Learning should be fun. Not surprisingly, software companies are writing educational programs that are played like other computer games. Often it is impossible to decide where the boundary line is between games and educational software. This program comes close to falling into that grey area, so if you thought chemistry was deadly boring, read on.

Forensic is an educational game that requires you to solve a murder using chemical analysis. You are given details of alibis and results of chemical tests carried out on the suspects' clothing.

The tests carried out are: flame tests; reaction with hydrochloric acid; reaction with barium chloride; reaction with silver nitrate; action of heat; chromatography.

You play the part of the forensic officer. You can get help from the program, and this basically tells you how to play the game. In the help section are all the tests and what they signify. When you have finished the tests you have to make out a report.

The whole game is menu driven with the various prompts made quite clear. The way I went through the game was to start with the case.

I then went through the suspects' alibis. These include chemical clues of what to look for. After the suspects come the tests; these can be taken in any order. Most of the tests just give you the results, but the chromatography test actually draws what happens in a chromatography test. (This is much better in colour).

After all this I filled in my forensic report, answering the various questions and filling the facts. The computer then tells you whether you've cracked the case or not. If you're wrong you have to go away and try again. If you are correct then you get a time and you go on the scoreboard. Oh, by the way there is a give-up option if you get frustrated (yes, I used it once or twice).

This is quite an educational game as it teaches you the chemical tests and characteristics for various substances. Personally I found the game quite difficult, but then I was never very good at chemistry. Come to think of it, I'll never be a detective either. With more practice at this game, though, I should improve.