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Like the others in Epic's range of text-only adventures, The Kingdom Of Klein is very enjoyable. Although it contains more than 220 locations, it occupies only 25K of RAM. All games in the Epic series can be used with a disc system fitted.

Klein is a machine code program. Response time is very quick indeed, and any adventurer will be gladdened by the precise messages received. For example, if you cannot do something, you are given a clue as to why. For example: "You can't do that here" and "You can't do that at the moment" signify respectively that you are in the wrong place and you are without a certain object. Colour is also used on-screen to good effect.

Much thought has gone into planning the plot. You must find a Klein bottle and return it to the pedestal from which it was stolen by the evil witch. You'll meet her on the way, as well as one or two mathematical shapes and the Moebius ravine. There's a maze with a message, too.

Everything must be completed in the right order. You are supplied with the means to move about between locations, but it you aren't careful you lose your powers.

Having killed the witch (clever one, that) and negotiated that ravine, you can search for the bottle and return it. I've run out of spells now, so I'll have to back-track. Everything is very logical if you take time to think about it.

This is a first-class storyline with many interesting locations and problems. Everything is logical and believable, a good plus for any adventure game. KLEIN is worthy of any program library and good value at £7.95.

Stuart Menges