Ultra Assault

More retro action, this time in the upward-scrolling shooter category (a la 1942, Raiden), from the prolific folk at Small Rockets (Star Monkey). And again, while it elegantly re-landscapes some well-trodden arcade terrain, it's a largely unmemorable affair.

Ultra Assault also seems to have an appreciation that its ageing retro gamer audience's reflexes have dulled, as it's far from the most adrenalin-pumping, lightning-fast example of the genre. This is not one of those games where the screen becomes so ablaze with enemy flack that you can't see the ground - indeed it's positively sedate by Japanese standards. However, it's also a well-balanced and enjoyable affair, with a nice R-Type 'select-your-own' style power-up tree. And the fact that you retain all your power-ups when you die neatly circumvents the problem of being left stranded and powerless every time you lose a life.

It looks rather lovely, with some posh lighting and shadow effects, and plenty of well-designed enemy units. If you have a hankering for a spankering, retro stylee, you could do a lot worse.