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A mere four hundred years old? You're obviously far too young to be accepted into the Magician's Guild. I mean, you've still got hair on your head - where would the Paul Daniels rug and magician's hat go? Pah! If you really want to be accepted, go and defeat Fumo the dragon. Since the beginning of time, he's been killing magicians, stealing their spells to increase his own fiendish power. He rules a poisoned realm where not even the wisest and most powerful of the Guild's members have dared enter.

You dare?! Well, such foolishness, but we will help you. The Guildmasters will use their magic to hide special objects in the landscape. Boxes and money have been scattered around, the boxes you can push, carry and even throw to kill the numerous monsters. You can also use them to build steps, while fruit has been hidden which will show you the correct path to follow.

The realm does have some good people though: behind doors you will find Oracles which may offer hints, merchants to barter with and buy things from - you may even meet a princess! Some objects are contained in tunnels too small for you to fit in, so if you've got the correct spell you can activate a miniature magician to use. A candle shows how much time he has to run around, throw switches, cross platforms which would collapse under your weight and so on. Switches can explode obstacles for you. Other magic objects include balloons (to ride up on), fruit (points), coins, keys, blue containers (protect you from fire), leaves (fall slower and jump further), bombs, hearts (extra life), freeze icons and many more.

Wise use of these objects is vital if you are to progress through the seven worlds contained within the Dragon's Realm. The worlds include heaven and hell, and make up seventeen levels leading the player directly to the end, with a further seventeen hidden levels.

Rainbow Arts! Turrican, woo! Apprentice... er... ah... After their highly innovative, top-notch blaster I expected something more than a middle-of-the-road cute platform game. Leap over sweet little animals and from ledge to ledge, collect fruit and tokens... yawn.

Kicking crates around to destroy the said creatures is the most satisfying part of the game, but soon begins to pall. Graphics are pleasant but uninteresting, music is well composed with some nice sounds. There are simply too many games of this type for Apprentice to stand out from the crowd.

Presentation 68%
Standard Turrican-style opening, high score table and unobtrusive disk access.

Graphics 73%
Simplistic console style, but nicely detailed with some good imagination and variety.

Sound 80%
Again simplistic console-style, but brilliantly embellished with crystal clear chimes and suchlike.

Hookability 77%
Couldn't be easier to get into, but lack of anything dramatically new restricts addiction.

Lastability 80%
30+ levels provide a substantial challenge with plenty to see and do. Hidden rooms, levels, a princess and more besides means this has plenty to keep you playing.

Overall 79%
Unoriginal, but well produced and very playable.