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It's a tall order being a dwarf. If it's not some smartarse human making sizist remarks, it's being stuck at the bottom of a dark and disgusting cavern, feeling wet and miserable, with no immediate prospect of escape. Such is the fate of Karadoc, dragon slayer and treasure hunter extraordinaire. But there is some consolation to be had: the castle in which he has unwittingly become incarcerated is rumoured to be a veritable treasure house.

This time it looks like Karadoc's lust for treasure has landed him in a bit of tight spot. Having liberated someone else's rowing boat he's managed to find his way into the castle's catacombs and wreck the boat, leaving himself stranded. Worse still, the castle is inhabited by the evil Necromancer Dianos and his cruel creations, none of whom are particularly fond of gatecrashers, particularly Dwarven ones.

Karadoc's past experience of such places also tells him that there will be plenty of traps ready to put a swift end to the unwary.

All in all, this is not Kardoc's day. But he's not going to let death have the last word. So, striding off purposefully into the darkness he sets out to fulfil his threefold task - destroy the evil necromancer Dianos ensconced within the heart of the castle, collect as much treasure as he can carry, and, most importantly, escape alive.

What with Electronic Zoo's Treasure Trap and now Cadaver it looks very much like 3D isometric arcade adventures are back in vogue. Cadaver is something of a departure for The Bitmap Brothers, and this demonstration of their versatility bodes well for future releases. It's not just a variation on the traditional puzzle-solving theme made popular on 8-bit but something a lot more complex.

The icon-based control system is not quite as intuitive as it might have been, but it doesn't really detract from the playability once you become accustomed to it. A healthy atmosphere is generated by the detailed, moody scenery and characters, although Karadoc more often than not lacks solidity.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Cadaver is its design - some of the puzzles are involved enough to have you spending sleepless nights just thinking about them. Ardent fans of the Treasure Trap style of isometric arcade adventure, or indeed the Bitmap Brothers' previous work, will struggle to find Cadaver's appeal as it far less arcade-orientated. More adventurous players are in for a real treat though.

Amiga Cadaver is virtually identical to the ST version. The only significant difference is sound. Whereas the ST's is entirely chip generated, the Amiga incarnation includes some samples. A special Amiga 1000 version will feature extra atmospheric effects, with samples for nearly all the sound.

There's no news of a PC version as yet, but if the other two versions sell well then the possibility of a release will become a certainty.