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In another first for Joystick Jury, we are able to bring you the first UK review of Pitfall II. Regular readers of videogaming will need no introduction to that intrepid jungle adventurer, Pitfall Harry.

Quite simply, Pitfall is the best graphic adventure ever written for the Atari VCS and now ace designer, David Crane, has programmed the sequel. The game kicks off in true Pitfall fashion with Harry fashing through the thick jungle foilage.

A little further on, the horizontal aspect of the game, which so characterised Pitfall I, rapidly changes as our hero finds himself in the midst of a multi-level climbing game.

Harry and his travelling companions, Rhonda, his niece, and Quickclaw, the cowardly cat, have to encounter many nasties as they explore the numerous levels and platforms. But if nasties and a climbing scenario makes you think of rolling barrels and Italian carpenters, then forget it - when I say nasty, I mean nasty. The worst of these villains is the condor who flies across several screens and swoops down and kills our hero simply by clipping him with its wings. Also deadly are the poisonous frogs that leap to and fro across the ladders.

The object of the game is to collect as much treasure as you can as you try to find your way to the end of the Lost Caverns.

Playability of Pitfall II has been greatly increased by a unique game sector marker system. Every time you reach a certain point in the game, a cross appears which Harry has to touch - the VCS will register the contact by emitting a bleep - then, if you get killed later in the game, begin again at the last cross and not at the very beginning. This takes the tedium out of having to play your way through that part of the game which you have already mastered to get you to the bit which is still eluding you.

The game is played to the accompaniment of a sophisticated musical sound trap made possible by a specially developed sound chip exclusive to this game.

The good news for Spectrum and Commodore 64 owners is that Activision are developing Pitfall I and II for these computers to be launched later this year.

I can't recommend this game highly enough. If you already own Pitfall I, rush out and buy this sequel - if you don't rush out and buy them both.