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At last MSX owners have a chance to play this classic game, which has been available for a selection of other machines for some time now. The conversion is good, with attractive graphics and sound effects. My only small complaint is that you really need a colour television, as in some screens the boulders do not stand out clearly in black and white.

In case you didn't already know, the game involves controlling a little man called Rockford who tunnels through caves collecting jewels and avoiding falling boulders. You have to collect a certain number of jewels in each cave before you can move on to the next. There are lots of different caves and levels of difficulty, and you can choose where to start, within certain limits.

Movement is by joystick (the best option) or cursor keys. It is generally smooth, but every now and again the action seems to freeze for a few seconds. This can be rather disconcerting, particularly if it happens when you are directly underneath a boulder!

Success depends partly on speed and accuracy, and partly on careful planning, as with all the best games. In some caves there are deadly fireflies to be avoided, or butterflies which can kill you, but can also be transformed into a pile of jewels with a well-aimed boulder. There are also amoebas, which are less dangerous but can be rather inconvenient if you let them grow too much.

Please, Orpheus, can we have a conversion of the sequel too?

M.N.