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There's certainly a curse on the player in this game. Once you start playing, you just can't stop.

The game loads in only 60 seconds, thanks to a reliable turbo-loading system. Who wants to hang around when there are 15 spine-chilling screens to get stuck into?

Your joystick controls a small animated figure whose objective is to explore the underground caverns of the Pharaoh's tomb, collecting treasure and doing his best to avoid sudden death.

There is one treasure to be collected on each screen, together with the occasional key that allows access to one of several 'secret passages'.

Each screen is littered with rock-falls that block your path, ropes to climb up, chasms to fall down, and traps to avoid.

There are one-way passages, sliding barriers, and elevator shafts as well. Movement relies on careful joystick control. You can jump, climb, and move in any direction. Pressing the fire-button will loose off a round from your trusty Smith & Wesson in the direction you're facing.

Luckily for you there's an inexhaustible supply of bullets. You'll need them to deal with the Pharaoh, who has a nasty habit of materialising right beside you and hurling a poison dart in your direction. You can't kill him, but if you hit him he dematerialises again - for a while.

You'll also have to deal with a Mummy, a pal of the Pharaoh who also comes and goes at will, taking pot-shots at you.

The Mummy is invulnerable, but a well-aimed bullet will give you a moment's break.

The only other living inhabitant of the tomb is the Winged Avenger. He doesn't do you any harm, but if you bump into him as he files about the tombs he'll pick you up and carry you off to another screen. This is bad news if you're carrying a key at the time because you'll lose it on the way.

The Winged Avenger can sometimes be useful for getting out of a sticky situation if you can get to it in time. And of course, there's no guarantee that it won't dump you in a worse plight than you were in before.

Ooops! I almost forgot the traps. Jolly good fun, the traps. As you wander about you notice little warts on the floor. Without warning they will suddenly burst into life, with fatal results if you happen to be too close. Bubbling pits, razor-sharp tridents, and bouncing springs will all keep you on your toes.

You're constantly having to time your runs along the walkways and judge the moment when the trap won't be sprung.

The basic idea behind Pharaoh's Curse isn't particularly new, hut there are enough original touches to give a unique feel to the game. The program is visually attractive, easy to grasp, and great fun to play.

Just one word of warning - on the packet it says that no RAM expansion is required, but in fact you need a 16K add-on to run the program! If you don't have a 16K RAM pack, then this game is the best excuse I know for going out and buying one.