Mech Warrior 4 from Microsoft, the latest title in the ever-evolving Battletech universe, has strong graphics, excellent sound effects and an addictively-devised gameplay.

You are sucked into a maelstrom of battle from the beginning.

You can choose to play as one of more than 20 types of fierce Mech-fighting machine, fully-blown pieces of military hardware.

You have a huge arsenal of fellow Mech Warriors at your bidding to cause havoc in masses of single and multi-player options.

Getting to grips with the interface is a slog. The game has been designed with a Microsoft joystick in mind and does not take kindly to other accessories.

Once mastered, the entertainment rolls thick and fast over seven massive terrain types - city, swamp, forest, tundra, desert alpine and lunar - each populated with more than 30,000 3-D objects, dozens of Mechs and vehicle types.

This is a great PC game for both the rawest recruit and the battle-scarred veteran who has fought through previous Microsoft missions. All I can say is "hand me a blaster and long live the Federation".

Price: £29.99.

Contact: www.mechwarrior4.co.uk Feel good factor: 7 out of 10.

- Simon Whyte