Is there anything better than a game with an unpronounceable title? The Japanese are great at games like that, but speaking a different language isn’t enough, so put a number in the title. When you’ve done that, make the actual game an exhilarating, fast paced, neon highlighted robot battle. You can also have the title appear different on the games main screen, too, just for a laugh.

Anyway, loading up A7Xpg (or “A7X”) is a thrilling experience. No cut-scene introductions or instructions greet you, just a simple rectangle, the title, a message telling you to “push button to start” and some weird shaped things fly around. Pressing the button to start throws you directly into the game where a pulsing electro soundtrack thwacks you, drawing you into the already underway game.

Before you can realise the game is on, it’s on. No countdown or timer warns you, no voice over allows you to prepare – the game is to be played now. Quickly noting the creatures on the screen; glowing yellow things which stay still, red things which move around, and a colourful thing… you need to focus on your target or you will die.

The targets are the yellow things. You need to weave between the red things to get them. If you get enough in the time limit, you move on to the next round where the enemies are harder. To assist you, you have a boost – pressing X allows a brief moment of speed which also blows away your enemies. The other bonus of the speed boost is if you collect enough items while speeding, you become invincible and can then attack.

A not too distant departure from his trademark shooters, A7Xpg is yet another unique ABA game, lush with graphics from a future where everything is made of lights. Familiar yet strikingly unique, this is a short and neat little game.