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Television will never be the same! At last, Edd the Duck has been given his own TV series. However, Wilson the Butler is a bit miffed at being left out. He reckons he had a hand in Edd's rise to fame, so he sets out to sabotage the show.

Edd's TV series is split into nine episodes, three for each of the three BBC Departments: Weather, Special FX and Children's TV. In each vertically scrolling episode Edd must jump between platforms, collecting stars and avoiding Wilson's cronies - including fish, bumblebees and even Arglefrags from the Alpha Centauri System (you've got to hand it to Wilson, he's got contacts). If Edd collides with any of these he takes a fall and the director orders a retake - Edd has four takes (lives) in all.

Edd also has a special snowball firer which freezes nasties for a short time, allowing him to safely pass through them. When Edd has collected all twenty stars, he can star in the next episode.

Edd is a peculiar little game: the basic style and some attractively cute sprites give a Rainbow Islands feel, but actual gameplay is more dated - in fact, Jet Set Willy has more sophistication!

Still, leaping from platform to platform while dodging, or shooting the baddies certainly isn't easy. Edd jumps a set distance, so picking where to jump from is often crucial, as is working out alien movement cycles. The aliens don't home-in, but they have to be beaten to get those stars and can't be killed - falling often lands you on top of a baddy who has just woken up!

So, although basic, play is challenging and somewhat compulsive. Quality graphics and a nice soundtrack on the Amiga mean Edd fans will no doubt be hooked, even if I wasn't.

The C64 version plays much the same, and although baddie sprites are generally Spectrumesque, colourful platforms and a good main sprite compensate.

First impressions are of Rainbow Islands, what with the vertically scrolling, platform-filled levels. However, Edd The Duck plays much simpler than that: just collect the stars without touching the nasties.

Maybe it's the cute main character, but the game has a certain simple charm that keeps you coming back for another try. Technically, neither version impresses. Despite some Spectrumesque sprites, the C64 version comes off the better, mainly due to the 8-bit nature of the game.

Eddis also slightly smaller in relation to the screen size, so you can see more above him. Nonetheless it's more difficult than the Amiga game - even the first level is a challenge to complete.

Sound is good on both formats, with the jolly Amiga tune particularly pleasing.

All in all, not quite a quacker but good fun for Edd fans.

Presentation 55%
Same as C64.

Graphics 69%
Simplistic for nicely animated and shaded.

Sound 72%
Pleasant in-game tune and tunelets, no FX.

Hookability 68%
Very easy to get into.

Lastability 62%
Only nine levels, and not as challenging as the C64.

Overall 66%
Simplistic but good fun for Edd fans.

Presentation 62%
No multi-load, high score table, simple death and 'episode complete' screens.

Graphics 63%
Monochrome nasties ook a bit Spectrummy, but the overall look is cheerful.

Sound 66%
Jolly title tune, in-game spot FX and tunelets.

Hookability 71%
Simple concept makes it immediately playable.

Lastability 68%
Only nine similar levels, but they're challenging enough.

Overall 70%
Good simple fun.