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Rohan the warrior, guardian to a monastery of devout monks, awakes one morning to discover that the brethren have all been kidnapped. Such events have become increasingly common since the evil warlord Draxos seized control of the land. Consequently, Rohan, not being one to pontificate sets out into the Risky Woods, domain of the vile kidnapper, in search of his charges. The player is cast in the role of Rohan, as he battles the legions of Draxos in his priest-rescuing quest.

Electronic Arts, world-renowned for some of the most competent games on the Megadrive, have converted this popular Amiga game over to the Megadrive. Risky Woods is a nine-level platform quest in the time-honoured tradition of 'good versus evil'. Can you help Rohan maintain this ancient equilibrium?

Risky Woods is a conversion from the computer game released earlier this year.

Guide Rohan through the risky environment in his monk-rescuing quest.

At the far reaches of stage two, four, six, eight and nine, there lurk hideous creatures of immense power. Goodness knows what they are supposed to be, most probably demons from another dimension. What we can tell you is that the final boss is a vast abomination with swarms of minor denizens flying out of its belly, Rohan has to muster all his courage and guile if he is to see this final nasty off.

One of the problems Rohan may not have anticipated is that Draxos has turned the kidnapped monks to stone. Consequently our hero is required to free them from their monolithic states by shattering their stone tombs with his weapon. Once free, the joyful monks cast an almighty spell on their immediate surroundings causing everything evil to crumble and die.

However, the dastardly Draxos has anticipated Rohan's ingenuity and has also encased a number of evil monks in stone. Such wily worshippers of the dark also cast spells that damage Rohan along with the rest. Ooyah!

At various points throughout Rohan's journey, he encounters an ornate looking bird-like statue mounted on a hollow plinth known as a Gatekeeper.

The gap in the plinth is reserved for a key, the two halves of which are secreted at various locations in each level. Whichever Rohan confronts the Gatekeeper, inserts the key and 'chants' the incantation dictated by the statue correctly, the Gatekeeper crumbles and Rohan is permitted free passage to the road ahead. A bonus feature of the Gatekeepers is that they disperse hordes of useful weapons as they expire. How handy!

Should Rohan be dissatisfied with his current standard weapon, then the Gatekeepers' selection helps solve that problem. However, it is worth remembering that any weapon picked up whilst the same one is being carried effectively doubles its power, a weapon's power can effectively be tripled in this way. Here is the complete inventory of all the Gatekeepers' bag o' goodies.

1. Magic Dagger Closely resembles the knife that Rohan carries at the start of the game. The difference is that these babies are much more powerful.

2. Boomerang The benefit of this piece of kit is that it takes out enemies from behind. Oo-er! Its razor-sharp edges do a nice job of it too.

3. Fireball Fireballs - plain and simple.

4. Morning Star Night or day, this weapon's sure to bring stars to the enemies' eyes.

5. Axe These are the boys for causing the most damage! Though Rohan has to take their arcing path into consideration, otherwise they fly wide of their targets and do the least damage!

Although this may look pretty cool from the screen shots it actually plays like a wet Sunday afternoon in Rochdale. Take away the glitter, and all you're left with is a below average platform game offering nothing new. In fact, Risky Woods lacks many elements that have made the most popular platformers a success. All that is required of Rohan is to trundle along and fire whichever weapon is in his possession at whatever is in his way.

The only interesting feature that is included is the 'Chant' triggered gatekeepers, but the odd game of 'Simon Says' fails to relieve the general tedium. There are only four main bosses to dispose of, and they only take a couple of minutes to suss. From then on the game is as featureless as my chest.

Risky Woods stinks of a straight port-over from computer! It simply cannot hold its own against some of the superior arcade quality titles available to the Megadrive.

On first glance, Risky Woods doesn't look much cop. The backgrounds are a bit on the bland and basic side, the main sprite's a bit of a bumbler - not the fluid grace you'd expect from this type of hero - and it just doesn't appear that new or interesting.

But it's one of those games that grows on you and after a few goes, just when you're expecting to yawn, you actually start to get into it, then you begin to have fun and pretty soon have difficulty putting it down - curioser and curioser!

It controls really well and there's lots to do, pick up and kill and there's some nice little touches like the gargoyles who play you a tune which you have to repeat to proceed. Some of the end-of-level gits are whoppers although sadly, many are far too easy to waste.

Overall it's not a great game but there is some fun to be derived from it.

Presentation 77%
P. Quite a nifty looking title screen and the almost obligatory sound test/control configuration option screen.

Graphics 90%
P. Risky Woods abounds with the most attractive looking sprites and scenic backgrounds.
N. Everything looks so rigid and uncool.

Sound 86%
P. The music is very clean and polished and supports the game well.
N. But it is all so computer-like and uninspiring.

Playability 75%
P. The reasonable level of challenge and desire to experience all the other levels is incentive enough.
N. Sadly, the range of tasks that are demanded of Rohan is small.

Lastability 72%
P. There are nine levels to battle through which should take most players a while to explore.
N. The continues available are just enough to ensure a speedy victory.

Overall 74%
The less of this kind of thing that sees the light of day on the Megadrive, the better. Not that it's altogether that bad, but the machine is capable of so much more.