Previous Next

If you go down in the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise - the place is full of the grisliest ghouls you could ever wish not to meet. Forget about a walk in the Black Forest; in Forbidden Forest you'll be running - scared!

Out for a little target practice with your bow and arrow, you become lost in a strange forest. Darkness falls and with it come the creatures of the night: giant spiders, killer bees, enormous frogs, fire-breathing dragons and worse.

You realise, too late to turn back, that you have wandered into Forbidden Forest, home of the dreaded Demogorgon and his ghastly gang. All that stands between you and a gruesome end is your prowess as an archer and your ability to break the four-minute mile.

Those of a nervous disposition are advised to turn the sound down and to wear warm clothes while playing - this game has music to chill the spine and sound effects to freeze the blood. Some of the graphics are pretty gory, so you'd best close your eyes as well.

In the midst of the forest stands a large figure, the archer. One touch of the joystick button and the archer takes an arrow from the quiver and fits it to the bow, a second press and the arrow is fired.

Moving the joystick up and down sets the trajectory of the arrow which remains fixed in this position until you decide to alter it again. Pushing the joystick left and right turns the archer through 11 different firing positions; holding the joystick to the left or right sets the archer running.

Sinister chords announce the arrival of the first shocker - a giant, man-eating spider. You can try to outrun it or shoot it. You can't load your bow while on the run and if you haven't already done that by the time a spider is close, too bad - you'll end up as a spider's lunch (complete with dripping blood - ugh!).

Having disposed of four spiders, a loud buzzing heralds the killer bee, as big as a football and considerably more lethal. Then follow the jumbo frogs, a fiery, flying dragon, spear waving skeletons, a hooded phantom, giant snakes and, last but not lovely (and accompanied by a violent storm), the demogorgon.

The creepy music, heart-thumping sound effects and colourful animation make this a truly exciting game. If your adrenalin hasn't had a good run lately, treat it to this.