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The 'original' platform game is now a dim and distant memory for most games players and was never converted to the Amstrad. Its successor is now with us and stars the same character, a miner called Bounty Bob. His previous game was Miner 2049'er and this follows the classic platform game style of completing one screen at a time.

The scene is an abandoned mine where radioactive waste seepage has turned all the furry, fluffy, cute animals into a very nasty bunch of mutant, miner-killing beats. Bob's task is to get through over twenty screens full of these nasties and other special features.

Each screen is full of platforms which Bob has to walk over. As he does so the floor fills in with a solid colour and he scores points. Once he's filled in the whole floor it's on to the next screen and a totally different layout.

Populating the platforms in vast numbers are the radioactive animals. These follow set movement patterns along the floor, glowing brightly as they shuffle about. If Bob runs into them he loses one of his three lives - which is a pretty skimpy measure for a tough game like this.

The monsters can be stopped through when Bob picks up one of the many non-moving objects that are dotted about the screens. These are worth points but more importantly give Bob a period of immunity to the radiation in which the monsters turn into cute animals again - Bob can stomp on them before they turn back. Every time you die in a single game the objects reappear but the monsters that have been removed do not. Any filled-in floor also remains so that Bob merely has to get back to his point of dying and carry on trying to complete the screen.

The screens are all very different and all present a very tough challenge, including the first one. Some have special features that add more to the game than just a left, right and jump action. A utility hoist can be controlled to move you about the screen while suction tubes pick you up from one point and deposit you in another. Teleport lifts also move Bob around and moving platforms move him across gaps. Ladders are a slightly more conventional form of transport and there are lots of slides down which Bob can desend.

Apart from the animals, falling is the main danger to Bob since if he falls too far he loses a life. This means jumps have to be made very accurately at times which is where the variable jump control comes in. This allows you to jump vertically and the move left or right at any point on the up or down cycle to start the jump going in that direction.

All of the screens are brilliant designed to test your skills to the limit and feature lots of colourful action. There are some cutesy sound effects as well but even these may get on your nerves after a while.

P. Over 20 diabolically difficult screens.
P. Colourful and well-designed screens.
P. Highly addictive action as you try to crack just one more screen.
P. Some nice special features such as suction tubes, slides, lifts.
P. A truly superb platform game.

N. Three lives doesn't seem like a lot.
N. Apart from some features not many prizes for originality.

Platform games take the player back to the dawn of computer gaming - if he's old enough. Which I am. I can honestly say this is one of the best I've ever played. It may not look much to begin with, but it hooks you right away and does not let go. Set aside a good few hours if you want to play it. Set aside a few more if you want to crack it.