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More than ever, hour after, our work is never over. Freddie has a problem, more specifically that he's spent everything he acquired previously, and now he's skint. Look, there's treasure to be had just sitting there - but wait! Wouldn't you just know it? There are pesky creatures guarding it. Time to break out the climbing boots and dust off the gloves once again.

Unsurprisingly, Frantic Freddie II is a sequel to a really old game from the Commodore 64's dawn (Commercial Data Systems, 1983). We're willing to bet some of you weren't even born when it came out. If anything, it's a loving pastiche to the original as it looks and sounds like it came right out of the time, albeit with modern song interpretations.

The gameplay also remains the same: guide Freddie around each of the sixteen levels collecting various objects while avoiding the nasties roaming the platforms. Sounds simple enough, however the major twist comes from the fact that Freddie cannot move through any of the ladders, he can only climb up and down the side he encounters, while the nasties can pass through ladders unhindered. Thus navigation becomes much more of a strategy, together with creating patterns of movement to lure the creatures away from where you wish to go next.

Each object increases in value as you progress through the levels; likewise the bonus objects that occasionally pass across the screen while playing. A humorous cut-scene breaks up the action at the end of every second level.

Is this the longest gap ever between the first and second instance of a game? At first, you won't quite know to begin with this; it goes the whole homage hog with faithful graphics and sound as the original, and the gameplay doesn't stray very far either. That being the case, it's somewhat ruthless from the word go; expect more than a few goes before getting anywhere near level three. Still, once the rules of what you can and cannot do are firmly brain-embedded, plotting routes around each levels and dodging the nasties becomes second nature.

Don't expect Earth-shattering originality here, but if you're up for the challenge, Frantic Freddie II certainly can help to scratch that itch with a one-more-go mentality. And you're bound to try and identify each of its catchy level tunes that are based on real songs.

I'm not as taken with this as Mat is. I admire the commitment to produce such an authentic sequel to Frantic Freddie, but the result is a game dated in feel and old-fashioned in play.

The only real appeal comes from wanting to hear the music on the next screen, but having to plough through from the beginning every time brings little enjoyment.

A password system would certainly have been a big plus.

It's very faithful to the original, so if you liked that 35 years ago, you may well love this. Others will almost certainly find it irritating, frustrating and not a lot of fun.

Creating an homage to a classic game is a double-edged sword: change too much and the fans won't like it; change too little and it feels dated. This certainly gets a lot right, from the very humorous intermissions to the cracking rock covers (with versions to cater for different SID chips, a nice touch).

However, while I appreciate the old school charms, the game design makes it too frustrating. Some screens I found nearly impossible to clear, with the enemy AI relentlessly homing in on the player's poor sprite. So my score sits between Paul and Mat's - there is a real challenge in clearing levels and chasing a high score, but it takes time to master and can be highly off-putting in terms of difficulty.

Presentation 65%
High score table, between-levels cutscenes, but no options.

Graphics 45%
Captures the 1983 feel of the original.

Sound 91%
A pop cover for every level.

Hookability 75%
Simple premise and great music hide a potentially frustrating start.

Lastability 60%
Although, in the end, there's only high scores to chase.

Overall 69%
A marmite old-school platformer.