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The dynamic combination of Mosaic (publishing) and Level 9 (programming) has spawned a classic in their software version of Terry Jones' Erik The Viking. It starts auspiciously at loading with the quaintest opening tune you have ever heard! and all on the interrupts as the rest is loading. Apparently, Viking musical instruments included pipes and plucked strings.

Level 9 has done its research and come up with the appropriate sounds. At the same time, it helps to establish a "feel" for the historial (mythical) period into which we are being transported.

"Welcome to the Saga of Erik the Viking from Level 9 Computing. What now?" Take a LOOK around. Eric is on a mountainside and, on descending to his farm, finds that his family has been kidnapped! The scene is set. Details in the accompanying booklet (with extracts from Terry Jones' original) tell us that they have been taken off by an army of strange creatures. The scene is set.

Eric's immediate world is that of his farm, yard, smithy, kitchen, ice house, entrance and great halls. Nearby is the river leading to the beach, the shore, rocks, a crag, the sauna, a green bank and the boat house with the "good ship Golden Dragon". The world is populated with objects such as hammer and nails, black pots of stew, furs and footprints! You can tell from the outset that this is going to be a full blown Level 9 adventure as well as a super story.

As usual, the adventure has its own limited ability to understand the two word, verb noun combinations which you enter but Level 9 are masters of the hint. If you are close then friendly messages like "I almost understand" and "Try other words" are issued. There are unexpected results to some actions (and "In this adventure, actions speak louder than words!"). If you jump on things they are likely to break into their component parts for instance. EXAMINE is also a handy word.

The text descriptions are pretty good but in Eric, Level 9 has also included pictures of each location. You just hit the TAB key to see them. Like Twin Kingdom Valley, the pictures are super and add to the enjoyment of playing. A third size window displays four-colour graphics of all the locations. Various picture elements are obviously generated by the same drawing routines in the cause of preserving memory but nevertheless they are good.

Naturally there is a save game facility and there's a clue sheet available from Mosaic if you need help. Everything you could expect from an adventure plus the magic ingredients of a stirring tale and a stout hero in Erik (you). If this doesn't take you away from the Christmas television then there is no hope.