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Buy this game, got that? Now we can settle down to secondary matters, such as why. The combination of Level 9 and Mandarin Software made its debut successfully with the Time And Magik trilogy. In Lancelot the quality has taken a giant stride forward - it is, it would appear, possible to improve upon excellence.

If you didn't take my advice to upgrade your BBC Micro when I reviewed Time And Magik, what you should do now is to pawn the wife and children and make the appropriate improvements. If ever a software product determined the hardware configuration, this is it.

Masters, B+ with sideways ram and BBC B with sideways and shadow ram will get pictures - BBC Micros with just shadow or sideways ram will get text only.

I confess that my fingers shook a little as I unwrapped the package, unloaded the booklet and explored the offering. I found very helpful clues in the documentation, an interesting condensation of the Arthurian legend and a booklist that will set people arguing for ages.

The text entranced me: It really is just the sort of thing that makes an adventure first class as against merely good. The quality is consistent throughout:

"Lancelot was riding east along a forest road. Leafy branches edged the track, which was deep rutted and churned by heavy ox carts and the footsteps of men and horses. This was the road to the great city of Camelot, the heart of the kingdom. An exit led east.

"Thy command Sire? E

"Squire Lancelot rode east and was wading through a ford. The river was wide, but ran swiftly here. Exits led east and west Lancelot could see the Black Knight.

"The Black Knight sat straight and proud upon his horse and did challenge Lancelot. 'Squire, no man can pass this way save with my permission. You must prove your worth before you may cross this ford'."

And so the excellence of the language was established, and continued. I loved "Dusk began to suck the colours from the greying world". If an adventure can use that elegance of text - and add graphics as well - then I am utterly satisfied. It passed my first test with flying colours - what about the other crucial test?

I am a steady advocate of easy beginnings to adventures: It's the best way to lure a beginner into the plot and then transform him or her into an afficionado. or even an addict.

Lancelot passed faultlessly - even to the extent that if you try to stay up all night you are sent to bed; it's not the ideal bed admittedly, but you do get a night's sleep.

One feature new to me is what are called High Level Commands. Suppose you want to visit a certain location and either can't remember the sequence of moves or can't be bothered to enter them. If you enter GO TO (LOCATION) the computer will work out the route for you - a nice touch.

There are certain principles to be kept in mind when exploring this adventure. You need to display fairly constantly all the virtues of chivalry - courage, courtesy, piety and - especially in the final part - temperance and purity.

The scoring system is based upon the successful completion of tasks. Thus, very early on you have to decide whether or not to offer mercy to the Black Knight. Sparing his life is the key to the rest of the game - and you score 30 points.

It is also possible to have points deducted. If you behave dishonourably, dishonestly or otherwise do something that is immoral, illegal or fattening - particularly when on the quest for the Grail - you can expect to pay dearly.

Mention of the Holy Grail brings me to my final point. Associated with the launch of Lancelot is a competition with a beautiful silver goblet as a prize. The clues to its whereabouts are to be found in the adventure and you do not have to be an expert adventurer to have a chance of winning.

Peter Austin told me himself that you don't have to be capable of solving the whole adventure in order to come across the clues. This is sensible, since it means the competition is open to many more people.

However, be warned, Lancelot is not just available for the enhanced BBC Micro or Master. Owners of other types of micro are going to be hot on the chase, so off you go.

Lancelot has just got to be Game of the Year for me.