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One glance and I took an instant shine to Black Lamp. If you want a rustic romp through a medieval wonderland, packed with thrills, spills, action and romance check it out. It's a visual delight carried off with great style.

So roll the credits for the programmers and bring up the applause: Graphics by Steve Cain. Programming by "Kenny" Everett. Music and sound by Fred Gray.

The concept of the game, to be honest, isn't that original. It's a platform and ladders arcade adventure which has Jolly Jack the jester on a quest to recover nine enchanted lamps - including the most revered Black Lamp - and restore peace and happiness to the Kingdom of Allegoria and so win the hand of Princess Grizelda (that's the romantic bit). But it is the way the game is carried off which makes it a cut above the rest.

The game covers 256 screens, ranging from rural landscapes and castle ramparts to gothic-style interiors. Each screen is beautifully illustrated and populated with some really amazing creatures, all brilliantly animated.

The game always starts by an empty chests to which all the lamps must be returned. But the chest moves around each time a new game starts so you don't get bored by having to go over the same old ground each time.

The Lamps are scattered far and wide throughout the kingdom. When Jack finds one, he must collect it and take it back to any one of the Chests. The Black Lamp is different - it is always guarded closely by that most fearsome of enemies, the Dragon. And the Dragon won't give it up until he's dead. Every Dragon will have a Lamp of some colour, so the only way for Jack to return all the Lamps is to fight every Dragon he meets!

Scattered around the kingdom are various Bonus Objects that Jack can collect along the way. These take the form of jewels, musical instruments, weapons, and food and drink.

All Jack has to fight off the evil creatures is a magical belt buckle which shoots powerful bolts.

Jack has five lives, each governed by his energy level. His energy drains away if he gets zapped or falls from too great a height. Collecting food and drink, however, will boost his energy.

Every five jewels Jack collects will make him invulnerable to attack for between 30 and 40 seconds. Five musical instruments also makes him immune to energy loss for a while. And by collecting five weapons he gets increased firepower, again for between 30 and 40 seconds.

Bent on thwarting Jack are a whole host of creatures, with varying nastiness and viciousness.

Dragonflies and wasps are relatively harmless and pack a small sting. Vampire bats try to make sure Jack gets it in the neck. Werewolves are quick moving flesh-rippers. Crows drop exploding thistle down and buzzards blitz you with exploding skulls.

Goblin warriors come in the form of swordsmen, archers and spear carriers. Slime Witches spit gooey green slime. Trolls carry spark-spitting hammers. Slayers fire off lightning bolts. Imps carry tridents which spit fire. And then there are the dragons guarding the Black Lamp. Jack must strike a vulnerable part of the body, and turn the creature black to kill it.

Black Lamp gets my vote as the best Firebird game I've seen. In Jack, they've got a neat character we could be seeing more of. Let's hope so anyway.