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It's Dynamite Dan to the rescue as the evil Doctor Blitzen threatens the world with his Super Psychon Mega-Ray. Dan is the super spy hero of this platform-style arcade adventure.

The plans for the Mega-Ray have been sealed in a safe by the Doc's glamorous assistant - the inscrutable Donna. To get at the blueprints Dan has to locate eight sticks of dynamite hidden all over Blitzen's rambling cliff-top hideaway. The explosives can be used to blast the safe so that Dan can grab the plans and escape in his hot air balloon.

First impressions of Dynamite Dan are likely to be yawns of "Oh no, not another platform game". It would be a pity to dismiss it for this reason alone as it is an excellent implementation of an admittedly hackneyed theme.

Lots of nasties inhabit the rooms requiring really precise leaps and planning. Mapping is also essential if you are to avoid getting lost. There are lifts and moving platforms to ride on, providing a welcome rest from the hazards of exploring on foot.

What sets the game apart from the dozens of other games are the excellent of the graphics and animation. The colour are razor sharp and the movement of objects is flawless. Another nice touch is that each time you play the sticks of dynamite, food and other objects you need to collect are left in different positions.

One of the disappointments of the game is that it is simply a left, right, jumper - utilising only three of the keys. It would have been nice to have some other actions - say a gun, or a couple of Bond-style gadgets at the ready. But this is not to detract from what is a nice, simple and incredibly addictive game. I'm not ashamed to say that this platform game kept me glued to the screen for an entire weekend.