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Now I've always said, and Steve will back me up on this, that if there's one thing the computer gaming industry lacks it's Vikings. Oh yes, there are more than enough spacey shoot-'em-ups around and oodles of fantasy arcade adventures. But get a sudden craving for beefy Nordics who gleefully rape villages and pillage women and you're stuck.

Fortunately for all us Nordophiles, the hero of the latest CodeMasters title is Spike the Viking, a cute little fellow who bears a startling resemblance to Hagar the Horrible. The game takes place in and around a castle in Transilvania (note the spelling, this ain't the Transylvania of vampire fame). Your chums have been locked up in the dungeons of the castle and it's your job to get them out. Thus the scene is set for a mini puzzle-solving arcade adventure. You start the game in the village outside the castle and your first hurdle is getting past the guard who blocks the drawbridge. To prevent you completing your quest are plenty of rats, ghosts and other energy-drainers who must be avoided, though sometimes a loss is unavoidable.

There are also human characters who, when approached, say things like, "Oi be absolutely staaarvin." In the case of the hungry Farmer Piles, this response should make you think "ah, if I toddle off and find some food for him, he'll give me some other useful artefact". And you'd be right. In fact, most of the puzzles in the game take this straightforward form.

There are other little problems to overcome though, like switches on walls, locked gates and lightning bolts on the battlements. In total, the adventure isn't that big but it's testing and nicely structured.

Visuals are very good; there's not much animation but it's all competently done. There are also some pleasing sound effects like the realistic bell ringing in the belfry. Early puzzles are simple enough to keep your interest while later, they're tricky enough to provide a decent challenge.

Good graphics, a bit of humour and a well-structured adventure that'll give you no end of fun. Well worth the money.