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It isn't often a company releases a game so good that everyone who sees it is immediately anxious to play, but Spindizzy is one of those.

You play a much maligned Trainee Assistant Cartographer for Unknown Worlds, who has been given the responsibility of mapping a newly discovered artificial world that just happens to be hanging in space. The RSC (Remote Scout Craft) you have been given is affectionately known as GERALD, and, due to GERALD's age and condition (old and bad respectively!), it's going to be very difficult to complete your task.

Your ship's computer has an initial graphics map of the area you must explore, but does not give any details of routes that must be taken. To enable you to last a little longer, there is a liberal supply of energy crystals - each of which ups your dwindling time a little.

As this new world is hanging in space, it isn't a tremendous idea to go falling off the edge; in fact, it loses vital seconds! Once loaded, getting into Spindizzy is very simple, and is made even easier by the inclusion of a beginners' section due east. Using the map is an essential part of successful Spindizzy play, although to get really good and fast you must make your own - much more detailed version - and it can be displayed at any time, simply by pressing the M key.

Spindizzy certainly owes a great deal to its famous arcade predecessor, Marble Madness, as both the graphics and the feeling of gravity are very similar. You are scored on three counts; percentage of area mapped, percentage of crystals found, and percentage of game completed. Graphically, Spindizzy is excellent. The three-dimensional feel is impressive, and the ability to move around any vertical objects greatly adds to the realism (???) of this game. One of the best features of the game is the alterable viewpoints. This means that if, using your current view, a tower obscures your vision, you simple press numbers 1-4 and hey presto! The view has been spun round by 90 degrees!

Another neat little touch is the ability to change GERALD's form. To start with, GERALD is an upside-down pyramid, wh spins whenever he moves; however, by pressing the C key, GERALD can become a gyroscope or a ball. One little tip I can give you is - don't use the ball!!!!

After a few hours play, I managed to score a measly 7% overall, but within two days I had scraped up to 15%. Even to get that far however, I had to cope with many interesting features, including trampolines, ice and devilish jumps! But however much I loved this game I do feel that £9.95 is too much to charge for a game whose audience can ill afford that type of money regularly. How can these companies expect people to buy all their releases when each one costs around ten pounds?

Overall, Spindizzy is a great game. It is so much better than Melbourne's Gyroscope as to be incomparable. If you want a game that is going to last, and yet is immediately playable, Spindizzy is most definitely for you!