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It sometimes seems as if we can't move for Beeb games in Mode 2. All too often they just take the superficial aspects of Frak! but without the winsome originality; until April Showers that is. In fact, this game is so original I can't think of anything quite like it and I'm still trying to work out just what you have to do, let alone manage to do it!

The plot is simple. You are a little cloud with eyes (what?) whose pleasant task is to water the plants in the garden (aaah!). However, the naughty flying umbrellas will steal your rain and kill your plants (grrr!) unless you water them and put them out of action. Your own liquid supplies are replenished from the other little clouds (without eyes) which flit across the sky. Yup, pretty original.

Unfortunately, there are no instructions apart from the control key display and it takes a few moments to work out even in a rough way what it is you have to do. As you scroll right or left the little eyes flick from side to side and the sky and ground move in relation to you, centre screen. Your options, apart from shifting the whole display, are to fire (i.e. rain on things) and zip up and down to collect water from the other clouds and come into contact with the brollies. This is wild!

No doubt there are patterns and tactics which will emerge but the only rational response on initial play is to watch the little clouds and snarl at the brollies. How often does a game make you smile even when you lose?

This is superb fun - one of the most playable games I've seen for a long time but also one of the simplest. Proof positive that you don't need 64K of code or giant databases on disc to be compulsive. Whether it's non-violent as well is something you'll have to decide but it's certainly the most compulsive non-destructive zapper I can recall. Shame about those instructions, though...

D.R.