I thought this might be about Dallas, but it isn't. The inlay notes give an involved selling about catching Bludgits, extremely slimy creatures, in a local factory. This involves climbing ladders, digging holes for the creatures to fall into, then burying them. If they touch you then you lose a life, and if you happen to fall off a ladder, then you are rather stunned, and have to be dragged to your feet again. Putting it another way, this is a very conventional ladder, levels and digging game, and the concept has been around for some time.

The very barest of screens tells you the game is loading, and when it's finished the hi-score table is revealed, though no demo mode is available. When the game starts, there are some good sound effects, though no music. Graphically, the game is well executed by last year's standards; Digger himself is a nicely drawn flicker-free multi-coloured sprite, and when he expires as a result of contact with a Bludgit, his spirit complete with halo ascends the screen. In comparison to the graphics displayed in Sorcery, which must now be the Amstrad standard, they are uninspired. There are only four different screens.

The game is certainly a challenge however. Even using a joystick, it's very difficult to amass points.

Overall, something like the standard of the best cheaper games for the Spectrum. If you must have a ladders, levels and digging game, you'll enjoy this, but don't expect the earth.

D.M.