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I always thought the Amstrad CPC tlacks a strong and varied library of cute spooky games, the kind of titles which children can play safely without the more mature horrific images of the likes of Friday The 13th or Nightbreed. The best I can think out would be The Addams Family, or the much-ignored Bubble Ghost. Sugar Free appear to have taken inspiration from super-deformed art styles seen in Japanese games, and created a solid, top-down dungeon shooter with fun enemies, a steady difficulty curve and even a score multiplier system. It's not the most original of games, but has an arcade feel and a unique charm to it which is hard to dislike.

You play as "Anima", a young 'ghost' lost in a supernatural world from which you must escape. You battle all the typical night crawlers such as zombies, spiders, bats and necromancers, making you escape out of the single screen levels. Navigate your way through four worlds of ten stages to save the night. Presented in mode 1, detailed sprites and a neat display make for easy-on-the-eye visuals, nice jolly music and the odd spot effects. The boss battles are pretty nice also with large, well-drawn and menacing-looking sprites. We have seen many a top-down dungeon crawler before, and while nothing jumps out as spectacular, it does come together as a lovely kid-friendly game to play with addictive gameplay qualitiies, cute graphics and easy controls.

Anima uses a very simple control system, making the game easy to get into but also has a score multiplier which encourages you to play the game better to master a higher score. The protagonist is on a one-shot auto fire and can move in eight directions. Stop, and you will shoot a plasma ball, and cannot shoot again until it's disappeared off screen.

This creates an interesting mechanic which is both frustrating and pleasing at the same time. The Mode 1 graphics are well implemented and the music and effects are again at a good standard. The introduction and trainer mode are also welcome additions. It is, however, a little too easy to finish. 40 levels are a fair amount, but they do whizz by quickly.

Anima is a fine all-rounded; has some good ideas and is presented to a high standard. Enjoyable but brief.

This game was a pleasant surprise. It features excellent graphics, and very well-drawn characters. The controls are tight and responsive and the game moves along at a good pace, giving proceedings an arcade feel.

The game mechanic of automatically shooting in the direction you are facing only when you stop moving is what makes the game fun.

Presentation 70%
Neat and tidy, with a sweet intro and original level transitions.

Graphics 75%
Detailed sprites, good choice of colour and HUD, but lots of empty space.

Sound 78%
Great tunes throughout, a nice variety of toe tappers and good effectgs make for a nice autio showing.

Addictive Qualities 80%
Control system is easy to grasp, multipler system is welcome and the whole experience is attractive.

Lastability 60%
Too easy for seasoned gamers, and once you finish it a few times, you're unlikely to play again any time soon.

Overall 72%