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My Uncle Billy, whom I believe I've mentioned in these columns before, writes programs like this. He writes them in Basic. Everyone makes polite noises about them. No-one plays them.

Hooked is a brave attempt to bring all the frustration and excitement of float-fishing to the small screen. It succeeds excellently as far as the frustration is concerned. It's the excitement that's missing.

You can choose motionless or moving fish, and whether to compete with the clock or another angler. You play by positioning the end of your rod over a fish's head, and then letting down the line. If you get the hook in the right place, the fish will bite. and you then try and get him into the landing net.

There are four levels of play, which merely adjust the size of the target area for your hook. There isn't much difference between moving or stationary fish, since the moving fish stop when you are about to 'cast'!

If you break your line you have to spend time fixing it, and if you get the hook caught on the bottom you must try and drag it out without breaking the line.

There is no auto-run on the program, which takes place to the accompaniment of minimal sound effects. Presumably so as not to disturb the fish.

I love fishing, but this game didn't have me hooked.