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Yes, it's that loveable funster (!) Dizzy, the Oliver Twins Pension Fund. Did you think such an "eggciting" character could stay away from the screen for more than a month? Of course not! Eyes down for a full plate: here's Fast Food.

This is no ordinary 'Dizzy' though, and no longer is he confined to desert islands (shame!) and the like. He's out and and living at Hampton Court. Well, maybe not Hampton Court "eggsactly", but a system of mazes he runs around munching all in his path. The aim is to consume all manner of high fat and low fibre items before assorted meanies put him on a diet for the rest of "eggsistence".

Sound familiar? Of course it does! Dizzy has got Pac Man-itis! This disease, usually fatal, causes the unwitting sufferer to charge around labyrinths in search of said objects until such time as he or she is caught and "eggsterminated" by an ever-increasing host of pursuers. The disease can even be passed on to anyone "eggsperiencing eggsposure" to such a game, resulting in one of two states. If it is a bad case (a duff imitation not fit for human consumption), then the result is massive boredom; and in rare cases (a novel twist on a classic idea), complete and utter obsession.

Fast Food is an "eggsample" of the latter, a really original arrangement of a concept that, by all rights, should have given up the ghost, and be pushing up the daisies long, long ago. It has that one vital ingredient so often lacking: yokes. This humour is supplied by the "eggstra" special host Dizzy himself, of course, offering your reviewer the chance for some "eggscrutiating" puns.

Dizzy quite simply has to "negg"otiate the mazes and eat the various foodstuffs he finds there. The menu is not large, varying from hamburgers to milkshakes, jars of relish to roast chickens. (Aha! So Dizzy is a cannibal! Doesn't he know where eggs come from - and I don't mean Tesco's?) Moral outrage aside, the purpose of eating all this wholesome fare is to gain points, and a couple of kilos into the bargain. That is the entire focus of the game. No killing, no rescue, just a chance to score more points than anyone else and to boost your "eggo".

The first few levels are as easy as even an egg wearing boxing gloves could wish. With no one trying to "eggsterminate" him, it's just a case of getting used to how the mazes work and what effect the special items that appear have. Eat the green rhubarb and you speed up (well, you would, wouldn't you?), red rhubarb and slow down (huh?). Others such as red relish makes your pursuers freeze, while green makes you invnlnerable to their touch.

As you progress not only do the mazes get more difficult, but the numbers and doggedness of chasers, all suffering from omelette frenzy, increases. Every move becomes more frantic as you feel you've leapt out of the frying pan (sorry Dizzy!) into the fire.

The whole game "eggsudes" a refreshingly self-mocking air. The soundtrack "eggshibits" the now traditional synthesised speech, as always more synthesised than speech, and a tune that runs throughout the entire game. It's not "eggsactly eggsciting", but its slapstick fits the game like an egg cosy.

Neil Adamson's graphics also have a yokiness about them that makes the game fun to watch as well as to play. Incidental details to the game itself such as the side illustration is a fitting "eggsample". Little Dizzy is seen "eggscaping" Bonzo, Fido, Pipa and Wiza (the pursuers) with a look of slight concern on his face. In fact, "eggstreme" terror would be a better phrase. On screen, the action is clear and bright, with even the fine detail such as Dizzy's little red wellies and gloves waggling around like mad whenever he runs (too much of that green rhubarb!).

So Fast Food is an "eggception" to the rule that you can't revive a old idea and make it "eggsciting" and enjoyable. The range of difficulty is such that young and old gamers can all play and find a challenge, without needing superfast reflexes or being an egghead. The fresh style of presentation and lightness of touch making it a must for Pac fans and Dizzy eggsperts alike.

An ineggspensive, eggceptionally eggcellent, eggshilarating and eggciting entertainment, if somewhat eggshausting, that eggceeds eggspectations. And I'm not eggsaggerating! (Sorry about the eggcruciating yokes, though).

Depends on your age and ability.

Eggceptable

Graphics 77%
P. Varied maze designs and layout.
P. Little cartoons are fun to watch.

Sonics 73%
P. Jolly tune.
P. Olivers twins: Sack your voice-over man *now*!

Grab Factor 71%
P. Easy to pick up.
P. But remains challenging to the end.

Staying Power 81%
P. An "eggtensive" number of levels.

Overall 77%
P. Great value for such an inexpensive game.