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One minute you're in this bar enjoying a sociable glass of mead (and we all now how sociable you are! - Ed) and the next you're wandering through this creep-filled castle trying to save the world!

It's a funny 'old game, this Bloodwych. It all started quite innocently when sixteen of the hardest, most cunning, highly-powered peeps in the kingdom were all gathered at the Inn carousing, quaffing ale, and telling tall stories about their feats of daring-do!

When someone suggested a quick romp around the dread castle Zendrick, you know, just for a laugh, it seemed like a darned good idea - at the time! Little did the eight foolhardy warriors who actually volunteered realise, their leaders had been possessed by the Bloodwych, legendary white mages of Trazere, and they were about to lead them on the most dangerous adventure ever. Zendrick, a Darth Vader figure who deserted the Bloodwych to specialise in spreading general nastiness, was summoning a lord of Entropy. And when these lords of Chaos come to town, they trash the place, totally. They destroy all life - men, women, children, dogs. cats, mad cows, even estate agents. There's one chance, a long shot, but it might just work. Pop up into the fortress and put Zendrick on the chopping list!

If the team(s) can get into the fortress and nick the four Crystals of Holding, they may avert Armageddon. And, as well as dying in a horribly painful fashion, these heroes stand a chance of becoming inconceivably rich and pretty darned famous into the bargain. A proposal that's known in the adventuring trade, as an offer you can't refuse. Be murdered by a rampaging demon or suffer eternal wealth!

As party leader you first select the four (fool)hardy freebooters to sally forth. You can give their abilities, kit and magic skills the once over and then it's off to the castle. The game actually begins with the squad having gained access to the fort. Select the marching order, and then take the merry bunch around the place killing/bargaining/begging with the things/people you meet. There are doors to be unlocked, secret panels to find, treasure and weapons to collect. The kind of the things you'd be miffed if you didn't find in dungeon are all there.

The party view of the world is straight ahead into a 3D corridor. They can charge forward, turn, sidestep and most importantly run like a mad thing. Gates do what they do best and bar the way until you find the right key, while your team strolls around hacking, slaying and kipping. Stairs can be found - eventually - to each of the four towers in which the jewels are stashed; then and only then can you go on a Zendrick hunt.

Now there are Heroes of the Lance galore, gained access to the fort. Select the marching order, and then take the merry bunch around the place killing/bargaining/begging with the things/people you meet. There are doors to be unlocked, secret panels to find, treasure and weapons to collect. The kind of the things you'd be miffed if you didn't find in dungeon are all there.

The party view of the world is straight ahead into a 3D corridor. They can charge forward, turn, sidestep and most importantly run like a mad thing. Gates do what they do best and bar the way until you find the right key, while your team strolls around hacking, slaying and kipping. Stairs can be found - eventually - to each of the four towers in which the jewels are stashed; then and only then can you go on a Zendrick hunt.

Now there are Heroes of the Lance galore, and Bards eager to tell Tales. But they have all been frustrated by the lack of real power they had over their parties. The Bloodwych boys have no such problem. Using an icon system, all the info you need is either on display or just a button-click away.

From the most important functions, like preparing a spell for battle, or arranging party marching order, to those little trivial things like food and water, all are controlled with the small arrow icon. It's initially off-putting, but after a few minutes of wandering you soon get the hang of it. Well, there's very little choice, after all - it's either learn of die.

Each character has a set of the usual stats (hit points, strength, charisma etc) and a whole load of kit to play with. You can say what each bod has in their hand and what items are tucked away safely in their backpack. Everybody gets spells to use (but magicians get a better chance of completing their wizardry) and for this it's just a case of browsing through the spell book looking for the appropriate runes. Weapons vary, as do the armour ratings, and better kit can be blagged en route.

With two players, Bloodwych really comes into it's own. Each player has total independence and can wander where they want. If you happen to come across the other group they appear on screen. It's up to you to either help or fight them - it really depends how healthy and how much useful stuff they've got! With this two-player element and great dungeon graphics, Bloodwych is off to a stormer. At last there's an adventure you can see, touch and fight in with out having to spend hours flicking through text screens.

Bloodwych could never be called exciting, although life can get fraught. It's the mental exercise that's the fun. If you are to solve the mystery of Bloodwych then every square inch of the fortress will have to be searched. Bloodwych is a fiendishly complex puzzle, but simple to play once you force yourself to study the instructions. Remember, the fate of the world hangs on the one little arrow hovering on the screen...!

I saw Dungeon Master on the Atari ST and longed for a CPC version. Now it's here - and sure to become a classic.

Not applicable.

Graphics 84%
P. Split-screen excellence.
P. Clear, solid and strong.

Sonics 0%
P. Nowt to report unless we've gone deaf!

Grab Factor 55%
N. Intimidating icons initially.
N. Getting lost is easy.

Staying Power 92%
P. One huge castle to roam.
P. Save Game feature makes life easier.

Overall 92%
At last, a role-play game that works!