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When I mention gobbling cherries, and being chased around a maze by four monsters, don't quickly turn the page!

Mr. Dig bears little resemblance to you know what! In fact, it is based on the arcade game Dig Dug.

Small but cute Mr. Dig must eat the clusters of cherries by walking over them. He can also gain points by digging under or pushing several apples (the fruit. not the computers!) to the ground. Periodically, 'letter monsters' appear and, if killed in the correct order, the word 'EXTRA' lights up at the top of the screen, earning the player an extra Mr. Dig.

There are two ways in which our hero can dispose of the meanies. He can cause an apple to fall on them or he can throw his 'power orb'.

This wonderful gadget is a small ball which, if it misses its target, flies wildly around the screen until Mr. Dig can catch it again.

Throughout the game a merry little tune plays, which does begin to grate after a while. Many musical games allow you to switch the music off - unfortunately, Mr. Dig does not!

Short of reaching for the TV volume and turning down the sound completely, there is nothing that the poor put-upon player can do.

Although the graphics are small, they are multi-coloured and very nicely drawn, especially the fruit. In the middle of the screen is a mushroom - but this does not appear to have any hallucinogenic properties. Sometimes an apple splits to reveal a gleaming diamond, Mr. Dig's best friend as it gives a 10,000 point bonus.

Very playable and with ten levels ranging from 'baby' to 'masochist', Mr. Dig is one for the collection.

This is a very good arcade-style game: it's fast, has smooth movement and has many and varied jaunty game tunes to keep you amused.

The controls for the game are thoughtfully laid out, but the instructions hint at an inherent problem with the main character, Mr. Dig.

The problem is that he will "respond to your instructions as soon as he can", and for some people that will not be soon enough. In all though, a fast, musical and addictive game.

Get down and groove to the beat of the can-can, because the music is the best thing about this version of Mr. Dig.

The graphics were quite frankly a little disappointing after seeing Mr. Wiz on the BBC; and joystick control is sluggish.

The screen titling is amusing and you may be shamed into not starting on the baby level but on the masochists one - this will undoubtedly prove fatal and force you to swallow your pride.

Still, it's a pretty good version which had me doing high-kicks all the way to the keyboard.