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Splat! certainly makes a welcome change to the usual shoot-'em-up games that flood the C&VG offices every month. Instead of wiping out hordes of mutant invaders or destroying squadrons of bird men you've got to help Zippy, Splat's central character, to eat grass and avoid being squashed.

The game has seven levels but this review only covers the first three - mainly because I wasn't good enough to get any further!

At the beginning of every game Zippy, represented by a flashing cross, is placed in the centre of an area strewn with rocks and the occasionaly clump of grass. The screen scrolls randomly in four directions. Bumping into the rocks doesn't do you any harm but you have to be careful not to get crushed between a rock and the surrounding wall.

On your travels points are scored for eating grass and on the higher levels an odd plum might come your way. Zippy's progress through each level is shown as a percentage mark. When it reaches a 100 you move onto the next sheet.

The second level includes a river but remember to use the bridges because Zippy can't swim. Level three has spikes which will kill you if they are touched.

Incentive Software, the manufacturers of Splat! are offering a £500 prize to the person who can get the highest score on the game. I'm afraid you can't cheat because each score has a unique Hi-code which can be used to check the authenticity of any Hi-score.

Splat! is one of the most addictive games I have ever played on the 48K Spectrum, it is certainly the most original and at £5.50 is good value too.