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Riddle me this... What is easy to comprehend but difficult to figure out? What is completely boring but yet excitingly addictive? The answer is of course a strategy game and Stack Up, the pick of Zeppelin's latest mixed bag of budget releases is a reasonably absorbing example.

It's a funny thing about puzzle/strategy games, the descriptions given in the manual or on the box sound unbelievably brilliant, whereas the overall idea of the game sounds repetitive and naff, the reality usually ends up somewhere in between. If you really do want to get to the root of a game the general rule is to remove buzz words (words used to make things sound more exciting) from the manufacturer's description. Stack Up is described as the "Ultimate Arcade Teaser.... in superbly addictive quantities". Spot the buzz words.

This "Arcade Teaser" (that's more like it eh?) is reminiscent of other colour block building games such as Klax and follows the general rule of simplicity. The aim is to position a variety of randomly mixed coloured cubes, which are being dropped in horizontal groups of three, into diagonal, vertical or horizontal lines of the same colour blocks. Each level has blocks descending at ever increasing speeds, with playing screens after level two having an initial random scattering of blocks before play even begins. Many other obstacles also appear on later levels. Scores can be multiplied by setting up chain reactions and there are bonuses for having lots of lovely empty space at the end of each level. Stack Up is not easy!

Label: Zeppelin Memory: 48K/128K Price: £2.99 Tape, N/A Disk Reviewer: Alan Dykes

Stack up needs quick thinking and quick reactions. It's not too difficult but can become addictive for a short period of time. P.S... It's not for the colour-blind.