This is probably the most challenging game yet written for any home computer. Well, that's what it says on the cassette cover. In fact, Living Stone is simply a board-game - you place stones on strategic points of a pattern in order to surround and capture territory.

The pattern is a kaleidoscopic combination of triangles, squares and hexagons. You play against the computer or another human being. The game is divided into two parts. In the first, the players take it in turns to place one of their stock of stones on to a corner of one of the geometric shapes. Occupying all the corners of a triangle or square gives you the privilege of moving one or two of your opponent's stones. Occupying all the corners of a hexagon wins the game.

Assuming that both players have succeeded in preventing their opponent from winning in the first stage, and have placed all their stones on the board, the game moves into the second stage. Here you may move your stones along the lines to adjoining intersections. The aim of the game remains the same.

The game does involve careful thought, but the claims made on the cassette cover are a little over-stated. Just because a game involves a high degree of possible strategic combinations doesn't mean that it's going to have you hooked.

Living Stone may have more possible moves than a chess game, but whether you'll want to spend all day working them out is another matter altogether.