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Snakes deserve a holiday every once in a while, or so claims a survey taken from over three million snakes worldwide. A spokessnake for the survey - a Mr. Rattle - concurred that 'Sssnakes are sssick to death of sssitting around in the sssun and sssand each and every day, sssizzling to the sssound of cricketsss, cactusssesss and the like - I sssimply can't remember the lassst time I laughed at a friendsss holiday sssnapsss. It'sss ssshameful!' Luckily for Mr. Ratte and the millions like him, leisure centres are being opened in deserts across the globe in which one or two snakes may partake in a little, light-hearted competition.

The centres provide their slimey guests with as much food as they can eat and other fantastic bonus prizes. Indeed, they make the great British holiday camps look tame in comparison! However, interested parties are warned that there are some risks involved. Most areas of the holiday complexes feature deadly drops and rock-ridden, no-go areas that are fatal to a snake's tender body. Still, it's a luxury denied to our reptilian brothers until now, so join us in wishing them many a happy visit and we trust that they won't fall into too much danger during their stay.

Snake Rattle 'N Roll was first programmed for Nintendo's 8-bit entertainment system.

Direct Rattle or Roll about an isometrically-viewed play-area and have them munch food-stuffs and devour bonus objects for points.

Food is served in the form of Pibbles - lively balls of assorted colours whose behaviour patterns change for each area visited. Pibbles hide beneath hatches in the floor and spring into action once disturbed. Whole colonies of Pibbles dwelling beneath more remote hatches are also rumoured to exist. Strangely the snakes find delight in licking feet as a compliment to their diet. Prolonged slurping dissolves feet and the chance of extended pleasure in the leisure centre is deposited in the form of an extra life. Freaky.

Pibbles aren't the sole proprietors of the spaces beneath hatches. Bonus goods and other snake-assisting paraphernalia lurks there too. Extra exploration time is provided upon the discovery of a clock, crash helments offer invincibility and clock-winders boost a snake's speed for a while! How much fun can two snakes handle?

No matter how adventurous the snakes, they are only allowed to progress having proved their glutinous worth. Snakes who shy away from eating are poor for business. So scales are installed in each level that discern just how much snake has eaten. A belly full of Pibbles causes a bell on the scales to ring at which point the exit door opens. Of course, there's nothing stopping snakes from eating more than their fair share!

Here is a fun, bizarre and often funny game that is attractive in spite of its basic looks. Although lightning fast in its response, the control method is pretty poor in that it is often confusing.

This problem is worsened by the strange perspective found in some instances and so many an unexpected demise is a regular occurence. It's a shame that Rare have ignored the Megadrive's superior graphics and sound capabilities too - there really aren't any differences between this and the NES version. Tsk!

Rattle 'n Roll are a laugh, the puzzles they encounter are interesting enough and really there is nothing else quite like their game available for the Megadrive at this point in time. For these reasons I'd recommend that players seek the game out, though it's not a priority.

I have fond memories of the Nintendo 8-bit version of Snake, Rattle 'N Roll - it was a real classic and we all spent ages playing it.

I was really looking forward to the Megadrive version - who knows what the geniuses at Rare could come up with using superior 16-bit technology. Of course, just like with the conversions of Championship Pro-Am and Battletoads, I was disappointed. Yes, it is a great game, fast and playable and very challenging, but it's no different from the two-year-old NES game!

In fact, it's a little worse because the controls are a lot less forgiving. However, what I do admire about the game is its originality. Still, I wouldn't pay forty-odd quid for it, that's for sure.

Indeed, it's a bit sad that the geniuses who developed Knight Lore and Jetpac on the Spectrum can't do something equally as exceptional on the Megadrive.

Presentation 74% P. The tackiness may hold lurid appeal. Comic intermissions brighten the proceedings. N. A solitary title screen is all, and even then it's pretty poor too.

Graphics 72% P. The graphics are basic, the choice of characters is amusing and the movement fast and fluid. N. All images have an 8-bit quality.

Sound 73% P. As with the graphics, the basic sounding music makes for surprisingly fun listening. N. The music and sound effects are more suitable to 8-bit systems.

Playability 78% P. The control is very simple. The action is amusing as it is challenging. N. At times the viewpoint is confusing and the control method is equally as damning.

Lastability 82% P. There are many levels for Rattle and Rol to exploit, all of which present some interesting challenges.

Overall 78% An old but fun game that has translated well onto the Megadrive. A slightly better control response and attention paid to improving the game's looks and music would have increased its appeal.