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The Scott Adams text adventures have been around in one form or another for a long time, but have only recently been made available for the BBC.

Adventureland is one of the first in the series, and probably the easiest to solve. It is text-only and makes little use of the Beeb's abilities, except in its use of colour to distinguish between input and response on the screen.

It has to be said that these 'classics' are beginning to show their age. The games come with the promise to show you 'what a skilled programmer can do with a micro', but unfortunately what a skilled programmer could do with a micro a few years ago wasn't really very much. If you're used to adventures like The Hobbit then these games, with their unchanging locations and few characters, may not be much to your fancy.

That said, Adventureland really isn't too bad. It has a reasonable vocabulary, a very fast response, and good error-checking.

The aim of the adventure is to explore a silent and largely deserted world for treasure. There are a number of puzzles to solve but the program is helpful and occasionally gives advice. Some of the locations are unusual and inventive (ever been in 'limbo' before?) and the game has enough wit and originality to make for a good few hours adventuring.

Other games in the series include Voodoo Castle and Secret Mission.