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The world of nature is the setting for this original game which with its stunningly depicted hi-res background, looks just the place to spend a summer's day.

As Bird Mother you must collect falling twigs to build a snug little nest. Having caught a twig you must drop it onto the nest and build, bit by bit. With a little practice this part of the operation becomes second nature, you just have to look out for the rocks and stones falling from the sky...

In your nest, you must now lay three eggs. These rapidly hatch into fledglings and need to be fed with the insects which fly about the sky at random. You pick up twigs, and food for the fledglings by pressing the fire button. This opens and closes the bird's beak, but you have to be very accurate.

The flying insects are frustratingly hard to catch making the second screen more difficult than the first. At the same time, a man paces backwards and forwards across the bottom of the screen, viciously throwing his walking stick into the air.

The fledglings are exceptionally hard to protect and have to be bumped about the screen, being careful not to let them get off the edge of the screen.

With these dangers avoided and your fledglings fattened up, you must now teach them to fly. The main problem on this screen is a ravenous hawk who just loves the taste of baby bird. On completion of these three tasks you move onto a higher level.

On a change of screen, a different, although similarly repetitive little ditty is played throughout, which can become very irritating. Despite this, Bird Mother is one of the most colourful and well-animated games for the C64 and should appeal to those of a gentler disposition, making a refreshing change from all-out destruction.

The cassette cover says this is an 'extremely beautiful and unusual game'... that's not exactly how I'd put it.

Control of the Bird Mother is very difficult, especially when you're trying to catch flies. And since she is all you control throughout the game it can become really frustrating.

The graphics are superb, but since the game bears an unusual resemblance to Potty Pigeon and isn't nearly as good, I'd give it a miss.

Bird Mother suffers badly from playability problems and the overall concept is a little boring after a while. On the first screen, correct positioning of the bird is essential and takes more than a few practice games to perfect. The second screen is even more infuriating.

The screen display is beautiful but playability is less wonderful. Trying to grab everything with your beak is frustratingly difficult, and while this is an asset with some games, it becomes an annoyance with this one.

The whole game is too straightforward and too 'samey'.