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In days of old and knights were bold... yes, well you won't know just how bold until you've got to grips with the evil Magister and his minions.

Set in the deep, dark sixteenth century, your brother, or sister, depending on which of the characters you choose to play (yes computer games are for girls as well as boys), has been kidnapped and trapped inside one of the towers of the castle, and you have got to get inside there and do the business to effect their release.

Sounds like a doddle, you might think. Well, that's where you're wrong. Before you even get into the castle, there are a couple of puzzles for you to sort out, so you'd better get your thinking cap on before you type "run" and start getting cocky.

Once you've worked out how to get the drawbridge down, not forgetting to have a little snoop around the wizard's hut first, your problems really start to begin. Inside the castle, listen out for cries of help, they may well lead you in the right direction, but be careful not to confuse them with the eerie banshee wailings as you investigate the surroundings.

So, your main task is to rescue your kin, but at the same time, you are also expected to flush out the evil spirits that you meet on the way. They may come in the form of animals or objects, but whichever, you'll know when you come close to one because the castle will start to shake ominously.

Using an advanced form of Incentive's Freescape technique, with solid 3D graph- ics and animated effects, the end result is extremely atmospheric. There are more than enough commands for you to get to grips with, which allow your character to run, walk, crawl, scan and, very importantly, throw stones. Without these pebbles and a very good sense of direction. you would quite literally be lost - keeping a map is no bad idea.

As you scout around the castle, keep a sharp look out for clues. Picture frames are certainly not all that they seem, and crawling under tables and chairs is more fun that you might think. Clues on the ground floor of the castle are fairly easy to unravel, but as you go further, having a philosopher on hand might help.

Underneath the view screen, there are various displays you need to keep an eye on. Eat as much food as you need to, to keep up your strength, and make sure the spirit level doesn't get too high. If this happens, it's all over and the portcullis descends.

As you make your way towards your partner, picking up treasure and keys to open doors is a must. There are also magic potions which could prove invaluable. All in all, the complete Castle Master package is extremely good value for money, and will be difficult to put down once the drawbridge is up.

Playing the alternative character also gives you another angle at the game once you have mastered it the first time around, that is, if you have the nerve to face the Magister one more time. Are you brave enough to enter the castle?

Castle Master has been a long time coming, but it's well worth the wait.