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Decidedly lacklustre Q*Bert clone from a software house that really should know better. The graphics are scratchy, the colours are garish, and the gameplay is decidedly routine. It comes as a definite downer after the excellence of other Ocean conversions like Mr. Wimpy and Eskimo Eddie.

On paper (at least) Pogo looks fairly successful. The fat fellow hops around that familiar paint-splattered pyramid, much as you'd expect him to do, and there's the obligatory crystal ball and pig-tailed snake to avoid. In latter screens you merit extra flying discs and, what the inlay card assures me are 'aggressive scorpions' - frankly, I'd never have guessed it from looking. It's the only Spectrum Q*Bert I've come across that retains the cuss balloon which Pogo emits when he's stomped upon. I played it with little enthusiasm.

Owners of Currah speech synthesizers (with which Pogo is compatible) may derive a little more pleasure from the sound, which is good. The snake hisses convincingly but it is difficult to make out whether he is saying "slither, slither" or "sniffer, sniffer"...! Taunting remarks such as "last life, Pogo" or "pathetic", serve only to stiffen your resolve to beat the game into dust.

Q*Bert groupies are advised to look elsewhere for more authentic thrills.