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Disaster has struck! Your plans to take the love of your life to the Live Aid concert have been threatened by the sudden theft of your motorbike. To save the day the component parts of the cycle and the two tickets for the concert have to be found - and all before 7:30pm! After this your fickle girlfriend is threatening to leave for the concert with somebody else...

The player uses the joystick to stroll his on-screen alter ego through the mean streets and alleys in the search for information leading to the bike's recovery. This comes from interacting with the shady characters who inhabit them in one of three ways.

A character can be asked one of several selectable questions, appropriate to the hero's current circumstances and whatever information he has already managed to gain. Some questions elicit an immediate response, either favourable or unhelpful, while others are only answered upon some form of remuneration.

Some of the uglier characters may hold a place of the motorcycle and only give it up after a fight. A description of the opponent appears on-screen, and while the hero attempts to kick, head-butt or punch him into submission, two emptying beer glasses represent each pugilist's diminishing energy. If the hero's glass empties completely, he loses consciousness and the game. Fortunately, lost energy can be replenished by visiting a bar where the beer is free!

If the hero comes across a potentially nasty confrontation when his strength is low, he can choose to escape to a safer part of the street.

The action is represented in a distinctive cartoon-style as the hero patrols the streets, with the ability to move into and out of the landscape along the streets. Below the main display is an inventory screen which shows any items collected as well as the state of progress regarding the reconstruction of the motorcycle. Other characters are also depicted in a large cartoon on the right of the action screen, with one showing the hero's state of health on the left.

Live Aid awaits, but not forever - so go for it!

The typically well-drawn Infogrames graphics hit me right in the eye when Sidewalk loaded.

The stylish seediness of the backdrops and characters creates a perfect setting for the gameplay, which unfortunately returns the compliment grudgingly. The directional control is sometimes confusing, and although the playing area appears to be quite small, I was never exactly sure where in the network of streets I was.

Something that surprises me, considering the game's strong adventuring overtones, is how short a game can last.

After a few plays I was able to find all the pieces of the motorbike and was close to completing the objective. Overall, a smart game which falls between the arcade and adventuring stools, and ends up in No-Man's Land.

It's been one of those days. Someone has stolen your motorbike, you have to grab a couple of Live Aid concert tickets before they're all sold out. Sounds just like real life, doesn't it?

Sidewalk is one of those games that's simple to get into, but reasonably hard to complete, and is quite often frustrating - but luckily in a pleasant way.

Cartoon-style graphics have been put to good use, especially the pictures that appear at the sides of the screen when you speak to other characters, or engage in a little fisticuffs. Sound is not quite so hot, with a rather feeble tune that just about manages to stagger through the title screen.

Sidewalk is an enjoyable adventure-type game, whose playability will diminish rapidly once completed.

Presentation 73%
Good options and screen layout, but confusing controls.

Graphics 84%
Highly-detailed and distinctive cartoon-style.

Sound 56%
Unremarkable title tune and jingles, with appropriate spot effects.

Hookability 73%
The adventuring urge is strong at first.

Lastability 52%
Once completed, the action loses its appeal.

Overall 67%
Original, playable, but sadly flawed.