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Let's not beat about the bush. Forget all those two-bit games that claim to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Just get one thing into your head - The Lords Of Midnight is *the* game for the Spectrum. There is absolutely no doubt about it.

No, it's not a new arcade game, or an adventure game, or a strategy game. It really is something completely new, a type of program that, only a year ago, you couldn't even have imagined running on a home computer.

Just imagine a game with a staggering 4,000 locations. Not only that, but every one a full-screen colour display with panoramic views in all directions. Add to the scenery no less than 32 major characters, a quarter of a million soldiers, dragons, wolves, and other fictitious beings, and you begin to get just an inkling of the scope of this game.

The scenario is a familiar one, but still presents an enormous challenge t even the most experienced games player. Doomdark the Witchking holds the land of Midnight at the mercy of the Ice Fear, an evil force that saps the courage and well-being of his enemies. Your task is straightforward - rally the Free to your cause, defeat Doomdark, and liberate the land.

The program comes attractively packaged ith a comprehensive 30-page booklet giving background details to your quest, information about the land of Midnight and a short story. Don't skimp on the story, it gives valuable tips on gameplay.

Taking the role of Luxor the Moonprince, Lord of the Free, you can use the Moon Ring to see through the eyes of any other character loyal to you. At the start of the game you have three servants - Morkin the Boy, Corleth the Fey, and Rorthron the Wise.

Your servants can be moved around the country, enlisting soldiers and recruiting other Lords to your cause. Every time a new leader joins your forces, you are given control over him and are able to move him about in the same way.

In order to defeat Doomdark you must either wipe out his armies or destroy the Ice Crown from which he draws his power. A purely military victory is very difficult since, even if you manage to recruit every available man, you will still be outnumbered by approximately four to one.

Destroying the Ice Crown isn't easy either. The only person who can get hold of it is Morkin and he is very vulnerable. Others may help him in his task, but there are no tips about this in the instructions so you'll have to find out during play.

As you move the characters about the country, you will see a whole world unfold about you - ancient standing stones, forests, citadels, mountains, caves, even igloos! Every feature holds a secret or tells a story - but beware, some secrets are best left undiscovered.

During the game you will manoeuvre your armies and engage in battle with hostile forces. Every leader has his own character and some are more reliable than others.

Once you've moved all the characters in your control and issued the necessary orders, night falls and the computer gets to work. Your humble Spectrum has been elevated to the position of commander-in-chief of Doomdark's forces, and it does a frighteningly efficient job.

The Lords Of Midnight is excellently presented on-screen, with a beautifully designed character set and an entirely convincing representation of the country around you. After a couple of days' playing, I found myself able to tell from the screen exactly where I was and which direction I was heading in.

And I *mean* a couple of days' playing! It kept me up till 5 o'clock in the morning on one occasion! Once you get into it, The Lords Of Midnight is mind-gripping to an almost unhealthy degree.

Beyond Software, producers of best-selling Psytron, have done it again. This is a superb game and a must for all 48K Spectrum owners.