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Gremlin's new arcade release brings out the best in reflex action

It sounds simple enough - guide a ball down a highway. Nothing to it, you might think, but the reality is an excruciatingly addictive game that tests concentration, timing and reflexes to the limit.

The appeal of the game is based on the cunning design of the fourteen courses. They vary in length and difficulty and are made up of squares and shapes that produce alarming effects on the ball under your control. Some you can roll across with ease but others will increase or decrease your speed, give you a free bounce or fiendishly reverse the joystick controls.

The properties of each square can be deduced from their shading but the distinction between different squares can be difficult to discern when travelling at speed and it takes quite a white to master the basics.

There are additional hazards. Many of the courses are paved almost entirely with holes to fall down and if you fall from the edge of the path you are consigned to oblivion.

Sensibly for a game of this kind, a practice mode has been included which allows you to try any three of the courses in succession. To make it easier you are given unlimited jumps and a generous 99 second time limit to complete a course.

The rationing of jumps means you must search out the 'jump squares' or you won't have enough bounce to get you through. An important element to get right is the rhythm. Once you hit a good streak you can miraculusly steam up the road almost without thinking because your reflexes are doing all the work. But if you miss a jump or disappear down a hole, it's very difficult to get back into a winning rhythm. This is not helped by the restart which throws the ball up the road in front of you. If it happens to be heading for a hole, there is nothing you can do about it and if you are unlucky this disappearing act can be repeated several times before you are back in control.

Some courses are made up in part of huge letters which present their own difficulties to bounce across but one advantage is that memorising the letters gives you a clear idea of what to expect next time round. Not surprisingly you will find yourself bouncing across letters that spell out words such as GREMLIN, that is if you don't fall down the hole in the 'R' first.

If you like arcade games you will undoubtedly like Trailblazer. It's fast, demanding and gives you just the right sense of embarrased infuriation when you just miss out on completing a course by a fraction of a second. Trailblazer is certainly not impossible to complete but it is devilishly difficult and is recommended for those who enjoy a challenge.

A Monster Hit.