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It's an old cliche, prevalent in the computer games world, that simple ideas are often the best ones. Antago falls fairly and squarely into that category. It has no subgames, plot or whizzo state-of-the-art graphics - just an easy-to-learn board game style, with bags of appeal. It's the simplicity of the playing method that makes Antago such a gas.

It centres around a battle of wits between a devil (played by you) and an angel (played by the computer or a friend). The two of you walk around the outside of a strange 25-square chessboard. Each player takes it in turn to place a counter - a spiky red ball in the case of the devil or a bluey-white cloud for the angel. The aim is to place a line of five counters across the board, vertically, horizontally or diagonally. Sounds easy? Well, it would be, but for the challenging rules which mean strategic planning many moves ahead is necessary to win.

You can't just plonk counters anywhere. You're limited to placing them around the edge of the board, which means to get them into the centre you must place them on squares which are already occupied. The first counter then moves one square inwards, making space for the new one. In this way, you can block your opponent by shoving counters in the way, pushing them off the edge and disturbing his plan of attack. The only stipulation is that you can't push your opponent's last counter off the board.

You control the placing of counters with the joystick. To move your character around the board, simply push in the desired direction. If you happen to bump into the opposing character, it gets pushed backward to the corner of the board, with a suitable grunt (this is purely to satisfy the spiteful streak we all possess: it achieves nothing in terms of advantages). When your character's at the position you want, hit the fire button to deposit a counter.

The computer opponent has ten levels of play, ranging from ridiculously easy to exasperatingly difficult. A few matches (they're all "best-of-three" types) and you'll soon suss out your own skill level. Easy and difficult games are usually over in about three minutes, but when the games start to take longer you know that you're well-matched.

You can also select a board which has counters already positioned for each opponent. There are 50 such boards, and you can have hours of fun trying to beat the computer from a losing position. Great fun if you can do it!

The graphics are cutesy-style with the angel wearing typically angelic attire right down to little flapping wings and white smock. The devil is a comic book demon with tiny horns and dragon wings.

What makes them both come alive is their impatient asides while they're waiting for the other one to make a move. The demon puffs and groans and falls asleep in real spoilt-brat style. When defeated, they hand their head in shame and look so desolate you can't help feeling sorry for them.

The intro music is a catchy sampled tune, while sound effects are reduced to sparse and atmospheric groans and clonks.

Antago is good fun, but won't satisfy you forever. It's one of those games you play when you've a few minutes to fill and can't be bothered to get into something too serious. But it's a thoroughly enjoyable boredom-beater that delivers solid brain-taxing gameplay. Isn't that what we all want from a game? Grab a copy and stretch your mind!