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While I was at the '89 PC Show (heavily disguised as a normal human being) I wandered over to Infogrames' stand to have a chat with one of their PR people, Christelle. Apparently, she was telling me all about Drakkhen (Infogrames' first major RPG release and the first of their Drakkhen "range") but I can't remember anything she said... if you've ever seen Christelle you'll appreciate why my mind went more of a blank than usual. Luckily, she gave me a press release covering most of what she'd told me about Drakkhen.

If you're into Dungeons and Dragons, the name Gary Gygax may well be familiar to you as he invented it! More recently he helped create the scenario for Drakkhen...

Long, long ago, the world was created for a powerful race of dragons. The balance of life depended on their well-being: should the dragons be wiped out, chaos would reign and the relatively peaceful life of men would come to an end; the drakkhen (scaly, 'orrible 'umanoids) would emerge to rule.

One day, a particularly stupid paladin (knightly champion) found and challenged the last of the dragons. After a long and difficult struggle, he managed to slay it. With its last breath, the winged beast screamed the words that heralded the end of man. From that moment the fate of mankind was sealed. Magic no longer existed; the day of the drakkhen dawned.

The last hope for mankind (there had to be one!) lies with a group of four adventurers sent by their emperor to a strange island (the only place where magic still exists). There they must find a cure for the plague before the human race is no more. You control the four as they seek eight dragon rulers, attempt to collect their jewels, and use them to summon the primordial dragon in an effort to gain his pardon for the stupid actions of the paladin.

To undertake this seemingly impossible task, you may either use the characters provided or create your own (you can only save your game position if you've made a character disk, so it's recommended).

Traditionally, you may choose to be male or female and then a magician, priest, fighter or scout. You're allowed three attempts to roll the highest possible numbers to allocate to character's strength, intelligence, dexterity and so on. Once you're happy with your party, it's time to stop falling about and get on and save your race.

The island you're sent to is made up of four zones: a marsh, desert, plain, and snowscape. Each zone features two places, in each of which resides a drakkhen ruler, either male or female, good or evil, who own the jewels you so desperately need.

Actual gameplay features two main modes, group and character. In group mode a first-person perspective is utilised to portray your party's journey across the landscape.

Character mode displays your party members on-screen and allows you to control them - individually as they explore their surroundings, glean information from other characters or objects and collect items. This mode is automatically selected when indoors or in a combat simulation. Combat takes two forms: group attack, where all party members set upon a foe en masse; or individual attack, where the chosen character enters the fray alone.

Adversaries - of which there are over 150 different types - are mostly brilliant, featuring good animation and excellent effects (although the pack of rats is a bit naff). Indoors lurk drakkhen guards (some armed to the teeth) to test your combat skills to their limit. Also inside are hunchbacked slave-humanoids. You may attack them if you wish - however, not only will you regret this move (they're well 'ard) but by not greeting them in a friendly manner you could miss out on some vital information.

Outside are creatures only seen in your darkest nightmares. More often than seems fair at first your peaceful walkabouts are interrupted by going into character mode - warning you of an impending confrontation. Then a dark spot on the ground grows and grows to become the shadow of some dreaded creature. Suddenly, hurtling down from the skies a huge screen-sized dragon appears to turn your party into a pile of sorry cinders. And this guy's only one of many massive monsters just waiting to end your quest. It's a good job you saved your position just before the attack (right?).

The outdoor attacks seem random, although they occur less frequently when your party stays on roads and doesn't travel at night. Control of your party (both individually and as a group) is easy, made so by the neat screen layout. Split into four main sections, the central window displays either your first-person view or party members and their immediate surroundings. Other panels show messages, individual party members and their health, current spell/weapon selected - and an action-icon window. A combination of keys, mouse, and joystick may be used to save the world.

Although combat plays a large part in Drakkhen, it is no ordinary hack 'n' slay RPG; thought has to go into which of your party should be armed with what, which spell should be used, and who should be fought and who talked to. The island is fairly large and a map is a necessity (although it's easy to lose direction). Good eyesight is also required as some objects are very well hidden.

Drakkhen is really tough: just when you think you're getting somewhere, down comes some big, scaly swine to show you who's boss. But it has a strange addiction, no matter how many times you die you just have to keep going back for more. Perhaps it's the incredibly atmospheric sounds or the amazing creatures you get pulverised by. Or maybe it's the wonderfully smooth (and fast) way you explore the island in group mode. Whatever it is, I found I couldn't stop playing: all I wanted to do was get a little bit further than last time, just to see what's waiting around the corner.

In short, Drakkhen is the best game I've played in a long time. Brilliant!