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Within a few weeks of release, Manic Miner was the best-selling computer game in the country, and deservedly so.

Everything about the presentation of this strange underground tale spells quality - the opening scene depicts an idyllic summer's day, while the Spectrum BEEP'S out a bit of Tchalkovsky, and a piano keyboard is shown, with the keys moving in time to the music.

The Manic Miner of the title is a chap called Willy, who, for reasons best known to himself, goes prospecting around Surbiton. Here, he stumbles on an ancient mineshaft, in which is evidence of an ancient civilisation.

This civilisation used automata to mine the raw materials for its industry, and after a war which wiped out all the combatants, these machines have continued working miles underground, accumulating riches beyond belief.

Willy realises he's struck it rich - all he has to do is get the goodies to the surface. But that's not so easy... not with poisonous pansies, spiders, slime, and manic mining robots to contend with! All the while avoiding these nasties, Willy has to collect the keys that are needed to reach the next level.

The graphics are a lot of fun, and Bug-Byte has given a choice of keys for movement, but it would have been nice to have a joystick option. The best thing about the game is its off-the-wall humour and references to other games - Willy finds himself battling penguins and mutant telephones (better than camels, eh Jeff?), a Kong Beast makes an appearance, and there are attacks from ferocious toilets in Eugene's Lair (Eugene Evans left Bug-Byte for Liverpool rivals, Imagine).

Manic Miner is a fine example of the talent and imagination that goes into producing computer games these days.

The Spectrum is particularly well served in this respect - something about Clive's [Sir Clive - Ed] little wonder seems to attract the best programmers (maybe it's something to do with the potential financial reward!). We've come a long way from Pong and Space Invaders, and Manic Miner is an indication of just how far. Superb.