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God wears a turban and slippers! This is not a headline from the Sunday Sport but a fact gleaned from the new adventure by Mastertronic/Smart Egg Software, The Quest For The Golden Eggcup. Nigel Brooks of Rigel's Revenge fame developed and helped write the game, so hopes were high as the datasette began transmitting.

I was instantly amused by the loading game and its accompanying music (courtesy of Rob Hubbard) - although only a basic rendition of Space Invaders it kept me busy for the short time Eggcup took to load. I normally don't stoop to playing arcade games but it was either this or polish my boots - which I usually do stoop to do.

Whilst strolling along the M25, an irresistible urge overtakes you to step out in front of a speeding C5 (is there such a thing?). You subsequently die (probably of embarrassment) and find yourself in a heavenly Golden Temple. Even beore you have time to begin your rendition of 'Open up them pearly gates', God appears amid the traditional but rather showy flashes of soul-searching light and plumes of spirit-lifting smoke. He informs you that one of his servants has stolen his Golden Eggcup (crime in heaven?) and he charges you with finding it. Should you be successful, God promises to reincarnate you - just in time for the start of World War III - if you fail, he threatens to turn your soul into an egg whch he will then poach and eat. How can you refuse?

Beginning in the Golden Temple, a thorough search of the surrounding area reveals many an object to ponder over and an intriguing hole in a broken fountain. This hole does not allow you through if you are carrying items. The solution is fairly simple and belies the difficulty of the problems to come.

Once through the hole and at the base of the beanstalk the number of accessible locations becomes few. The problem seems to be the Guard outside the hut. To get past him you need to render him a has-been (or should that be 'have beans'!). Once inside the hut (hopefully armed with the dead Sherlock you found on the train) the only way to progress is down - dark steps lead to the inevitable maze, an elusive bird and a fascinating stone chair.

Graphics abound; every location has an instant, attractive picture to accompany it, helping the sparse text descriptions build atmosphere. Largely reacting only to verb-noun input, any shortcomings from the parser are negated by the logical, intelligent, user-friendly style of writing. Humour, much like the big 'G' himself, is omnipresent and is used in such a way as not to anger those of us who may have a religious bent. Limited interactin is possible with the characters who roam around heaven, and although hardly original (Dandalf and Thoron for example) their intermittent presence brought the odd smile to my usually snarling mouth.

Rigel's Revenge has gone down as one of the best budget adventures ever. I think Eggcup will follow its success. Une oeuf said!