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It's 1945 and Rick Dangerous is the kind of hero who laughs in the face of death and promptly headbutts him one for good measure. Such courage is abruptly put to the test when his aircraft crashes near the temple of the headhunting Goolu tribe. Rather than running away as fast as possible, Rick decides to loot some treasure while he's there. He's armed with a gun, six sticks of dynamite (for blowing away fallen stonework, and a prodding stick (makes a change from a whip).

If Rick survives the caverns he's straight off to Egypt to rescue the precious Jewel of Ankhel from some mad mullahs. In the third mission Mr. Dangerous is off to... well, you'll have to find that out for yourself.

Rick Dangerous is the sort of platforms-and-ladders arcade/puzzle game which has been around for ages. Graphics, while good, are not spectacular and sound is disappointing. Initially playability doesn't seem that special, but once the traps start springing, it picks up. Often the traps are impossible to notice beforehand, but with such comic presentation death is usually more funny than frustrating.

Addictive and entertaining this deserves to do well.

The Indiana Jones influence is rubbing off on quite a few games recently, Rick Dangerous being one of them. The jolly antics of Rick braving a series of very attractively detailed caverns and tombs comes to life through what is simple but very enjoyable gameplay (shades of Giana Sisters and Bruce Lee in places).

Each cave has its own, set pattern of play to get through with the best fun coming from the lethal, and often very deviously placed traps. The tunes before each level are good but why aren't the sound effects a little more gutsy?

Presentation 79%
Good intro screen, clean layout and a handy Abort key.

Graphics 78%
Good cavern backgrounds but the sprites lack anything more than moderate detail.

Sound 57%
Pleasing start-of-level ditties, but generally quiet spot effects otherwise.

Hookability 73%
A rather tough start but the problem solving element soon comes into its own and keeps you glued.

Lastability 76%
85 rooms may not seem like a lot, but you'll be hard-pushed to see a quarter of them in your first sitting.

Overall 73%
A playable and fun platform-style game but not much more than that.