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Manic Miner was a ladders and levels game which graced just about every home computer on the market. As with most successful games, it was quickly followed by a sequel, in this case Jet Set Willy. Having escaped from the mine, Miner Willy wasted no time at all in spending his new found wealth. After buying a mansion and yacht he decided to throw a party.

The party is a wild success but the housekeeper is rather upset about the aftermath. Willy is given an ultimatum: No sleep until all of the debris has been cleared. When you live in a 100-room mansion, that is some headache.

With Manic Miner, each individual screen had to be completed before starting the next. With Jet Set Willy, there are no such constraints - you, as Willy, can wander from screen to screen at will. However, you will only be awarded points for collecting the objects from the party.

When you load up the game for the first time you will see that you are provided with eight Willies. This might seem to be very generous but there is a problem. Should you manoeuvre Willy into a position that will mean certain death, he will die. He will then be reincarnated in the very same position. Unless you have lightning reflexes then he will die again, and again, and you will soon be minus several Willies. Once I lost all eight Willies in under three seconds.

On several occasions, I entered the bedroom only to be shown the way out by the irate housekeeper. What I can't understand is if Willy can afford a 100-bedroom mansion, why can't he get decent staff?

Carol Barrow