Philosopher's Quest, like Countdown To Doom has just been converted across to the Spec after years of virtual anonymity the BBC, and despite the fact that it's been virtually untouched in conversion - apart from some tweaking here and there - it stands up remarkably well. The text is amusing and intriguing, with hints being left around in a more subtle manner than I'm used to.

There aren't any graphics, and the text seems to border on terse now and again, treating you in a rude, prodding sort of manner. Indeed, the author has contrived to make some of the puzzles utterly baffling, like the albatross that clings on to you until you're dead, or the invisible dogs that need to be made visible.

Philosopher's Quest is definitely not my fave adventure, but it's certainly one of the more complicated around, and of a very high quality. I think it's my personal lack of patience more than anything else.

You do find yourself in at the deep end right away, however, being plunged into pitch darkness in only the second location. Movement in the dark is, of course, highly undesirable and potentially lethal.

Absurdly involved puzzle-ridden adventure of high difficulty. Not for the novice or the easily put-off.