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Yo-ho-ho! Have C64 owners got a treat in store? Ultimate have done it again. They've created an entertaining and enthralling game which will have you superglued to your joystick for hours!

Blackwyche is the second Ultimate game for the C64 and is a distinct improvement on Entombed. It stars good old ace explorer Arthur Pendragon - the Indiana Jones of the computer gaming world. This time he's in big trouble aboard a haunted pirate ship.

Old Arthur couldn't keep his curiosity under control when a mysteriously deserted phantom galleon came up at him out of the mist. Unlike other normal people, who would just run away, Arthur has to climb aboard and nose around. That's how he finds the captain's log. And there's not a stardate in sight!

The log tells of a doomed expedition. The captain, one Richard Cavendish, spent days searching underground caverns on a mysterious island which had, as its best feature, a mountain in the shape of a skull.

The skipper and his men were looking for the lost Crystal Skull of Souls. They found it and brought it back on board their ship - the Blackwyche.

The last words the captain wrote were in rhyme and told of the dreadful fate which befall him. His soul was taken by the dark, evil forces of the skull.

Arthur sets out to free the captain's lost soul - and that's where you come in.

You find yourself on the deck of the Blackwyche - graphically quite similar to the original Entombed game. You soon discover that you're not quite alone on the ship as nasty green and white Harpies start attacking - draining your energy.

You must immediately make a dash to your left, rush through the first door you come to and grab the captain's sword which will help you fight these horrible creatures.

But the room is already inhabited by skeletons - well you can't have it too easy, can you? These skeletons attack as soon as you enter - so be prepared to make a run for it.

Blackwyche is miles better than Entombed - the graphics for the Arthur character could be slightly better - but that's a minor quibble.

If you liked Entombed, you're going to go ape over Blackwyche. Just like we did at C&VG!