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Fairlight has been around a little longer than Batman. Its hero, Isvar, has been around for ages because this little warrior, who looks like he's straight out of Noggin the Nog - I'm showing my age - is a Scandinavian serf, transported to the courtyard of Castle Avars by a wizard who wants out.

This example of the ubiquitous Ultimate style puts the 3D view to different effect. While Batman (the isometric one) presents a series of puzzles that must be solved in a set order, Castle Avars is an open area of chambers, caverns, battlements and towers, with the odd secret passageway thrown in for good luck.

There is no one solution to Fairlight, just as there is no one way to solve a problem in real life. As you wander you'll realise that you're using exactly the same techniques as you would if you really were this diminutive hero. In the end you may even identify with him.

Credibility is the key to Fairlight's success. The castle is fully realised in physical terms so that you can map it, and perhaps use your plan to locate those hidden areas. All the objects you'll find inside it have weights and you can only carry so much at any one time.

There's a wonderful selection of wandering guardians, ranging from elemental whirlwinds to rejuvenating trolls.

Unlike Batman, though, there is less sheer arcade action and once a foe has been vanquished in combat you should be able to work out a method to stop it reappearing.

The only annoying feature - and I'm willing to believe it was unavoidable considering the programmers have had to create a complete graphics handling system - is the long blackout between screens. This is obtrusive at first, but eventually you'll learn to live with it.

Fairlight is an ambitious adventure that takes a lot of solving but because it doesn't call for quite the same arcade experience as Batman it's probably the most universally acceptable of all the programs.

But don't expect to sit down and play it during your lunch hour... you'll suddenly find it's 5.30pm and you're still searching for the key to that locked door!