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Jet Set Willy arrived at the Big K office late (thanks a bunch, Software Projects!), the prerogative you might say of the micro scene's cosmic megastar. However, this put me in the unenviable task of trying to review a game that, as I write, is already Number One (with a bullet) in most of the game charts. I guess that neatly disposes of the questions, will you like it and will it be a success...

So, for the few who've recently returned from swan-upping in darkest Belgium, here we have the second appearance of Miner Willy, fresh from his starring role in the Bug-Byte/Software Projects mega-hit Manic Miner.

Willy makes his elegant appearance on the cover of Jet Set Willy, head down the lav in a graffiti-covered bathroom (tasteful, Software Projects), his non-NCB approved wellies akimbo. The premise, it seems, is that Willy has become so stinking rich from the fortune he discovered in Manic Miner that he has bought himself a huge mansion and thrown the mother of all parties.

The party's over and Willy wants to crawl into bed (and die?) but his housekeeper insists he collects every glass and bottle left in the mansion before he can do so.

The stage is set for Willy to take off on another sojourn through the strange mind of Matthew Smith as each room he enters (and there are around 60) is some incredible carnival of moving things, hazards and rewards. In this respect it is identical to Manic Miner. All you have to do is keep Willy moving and try to jump over any traps or dangers. Use up all his lives and it's The Foot (unclad this time) for you, my lad.

The major disappointment for me was the lack of demo mode. Software Projects claim that Jet Set Willy is a "total graphics adventure" (Say what?) and are offering a Big Prize to the first person who cracks it. All well and good, but at least no-hopers like myself who can only manage about half a dozen screens had the chance of seeing the full range of Matthew Smith's lunacy on Manic Miner. Any kind soul out there want to tell me what I'm missing?

That said, Jet Set Willy is a worthy successor to Manic Miner. The graphics, animation and sound are as good as, if not better than the original. Maria, the housekeeper, in particular, is superbly characterised. The way she taps her foot as Willy approaches his bed and then points an accusing finger towards the mess he has to clear up is brilliant.

Okay, compliments out of the way - let's talk about the security system on Jet Set Willy.

Software companies are, of course, going to fight the serious piracy problem in any way they can and I support them in the fight, but the hare-brained system in use on Jet Set Willy isn't going to help anyone!

A small, inlay-sized card containing 180 different four-colour combinations comes with each copy of Jet Set Willy. Once loaded the program asks for the particular combination at column x, row y on the card. The user then has to search out that combination and key it in. You only get two attempts before the program wipes itself. There's no way you can erase a mistake.

The system fails on two levels. First, the card is too small and the print quality so had that it is difficult to distinguish between a red and a magenta, even if you have good eyesight. Secondly, the system takes no account of people who are colour-blind or who may be playing on black and white sets!

The system is a hindrance and I'm sure will discourage people playing Jet Set Willy as often as they'd really like. A shame that a program of this quality and popularity should inhibit the majority of honest, fun-loving hackers on account of the actions of the minority of rip-off merchants.

Thank again, Software Projects.