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Why is it that adventurers always go looking for trouble? Stan is a perfect example. Can't take his girlfriend Megan for a week in Skegness, can he? Oh no, not our Stan, so there they are in a plane over Africa when the inevitable happens. Typical. The crash landing in the jungle is hard on Stan and he's knocked unconscious. When he comes to, there's no sign of Megan. But wait! In the distance... a scream! Megan is still alive, but she could be anywhere in this jungle... and Stan has a feeling that he's not alone.

Darkness puts you in Stan's shoes in a remote corner of the jungle. Fortunately, being an explorer, this is something of a busman's holiday for Stan, so he sets about his task of finding Megan with much gusto. There are 100 screens to visit, each teeming with indigenous creatures. Unfortunately, they're all hostile, and a single touch removes one of Stan's three hearts (maybe he's an alien explorer?) [Or a Doctor Who-And-a-Half? - Ed]. Once all three are lost, Stan is dead and Megan is destined to remain in the jungle for the rest of her life.

That would be a sad end, so it's fortunate that Stan is able to put up a bit of a fight. He has a supply of rocks which he can use to fend off the rampant jungle fauna, but clearing the undergrowth may reveal something more powerful, or maybe some other useful artefacts. There are also chests scattered around this overgrown labyrinth. The chests contain keys giving access to otherwise restricted areas, or masks which must come in useful somehow...

Should Stan succeed in locating Megan, he must win one final battle before they can be reunited. If he is victorious, they can start to think about their future together... and maybe Skegness will start to look a bit more appealing after all...

This is clearly heavily inspired by Ultimate's Sabre Wulf, a game which was a bit on the mouldy side by the time it hit the Commodore 64 all the way back in 1985.

I didn't particularly enjoy that game, but thankfully I can't say the same about Darkness. Even though the jungle is similarly labyrinthine, it feels more open and less claustrophobic and as a result the game just feels nicer to play.

The music is reminiscent of Firelord, another game of this ilk. Thinking about it, Darkness is a terribly derivative game which does absolutely nothing new, but at least it's all done well. If you like this genre, you should get it. If you don't, it's unlikely to convert you.

The original C64 port of Sabre Wulf was a bit scruffy and late to the party, and while Darkness doesn't stray too far from the same formula, it provides much better graphics, audio and a few gameplay enhancements in the process. All very much welcome.

The maze suitably twists and turns like a twisty-turny thing (I'd describe it as a labyrinth but Paul got there first!) with multiple routes available, and the included map with physical copies is a definite boon to proceedings.

The only significant downer is that, once you've upgraded your weapon to the highest power, nothing much can stand in your way bar unfortunate mistakes and the end-of-game boss. In fact, I completed the game on my second attempt, albeit one that took a while due to much redundant exploration to find the last mask. Your longevity may vary accordingly.

I always found Sabre Wulf a dull game, and the C64 conversion was not very inspiring. Darkness leaves me a little cold; in fact, I enjoyed the bonus game Darkipede almost as much as the main offering. That's not to say it is a bad game per se. The graphics are polished and give a nice jungle atmosphere, the music fits the game and there is a large maze to explore.

It just didn't grab me enough to make a map and try to finish it. For those who like Sabre Wulf, it will resonate well. There's nothing new and original in the experience - your mileage may vary.

P.S. I live in Skegness, it's a lovely place!

Presentation 71%
Nice intro and the game is a single load, but no options.

Graphics 73%
Small, with not much animation, but well-defined and colourful.

Sound 77%
A nice tune throughout, and adequate FX.

Hookability 81%
The exploration bug is a potent one.

Lastability 68%
100 screens to navigate, but you're unlikely to return once Megan has been rescued.

Overall 71%
A competent, enjoyable aardvark that suffers from a lack of originality.