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We told you the rules. We told you not to get them wet. We told you not to feed them after midnight. Did you listen? Nope, and just when you thought you'd got rid of 'em for good, they're back - and they're worse than ever!

It's been a few years since the Gremlins wreaked havoc at Kingston Falls, but now things are starting to go wrong. Clamp Plaza, a huge multi-storey complex, is now under threat of destruction by those madcap monsters, and it's down to Billy Peltzer to sort things out. Armed from the outset with a torch, Billy must ensure that the scaly maniacs are disposed of before nightfall. If you fail, the Gremlins will escape the building into New York City, and then...?

Viewed from side-on, Billy can run, jump and shoot, collecting additional weapons and power-ups along the way. Some Gremlins release bubbles when destroyed, which can be traded in for weapons at the end of each level. You haven't got it all your own way, though, because those crazed creeps have set traps-a-plenty around the building, and will do anything in their power to stop you!

To be perfectly frank, I think I was expecting this to be a pile of poo, but Gremlins 2 is actually rather jolly. Things get off to a good start with the cute (yecch!) intro sequence of Gizmo blinking his eyes to the sound of a Gremlin muttering threats of doom and gloom, and gets better from thereon in.

Both graphics and sound fit the bill nicely, with well-animated characters and loads of sampled sound, but the gameplay suffers from being over-difficult in parts, making things somewhat frustrating. There are some very nice touches, such as Gizmo parachuting in Rambo-esque style when the correct token is collected, and the Gremlins disappearing with a satisfying squelch when blasted.

Overall, a fun game that will please platform fans... but definitely not one for novices.