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Beyond Software has rightly earned a reputation for excellent games ranging from the epic Lords Of Midnight to the cartoon-style Spy Vs. Spy. Its latest game is Shadowfire - an adventure without text.

Instead, the player controls the actions of the characters in the game through a series of icons (pictoral representations of actions). Unfortunately due to the limitations of computer graphics, some of the icons require explanation before they become apparent. However, once you become acclimatised, this method is both quick and simple to use. This speed will become important as you try and complete the adventure for it is played in real time.

The object of the game is to rescue a kidnapped ambassador from the clutches of the evil Zoff who has him imprisoned onboard his ship, Zoff 5. To help you complete this objective you have the services of a group of five heroes, known collectively as Enigma.

Enigma is in fact a sort of galactic A-Team and consists of Toric, a winged humanoid, Sevrina a safecracking murderess, Syylk an insectoid, Zark a ruthless killer and a weapons droid called Transmaul. The team is completed by Manto who operates a transporter that allows them to infiltrate Zoff 5.

Similarly the other characters have specialist abilities and tasks and the mission will only be successful when the player has discovered the best way to use his team.

Each character has a strength, agility and stamina rating which dictates their performance in the game and are represented by coloured bars on the screen display. The screen represents your control panel, through which you can communicate with your team. Through the various screens accessed by icons you can order the members of Enigma to explore and fight as you wish. However, you should be warned that communication can often be interrupted. During which time the character in question may decide to adopt their own plan. Therefore, it is important to keep in close contact with each memberof your team which involves issuing orders as quickly as possible.

The instructions that you can give to each character are split into three groups or screens which are accessed by selecting the appropriate coloured VDU icon. The green VDU leads you to the movement screen on which there are arrows pointing in the directions in which you can go. Simply select the required arrow and the command is issued. Similarly the red VDU accesses the combat screen in which you can order the character to attack, defend or retreat when faced by an enemy. Finally the third yellow icon leads to a screen where you can pick up and drop objects. This screen is also the equivalent of the INVENTORY and USE THE commands found in standard adventures since it keeps track of objects carried and contains an icon showing a finger pressing a button for when you wish to activate a piece of equipment.

Since Shadowfire uses icons for all command input it allows the player to choose from a variety of control devices. These can range from a joystick to a lightpen with the lightpen being the quickest method.

Shadowfire is in fact the first of a trilogy of games using this system and I for one am looking forward to the next adventures of Enigma.