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These evil wizards really are getting a bit big for their magic boots. As soon as one gets destroyed, up pops another, complete with a bag full of nasty spells and curses to cause even more trouble.

The villain of Death Trap is typical of this situation. Shankriya, a magician of great renown and power, has gone a bit mental and subsequently started throwing his weight around. He's stolen a set of magical scrolls and hidden them deep inside his home, a five-level labyrinth. Such is Shankriya's power that no-one has the stones to take him on, and he's become the undisputed ruler of the land.

But not for long if you have anything to do with it. You are Abi, an athletic warrior and trainee magician from the wrong side of the tracks who's looking for a spot of adventure. Needless to say, the stories of the far-off labyrinth known as the Death Trap where all the would-be heroes have died are right up your street. Grabbing a dagger and your Observer's Guide To Magic Spells, you set off...

The action begins in the castle home of Shankriya, where the adversaries are suitably subdued. The marauding white-sheet ghosts and plodding troll-creatures don't pose too much of a threat - a swift dagger-slash soon sees them off. The real threat is provided by the labryinth itself. Finding your way around can be a nightmare, and with some kind of trick or trap at every turn, it can be tough going.

But then that's all in a day's work for a hardened hunk such as yourself.

As arcade adventures become increasingly more convoluted and sophisticated, it's nice to see one that goes back to the roots of straight-forward exploration and termination. Each of the five levels has well over a hundred screens, and they are designed in such a way a route is a task in itself. It's a mapmaker's dream.

The puzzle element is simple enough so as not to detract from the action, with the emphasis on finding switches to open corresponding doors. The traps that make the levels so deadly have been well designed too, although there is the odd one, such as the spikes that shoot up from the floor, that seem a little unfair because they give no warning before they strike.

Those with photographic memories should have no problem though. The magic potion spell-book is a refreshing variation on the 'collect the tokens' theme. There's nothing bland about the weaponry either - the bats and bouncers are hilarious! And it's all iced with some very pretty graphics (the end-of-level guardians are particularly impressive) and an atmospheric soundtrack.

The only thing that might put people off is the difficulty level - even Rick Dangerous would have to think twice about this one!

Atari ST Death Trap is to all intents and purposes identical to the Amiga version reviewed here.

Anco has no plans at present for an IBM-compatible version of Death Trap.