty background music and plentiful spot effects. But it's not enough to make up for a poor interface and game design.