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There comes a time when surely every computer gamer wants to get away from zapping aliens, manoeuvring high-flying aircraft and having to use their brain too much - that time is here now.

Arac is the new release from Addictive Games and is programmed by Paul O'Malley, who first found fame with Boffin. It's another platform game and the objective is to make your way through the 100 screens to gain access to the Citadel.

Your first option is to decide whether to play the "short" or "full" game. The only difference between the two, is that on the 'short' game, the Aracnadroid is already complete, but, on the "full", you have to go around and collect the bits of robot before he is formed - I preferred this game.

Dotted throughout the screens are creatures who will help you later on in the game, but first you have to collect them.

To do this, you fire a net from the top of *Arac's head*. Once netted, they appear caged at the bottom of the screen. When you are at a stage where you can't penetrate the hedgerow or climb up, it is time to recall your "captives". The icon board reveals exactly what and how many of each creature you have. They all have their own uses - which I shall leave for you to discover for yourself.

There are some nice little touches in this game - watch Atac get annoyed if you leave him standing around too long and when you have transformed into the Aracnadroid, he can fly up through the screens and walk along the ceilings.

The sound is below average for the Commodore 64, and as for graphics, well, the usage of sprites was good, though the background graphics could have been better.

The one annoying fact I found after many hours of playing, was when you ran out of energy, you had to start right back at the beginning again but, that aside, Arac will catch you in its web of intrigue and playability.