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When programmers Steve "Ranarama" Turner and Andrew "Uridium" Braybrook suddenly quit Hewson back in September, it must have hit the software company for six. Turner and Braybrook were responsible for their most highly prized games. Would this mean the glory days were over? Did it hell?!

Even in the depths of their darkest hour (Doesn't this tug your heartstrings?) a new star rises. With it comes what must be the most original game this month and what will probably be the most original game released this year.

And that game is Nebulus from the mind of 24-year-old John Phillips, who you may remember was responsible for Impossaball. That game attracted good reviews but probably didn't get the attention from the public that it deserved. Well, hopefully, that won't happen with Nebulus.

So just what is Nebulus? Well, the central feature is a 3D scrolling tower with steps around the edge and doorways which allow you to enter the tower and cross to the other side. As you enter, the tower spins to reveal the hidden face.

The idea is to climb to the top of the tower, avoiding the traps and monsters. Then into a sub-game before encountering another tower.

It sounds a simple concept but it is brilliantly executed, magnificently programmed and a sheer joy to play.

Okay, let's backtrack for the plot. The game is set on the planet Nebulus where someone or something has been building towers in the sea.

The character you play, Pogo, works for Destructo Inc. a demolition company given the job of demolishing the towers. And guess what? You've got the job.

So the game opens as you emerge from a Mk 7 Minisub at the foot of the first tower - the Tower of Eyes. This character reminds me in some ways of that other Hewson creation Gribbly from Gribbly's Day Out. Remember him?

Anyway, you have to climb the tower in the set time limit. The towers are covered with various ledges, tunnels and lifts. Some of these ledges dissolve when you stand on them and slippery ledges which will push you left or right.

Flashing blocks and bouncing balls can be destroyed by shooting them but the silver rolling balls can only be stopped in their tracks for a few seconds.

All other creatures are indestructible. If hit by a creature, you tumble off the ledge and land a few levels down. If you fall in the sea, you lose a life.

Entering the final door at the top of the tower sets off the destruction sequence. You are awarded bonuses for the time left and for technique and the tower will crumble into the sea.

When a tower has been destroyed, you get back in your submarine and travel underwater to the next tower. In the Commodore version, you can pick up bonuses by catching fish. This is done by shooting air bubbles to capture the fish, which are then collected.

The points are 100 for a bouncing ball, 50 for a flashing block, extra points for climbing the tower and an extra life every 5,000 points.

I have a feeling that from just reading the straightforward description of Nebulus you might say it doesn't sound all that thrilling. But it really is. This is a game you have to play.

The graphics are stunning, the sound effects brilliant - the sound of the characters' feet is a wonderful feat (Ha ha ha.)

I have no hesitation in whole-heartedly recommending both the Commodore 64 and Spectrum versions of the game to you. There may be an Amstrad version released later on but the word from Hewson is that will depend if the programmers can speed up the action.