Conqueror is an adventure-style game with an old theme. You are the king of a country in Europe: to hang on to your kingdom you have to feed your people and make sure they have enough money to survive. The game can have up to fifteen players - each with their own kingdom.

To do this, you have to invade your neighbours; there are soldiers and a supply of iron for swords to help out. The main object of the game is to conquer all the other countries by fair means or foul.

The game has three seasons per year in which you can make ploughshares (Tools to sow crops, beaten from the swords) or war; you can also tax your people to give you more money as well as wheat - but if your people leave or die, you lose. Clausewitz was never like this...

The instruction booklet is quite comprehensive, but you go need to keep referring to it if you really want fully to understand the game. Still, even though there are no graphics, it's an excellent game - not least because it brings out the killer instincts in me. The powermad might also find the game enjoyable.