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The knives were once more out for Chelsea. Although everyone was shocked when she was snatched by the demonic TV's minions, some of the toys were secretly pleased that the over make-up, nightingale-voiced, chorus-leading starlet had finally got her comeuppance.

She flaunted herself in front of the ragdolls and patronised the teddies. She was even once heard to remark that Barbie and Sindy were "a couple of slags". So let us just say that they got over her abduction without too much mourning in the nursery.

But then that blasted clockwork knight, Pepperachou, with his outdated chivalrous notions, braved the horror of the toy room, kitchen and attic to bring her back. Didn't he look a fool when some other force of evil flew off with her to a distant clocktower. Pepperachou prepared to give chase, but the toys were unimpressed. To be captured once might be regarded as unfortunate, but to do so twice was frankly attention-seeking.

Occasional bonus features are the 'Le Bon' races. Le Bon challenges you to a brief sprint, which is a bit thoughtless considering you are meant to be on a damsel quest. Nevertheless, beat him across a variety of short obstacle courses and a reward is yours.

Keys are the, er, key to Clockwork Knight. Pepperachou has his own wind-up weapon which blows up foes and opens jewel boxes, which lead him on mysterious detours. But for the sequel, the key's role has been expanded. Now it operates stairways and rotating cogs too.

Regrettably, the sequel has the Soltain Roulette subgame reappearing. This wholly boring interlude comes between each room, providing a mind-numbing way to rack up extra lives.

Huzzahs all round that this time someone included Pepperachou's excellent toy horse and cart, incorporated in some track-based 'minecart' levels.

These are not too hard, but look mental, with enemies adopting Damon Hill-style reckless racing tactics. Not only that, but you have the ability to change points and race from foreground to background... and back again!

Once again, the action is set in various rooms of the house, with two stages and a boss in each. Good news: The levels are longer, look much more impressive and the bosses really do blow you away. Watch out for umpteen eye-popping effects:

1. Kid's Room
   The entry level is pretty big, with some amazing wooden block effects and quite a bit of freedom to explore in a non-linear way. The second stage is a cart sequence, with huge clowns toppling out of the background.
   
   The Boss: Pepp faces a huge snake of toy blocks which winds around a meccano frame. The highlight is where he turns into a monstrous skipping rope.
2. Study
   The background seems stunning, even more so when you realise you can use toy cannons to jump between various planes of platforms. A very neat puzzle is set with the mini-rockets. You can launch them from one place to strike enemies in the fore or background. Music books fall open in perfect 3D, with baddies sprouting from their pop-up pages.
   
   The Boss: Stupendous. A ghostly page dips itself in three colours of ink and morphs into paper animals, each with their own attack pattern and Johnny Morris animal noises.
3. Bathroom
   Even the soap and nail brushes get a look in here. The cart sequence is a riot, with joyriding octopii and jumping sharks.
   
   The Boss: A huge octopus looms upon a sea of sponges, cackling and lobbing bars of pink Lux. Get a lifebuoy!

This is part 2 of the original Saturn platformer. But really it's part 1, stage 2...

Chelsea is once more in the clutches of toy baddies at the other end of the house. Combat the nursery's obstacles to rescue her.

Everything from the Hollywood-style musical intro to the epic play area tells you that the sequel to Clockwork Knight sets a new standard. This is a game with genuine character that draws you into its surreal world where your deadliest weapon is a toy horse and you run scared from killer pencil sharpeners.

OK, so it's still a platformer, but it's such an attractively decorated box of tricks that it proves very difficult to resist.

Yes it's bigger, yes it's better, no it's just as easy. There - everything you want to know about this sequel. Downers first, Clockwork Knight 2 is not significantly more difficult than the first game, and those of you who found Clocky 1 too easy should steer clear.

But it's impossible not to like it - it's unfeasible not to laugh at it. The game has great style and dazzles with some of its effects, taking graphics into a whole new level beyond the original.

There are also some brilliant gameplay ideas, more complexity than left/right/attack, and bosses that do number twos over anything else seen before!

The levels are larger and less linear. They're just not that much harder. As a platformer for the young, this is just the ticket, and for indulgent buyers, this proves a technical tour de force. It's make-your-mind-up time.

Graphics 94%
P. Much better than Clock 1, with some amazing Saturn effects like the bathroom misting. They pile on the atmosphere.

Animation 93%
P. Incredible animation on some baddies, and much smoother scaling effects. The bosses are majestic in action.

Music 90%
P. It's the same ragtime gubbins of the first game, but the music is much better on the whole.

Effects 90%
P. These are superb, from honking hooters to the animal roars of paper tigers. Used to great comic effect.

Playability 84%
P. Opportunities to explore, changes of pace and some puzzles.
N. It's far too easy to coast through.

Lastability 66%
N. After the first and similar excursion, we have no illusions about the longevity of the game.

Overall 76%
Sets many new standards for Saturn platformers, but not in the realm of challenge. Die-hards have been warned.