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Demon Blue is a rotund blob with a mission (a bit like Phil). He's blue, has big waggly ears and can't stand still. His mission is to collect six keys and then retire to a peaceful land of milk and honey.

Sounds a cinch doesn't it? Well just try it, it's no mean feat. For one thing there's dozens of weirdo aliens just waiting to zap Demon's energy. What makes matters worse, is they'll come back if you leave the screen. Demon must try and avoid these and other hazards like spikes in the floor and killer statues.

The whole game has a distinctly Ancient Greek flavour and there's mythical decorations, with statues set among castles and turrets. As well a historical theme you'll find stars, funky ghosts, pink rabbit-like beings, and flying piping cherubs. Weird or what?

Demon Blue is orbited by a protective sparkly star, but it's not much use really when it comes to facing the alien onslaught. Fortunately for our Demo, on the whole they're not at all intelligent and there are only a few that actually give chase.

Particularly useful in this case is Demon's special power, the ability to slide like lightning. Use this skill with care 'cos you could slide him into a whole lot of trouble.

Keep a check on Demon's energy level by the indicator at the bottom of the screen: lose all your energy and you return to the beginning of the game. In his search for the keys Demon can collect energy pots to replenish his lost strength. Beautiful gems will enhance his score. Find all six keys, search for the exit and teleport to a more peaceful land.

Demon Blue is a visually attractive game, with plenty of pretty platforms to explore. Introduction music is equally as pretty and the in-game FX are excellent. Demon Blue himself is a very nicety animated sprite, with some great little mannerisms. So what went wrong? Sadly, the gameplay was lost somewhere in the great vortex of production. All that remains is the requirement for pixel-perfect jumping around thicko enemies - not exactly fascinating, and very frustrating.

Its a great shame as everything else about the game points towards a classic platform adventure.

Demon Blue is a game that looks far better than it plays. In this day and age, you want more than unintelligent baddies that just trundle back and forth along a set route all day long, while you jump around them or lose energy - this genre was done to death eight years ago, and Demon Blue offers nothing really new.

The cassette inlay boasts a hundred screens to explore. If Micro Value had cut down on quantity and paid more attention to depth of gameplay, it could've been a good game - the graphics and sound are excellent! As it stands, though, it's not much cop.

Presentation 76%
One player only, multi-load won't give you the blues

Graphics 91%
Demon Blue's a cute sprite and his world's pretty

Sound 87%
Excellent intro music, plentiful in game effects

Hookability 67%
Frustratingly hard, pixel perfect jumping skills needed

Lastability 58%
You'll soon want to hurl your monitor out of the window

Overall 66%