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Max is a supposedly computer generated featured in a TV show. Initially, there was a futuristic adventure film which then developed into a cult music video series.

Now Max has actually become a 'real' computer character but it is not just a computer version of the joking personality with a RAM defect as seen on the TV, but a full game related to the original adventure.

The Max Module which generates the personality has been kidnapped by Network 23, the company originally responsible for creating him, and stored in the computer lab. You have to get it back from their high security building.

I loaded the game and read the accompanying instructions; these take the form of six memos and each gives hints on how to accomplish your task. I re-read them and felt I had an idea of what to do. How wrong can you be! The first part is to enter a code in the lift to get to the floor of your choice. I spent the next twenty minutes going up and down in the lift, totally out of control. In between I had to run a gauntlet of vicious robots to get from one side of the room to the other side because you can only use alternative lifts.

I literally spent hours trying to solve the first problem, and it says much for the game that I never wanted to give up. I can only relate it to trying to hack into an unknown system, extremely frustrating but compelling.

The graphics were very good, the action scren being in a 3D perspective with fast, well animated characters. There is a system of icons down each side of the screen which added to the number of permutations of actions and to my confusion level.

Using the various controls is easy and playing either by joystick or keyboard is quite to master, the keys used are well selected and easy to get used to. This is not a game for the mindless 'zapper' although it seems to have a good set of fast challenging arcade screens. I forecast that a spate of helplines and hints and tips for this game will be appearing in magaznes in a very short while!

A fantastically frustrating and annoying addictive game. A Monster Hit.