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They're ghosts in the machine, a malevolent maelstrom of menacing spirits and ghouls. The creatures of the night are running rampant. And, like a bad dream, there's no escape, only the hope that you'll wake up and survive. But don't count on it.

Welcome to Cascade's Frightmare, the only game that invites you to say a prayer before playing: "Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take."

Up until now Cascade has built its reputation - and probably fortune - on Ace I and II, the excellent flight simulations. Their other releases have failed to match this standard. But now comes Frightmare, a tasty little game, with quality touches, superbly creepy music and wonderful graphics touches.

Okay, it's basically a platform and ladders game, a format used on computer games for what seems eons. But this game proves there's still a bit of originality and style to be squeezed out.

There are basically two objectives in Frightmare. Firstly, to wake up. You do this by moving the time, displayed on the screen, from midnight to 8.12am. Each "dream" you manage to visit will advance the time by six minutes. Secondly you have to raise your "dream state" from the lowly Bad Dream up to Nefarious Nightmare.

These dream states are shown by two words - an adjective and noun. For instance, Cruel Illusion. There are fifteen adjectives, beginning from the rather mild and innocent Bad to the frightening Nefarious. Scoring points changes the colour of the letters in the adjective and noun. When all the letters have changed colour, the adjective changes. When all fifteen adjectives have been used, it's then on to the next dream state.

The game is packed with creatures, ghouls, spirits, zombies, werewolves and the like. There are also, as you would expect, weapons and useful items to collect.

Other "surprises" include an embalmed Egyptian Pharoah set on killing all that lies between him and the experience of death that has so far eluded him; Wolf-Men who have been condemned to eternity; Swamp Monsters that are seeking their next meal; Transylvanian family who have evaded death and rise from the earth as Zombies.

Weapons available include: Holy Water that will exterminate skulls, Medusa, Bats, and a watch that slows down all monsters. This can only be used once, so choose the moment carefully. There is also a Crucifix that enables you to freeze Zombies, Serpents, Willo' The Wisps and a Revolver and bullets which are collected separately. Up to twenty bullets can be held at one time which can be used to kill numerous monsters but some will only die after several hits; Silver Revolver and Bullets - there's only one of these and it can be used to kill additional monsters such as Zombies and Werewolves.

The collected weapons are displayed at the bottom of the screen. You can select individual weapons with the joystick. Whatever weapon is in the right hand position will be the one used.

Other things to be found around the game are wings, which increase the size of your jumps, rings for extra lives - up to five may be carried at any one time - chalice, to increase dream state rating, and transporter, which allows you to move from screen to screen.

Special mention must be made of the music by The Judges, a Dutch band. It's excellent. Just right to send chills up your spine.

Oh, by the way, make sure you get May's C&VG for our special Frightmare Freebie giveaway.

Frightmare is definitely a step in the right direction for Cascade. But remember, sweet dreams are not made out of this...