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Disk only games are still in their infancy on the Amstrad but already it is becoming clear that it is very much the future for bigger and better programs. This arcade adventure is set on a large, detailed scrolling background where our chunky hero Percy Veer has to recover a lost chest of gold.

Despite Percy's corny name, the land which he wanders around is realistically and attractively presented. There are many colourful and well-drawn features that can be walked in front of, behind or over but the most impressive thing is the use of perspective. The landscape has real depth so that when Percy walks into it, he gets smaller and when he walks towards you, he gets larger.

When PV does walk up and down he does it in diagonal directions and this can prove inconvenient when you're trying to walk around or into things. When Perce tries to walk off the edge of the screen (or sometimes before that) the screen will scroll in whichever direction he's headed, accompanied by the constant whirring of the disk drive.

Now PV can get about the place, he'll find objects which can be picked up, although he can only carry two at a time. Each object is used for allowing you to enter a new area of the game, although some of the connections are extremely weird. For instance, a telephone lets you approach a castle via a path while an apple lets you walk over a bridge.

This means that most of the problems in the game have to be solved by trial and error rather than deduction, detracting greatly from the interest. Much frustrating time is spent trying out different objects, which you sometimes can't identify, only to find the answer is completely illogical!

There are quite a number of areas to be opened up, all in the same manner, but with a different object each time. If you aren't carrying the right thing, it's indicated by the border flashing red, but if you are it turns green, allowing you to pass. Sometimes, these sections take you behind objects where you can't see what Percy is doing and here the computer takes over automatically taking him through to the new area.

The only threat to Percy are the birds that flap about. They're rather slower than Hitchcock's film variety but are even more vicious. They sap the strength gauge which ends the game if it reaches zero. Immunity to their slow-motion attacks is provided by a supply of capsules that are available in only a limited supply.

It's an admirable effort towards breaking new ground in disk software but still needs improvements before it becomes a good game. The graphics are excellent but the limited nature of the gameplay and lack of sound (just a few bird tweet noises) leave something to be desired. This is certainly the way software should be heading, but as yet it's still a lot of money to pay for a product that isn't quite right.

There were some excellent graphics in this game - colourful, detailed, realistic. Unfortunately, the gameplay just doesn't live up to them. There was little to do beyond ducking the birdies and picking up the bizarre objects that gain access to other sections of the game. Sad really, because I had the feeling it wasn't far away from being a real success.

P. Large playing area.
P. Good graphics and perspective effect.
P. Hopefully, a sign of better things to come.

N. Gameplay relies on trial and error - not good in an adventure.
N. Very little sound.
N. Diagonal up and down movement can prove frustrating.