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At just two pounds fifty, Diamond Mine is aimed quite definitely at the "pocket money" market. However, the low cost is well matched by a low interest level, little originality and little in the way of addiction. It's not that the program is particularly bad, but just that I cannot really find very much to get enthusiastic about.

Imagine a mine - which is essentially a vertical maze - and at the top is the beginning of a pipeline. You must guide the pipeline through the mine in search of diamonds. There are a number of rather cute bugs which have a disconcerting habit of eating the pipeline and these must be avoided using the usual Z, X, *, ? combination of keys.

The walls of the mine must also be negotiated, or else a length of pipeline is lost.

Having said that, there is remarkably little to add. It is not a particularly easy game to play, although naturally success comes with practice.

Sadly, I found that boredom also set in, although the game might keep some younger players interested for a few hours.

The Electron has been around a long time now, and the level of much other software makes this particular program look rather poor in comparison.

Pat Hillery