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For some time now C&VG has been going on about Sorcery and Sorcery Plus as being the "state of the art" for the Amstrad. Well, Spindizzy from Electric Dreams is shaping up to take that title.

Comparisons will be made with the arcade hit Marble Madness and, to a lesser extent, Melbourne House's Gyroscope.

In Spindizzy you control a spinning top through a vast number of screens. In the preview version supplied to C&VG there were 380. The aim is to collect jewels against the clock.

Every jewel collected pushes back the clock. But some appear in the seemingly most inaccessible places that at first it appears almost impossible to reach them. For example, some are situated on the top of pillars or near the top of steep ramps.

The jewels can be picked up in what is termed as the "active box" and used elsewhere to operate lifts. Controlling the spinning top is an art in itself. It's alright to bash around the larger screens with reckless speed but trying to negotiate narrow "walkways" - should it be "spinways" - require great skill, good judgement and a very delicate touch. It's all too easy to fall over the edge - which means a time fault. And if you fall too far, the top explodes into four pieces.

Graphically stunning, the sheer scope of Spindizzy is breathtaking. Add to this absorbing gameplay, intriguing puzzles, a beat-the-clock element, and you have a brilliant game.

Conversions will follow for the Commodore 64 and the Spectrum so those computer owners should start saving their pennies.