This 1988 sequel to Dan Dan: Pilot of the Future was again developed by Gang of Five and published by Virgin Games.

Dan Dare II: Mekon’s Revenge is more interesting than the first game, though, because you can play as either Dan, or as The Mekon, and each has a different mission. Well, a different mission on paper. In reality, they’re both very similar, with Dan flying around on a kind of jet bike type thing and The Mekon flying around on his iconic floating plinth. A front-mounted laser canon allows them to shoot whatever’s in front of them.

Andy Green did a good job with the graphics in this. The use of colour is particularly good for the Spectrum. Gameplay is mixed, though. Control of Dan (or The Mekon) is good enough, and the level of inertia is about right, but the overriding feeling is one of repetition – there just isn’t enough variety in the game to elevate it above being merely ‘okay’.

One more Dan Dare game was to come on the ZX Spectrum – Dan Dare III: The Escape, in 1990.

More: Dan Dare II: Mekon’s Revenge on World of Spectrum