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Andy Capp, the flat-capped Northerner is once more in financial trouble. His precious dole cheque has been stolen, and his ever tolerant wife Flo is demanding money again. Andy has a week in which to retrieve his cheque *and* raise some money to keep Flo off his back.

On leaving his house, our anti-hero finds himself in the familiar surroundings of his neighbourhood, where he walks along the many streets, and enters unlocked buildings such as the pub, police station and even the local Job Centre.

The Lancashire lad must find out who has stolen his cheque by gathering as much information as he can from the characters he meets. Poor old Andy needs a drop of Dutch courage before interrogating his friends though, so a visit to the local pub is the first order of the day. Andy's state of inebriation is constantly monitored by an 'alcometer' shown below the main screen.

Actually getting into a pub can be difficult, since the rent man frequently waits at the door to collect Andy's money. There are others who also give Andy a hard time, especially the local bobby who knows that Andy is on his wanted list.

If Andy feels that an individual should be taught a lesson, he can use the boxing glove icon at the bottom of the screen to engage in some gentlemanly fisticuffs. Punch-ups quickly reduce his alcohol level, however, and a pub must be found fast! If he engages in too many rounds of boxing he can find himself up before the judge with a hefty fine to pay. He must also be careful that in the scuffle, he doesn't lose his wallet!

Such things can only worsen Andy's sad plight, so to augment his scant financial resources, Andy can take a chance on picking the winner of the next horse race, and with a bit of luck scrounge some cash from the barman or get away with Flo's handbag without her knowing. If all else fails, he can always get a job!

I've been reading the Andy Capp cartoon strips in the Daily Mirror for years, so I was interested to see how this game would turn out. The verdict?

Well, it's not too bad. The game itself is fairly easy to get into, although mapping is an essential part of play, since it's quite easy to get lost in the maze of similar-looking streets. The graphics are generally very sombre, and although they capture the spirit of the cartoon, after several sessions I was left with a vaguely depressed feeling.

The poignant soundtrack merely enhances the feeling and far from enjoying the action, I found it all rather sad. Andy Capp close be a little too close to the life that many people actually lead to be considered entertainment.

After many years of hilariously funny cartoons in the Daily Mirror newspaper, Mirrorsoft have at last taken our favourite Northern lad, flat cap and all, and immortalised him on the computer screen.

The game designers have captured the essence of the cartoon strip very well, creating all the ambiance of a bleak, Northern coal-mining town. The characters are exceptional, and the animation is simply brilliant. Aesthetics apart, however, the gameplay does tend to pall quite quickly, since Andy's activities are far from thrilling, and walking around town can be continued for one or two minutes without actually meeting anyone or being able to enter a building.

The sound effects are totally unsuitable, made up of just a few pings and tromping noises as Andy strolls around. The optional musical score doesn't improve on the situation either. Arcade adventurers might like it, but action wallahs beware.

The impressive graphics on Andy Capp can easily seduce the unwary gamester. The characterisation is incredibly effective and very accurate indeed, while the game itself is nicely polished, even down to the darkening sky as night falls.

Unfortunately, the mission confronting the player is hardly an exciting one: Andy has to wander all over town, speaking to people, obtaining money and drinking.

The action is humorous and quite captivating at first, but the long periods of inactivity soon inflict a feeling of boredom - the game becomes as tedious as the life portrayed of Andy.

The droning soundtrack doesn't help either, which is almost depressing. Andy Capp is a charming little game, which could well appeal to many people, but don't be fooled by the smart graphics and the character licence.

Presentation 87%
Easy-to-use icon system, with a healthy array of useful options.

Graphics 86%
Very reminiscent of the cartoon, with superb cartoon characters set against spartan, but extremely effective backdrops.

Sound 47%
A poor rendition of Dvorjak's 'New World' symphony drones along, but can be toggled for the harsh and inappropriate effects.

Hookability 72%
The going is tough, with sparse instructions and some rather tame gameplay.

Lastability 58%
Mapping and completing the game represents a lengthy pastime, but the action is less than conducive to actually doing so.

Overall 69%
A brilliant incarnation of the comic strip character, marred by sporadic and often tedious play.