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When eating, sleeping and cacking your pnts is the sole function of your life, it gets a bit dull - even if you are only six months old. Or so thought Chuck Rock Junior until his car company boss dad gets kidnapped by his evil rival and the youngster is forced to leave the security of his cradle and go out into the big, bad world of platform games to rescue his dear old papa.

Making his debut on the Game Gear, Chuckie boy toddles through four levels of nastiness, confronting terrifying dinosaurs and the like, picking up fruit and baby bottles and bashing bricks to get your way through before the final confrontation against the arch-baddie, Brick Jagger - the defeat of whom wins freedom for dada.

Apart from a soiled pair of Pampers to protect his modesty. Chuck is naked unless you count the large club he carries and uses to thwart the enemies which include monkeys, robots, octopi, fierce flowers and dinosaurs. His progress is further thwarted by rivers of fire, acid leaks and boulders. Other animals are friendly and sometimes give him a lift over perilous parts and up to power-ups.

To help him in his quest further, Chuck collects a number of handy items such as milk bottles to restore energy, sweets for bonus points which upgrade to an extra life when enough are accumulated, baby heads for an extra life, and bananas to bribe monkeys into helping him.

Although lacking in originality, I thoroughly enjoyed Chuck Rock II. The graphics are bright and well-drawn, the backgrounds sharp and Chuck himself well animated. The levels are quite large and challenging with lots to do and see - I think there could have been more of them though. Experienced games players won't get a hell of a lot out of this game on *easy* level, but your average platform fan should take a look.

I really enjoyed the original Chuck Rock and this sequel is miles better, with fast, addictive platform action and some truly exceptional graphics. I would go as far as to say that this is the best Game Gear game I've played in months.

A bit short on lastability and originality perhaps, but a fine game nonetheless.

Presentation 85%
Option screens, sound test and difficulty choice but no two player option.

Graphics 89%
Huge sprites, lots of animation and some pretty backdrops.

Sound 77%
Extremely average but what do you expect from a Game Gear?

Playability 84%
Easy to control and a nice "use your brain" puzzle element.

Lastability 79%
The levels are fairly large but these are not enough of them.

Overall 84%
An unoriginal but nice-looking and fun platform jaunt.