Not the sort of hatchery I'd care to visit - out pop some bloodthirsty monsters from the eggs in this game.

The screen displays a set of platforms which may be climbed by a series of chutes. Hanging below the platforms are egg cases in which the developing monsters lie. Using the joystick you control Billy, a bouncy character who must smash the eggs before they hatch.

Fortunately, they only hatch one at a time. As one starts it becomes transparent and a timer begins the countdown to show Billy how long he has to reach the egg. If he fails, the monster hatches out and gobbles him up.

The eggs are destroyed by the powerful force of vibration - makes a change from laser zapping, doesn't it? Billy either jumps up and down on the platform immediately above the egg or may use one of two hammers to make the whole hatchery shake. In either case the egg crashes to the ground and points are scored.

After all the egg cases have been dealt with, the screen changes to a different layout. Billy then has to work a little harder.

J.W.