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Ever since the marvellous Macbeth was released (the adventure game, not the play... I may be no spring chicken, but have a heart!) I've taken an interest in the doings of Oxford Digital Enterprises, the Time programming time. One of their later games, Sleeping Goes Lie, I thought particularly good and so it was with anticipation that I sat down to study this, their latest venture.

You've been summoned to the orbiting satellite. historisat, to attend a top secret meeting with The Director. Once you successfully reach him he informs you that one of the Meks (androids) will shortly begin replicating at such a rare that human civilisation could be threatened with destruction. It's up to you to find a way to destroy the Mek and save the world.

Time is set in the 2047 but to succeed in your mission, you have to travel to ive other time periods using machines found on Historisat. You need to collect a magical amulet, charge it up to full power by giving it to various historical figures, return to the satellite, and use the now-fully-charged trinket to activate a friendly Mek so that it may destroy the rebel Mek...

An animated adventure, Time is played using the mouse to click on action using the mouse to click on action icons (such as Left, Right, Talk and Look) and so control the hero. Unfortunately, Empire's system is slow and poorly animated compared to that used in Future Wars or Indiana Jones. Worse, the reality factor is low: for example, you need to give Dr. Delaney's wife a fish for her car beore she'll let you in to see her husband. The piscine you offer is made of rubber, which Mrs. Delaney doesn't notice until she's fed it to her moggy and it chokes to death. Not only is it unlikely that neither you nor she would notice it was a false fish, but one would think the pussy might smell something... unusual.

You're only allowed to save and load your game position when at computer terminals situated throughout Historisat; this is a dated idea and does nothing but annoy. In fact, the whole adventure appears dated (except for the opening theme, which is nice) and is incredibly linear.

Oxford Digital Enterprises are capable of much better games.