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Crisis, drama, shock, terror - a normal day in the C&VG game review complex. But today's different. There's a hijack going on and I've got to crack it.

It's hard enough having the CIA and FBI on my back but now the President's playing up. Things are looking very bleak.

But there's nothing bleak in the future of Electric Dreams' arcade, strategy and simulation game Hijack. It's a gem.

The objective of the game is to end the hijack. There are three ways to do this - buy them off, persuade them to give up or scare them into submission using military might.

As the head of the head of the Hijack Division, some sort of obscure government department, it's your job to decide on the best plan, keep the President and press happy, organise your colleagues, fight off power struggles, raise cash and gather information. All the time the clock ticks down to the terrorists' deadline.

The main part of the screen is taken up with a view of the various rooms and offices of Hijack HQ. You can move from room to room, meet various people, take to them and examine objects of use. A map of the office complex is useful because it's easy to get lost.

At the top of the screen are a series of ten heads. These are the people in the building. They are The President, military adviser, political adviser, FBI agent, CIA man, military assistant, political assistant, publicity officer, financial officer and secretary.

The heads change colour when that character is in the same room as you. If you're quick enough you can question them, receive information and give instructions.

At the bottom left of the screen in an icon displaying what useful items are about as you walk past.

I played Hijack on a fairly small-sized television and found it a little difficult to see the smaller icon displays but those lucky enough to own bigger sets shouldn't find it a problem.

There is an end game where you travel to the scene of the hijack where you'll see if your campaign to defeat the terrorist was successful. It could mean a medal or the sack.

Hijack, for me is a breath of fresh air, in a boring month of reviewing.