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Nightmare Maze, written by Mike Williams, is a descendant of Pac Man, which was popular ages ago in the arcades. Although it is easy to see the origins, the game is completely different to play. Instead of running around the maze in between the walls, you actually run on top of them. They are drawn in perspective, as if you were looking down at an angle.

There are four screens, each with a different maze and monsters. The first is inhabited by springy things, the second by bouncing balls, the third by deadly frogs, followed by hungry hoppers. I can't confirm the last two as I always got bounced on the second screen.

The object of the game is to collect a number of keys which appear around the maze. On acquiring the last you can unlock the door which leads to the next screen.

The inhabitants of the maze don't chase you, they move in fixed patterns. The routes taken are sufficiently complex as to make it very difficult to remember more than the first few.

Help is at hand in the form of a cup of black coffee. Drinking this awakens you from your nightmare and the nasties disappear. You soon start to dream again so you must rush round collecting the keys as fast as possible before they reappear.

The graphics are excellent and the animation very smooth with good sound to accompany the springy/bouncy hoppers. Having said that though, I honestly didn't enjoy playing this game, the reason being that it is just too frustrating, Maybe I'm just too old! Not one in three weeks have I made the high score table, not even the bottom position.

The man is difficult to control when the monsters disappear, often running straight past the path you wish to turn and run along, and when you are caught, all the keys you have so painstakingly collected are lost and you must start again.

This game is for advanced arcadians only, providing an exciting new challenge to their skill. Us ordinary mortals haven't a chance, it really is a nightmare!

Roland Waddilove