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Big Ben Strikes Again is in fact two programs in one. The first is a 20-screen platform game in which scoop reporter, Ben of the Chronical, must get his story and the second is a screen editor to design your own screens.

Ben's story is about to break in the houses of Parliament and so he is sent there to piece it together by his midnight deadline.

To collect the information he needs, Ben must search the corridors of power for gifts that he can exchange with celebrities, such as Mad Maggie for leaked information.

All these celebrities bear a striking resemblance to members of the government (except one a policeman) but I'm sure this is only a "coincidence". Another "coincidence" is the list of gifts that would appeal to these celebrities. For example, a bike might get some information out of Norman whereas a pair of glasses may please Geoffrey.

This isn't as easy as it seems as there are only six celebrities and six gifts that are spread throughout twenty screens linked by a network of portals and populated with the obligatory nasties. These include pounds and dollars, ray guns, glasses, suitcases and bowler hats.

The screen editor allows you to alter any of the existing screens or design new ones from scratch.

By using the keyboard or joystick, you can simply build a screenful of platforms, trapdoors, portals and ropes and select from a library of twenty nasties to inhabit it. Then you can test it by playing and either save it to tape or restart the game.