This tape is like an old 45, with an A side and a B side. Trouble Brewin' is definitely the B side, for in Super Mutt Silversoft has created a character to rival Jeff Minter's battling sheep.

Super Mutt flies, leaps and jumps vertically. Ears pinned back he skims the rooftops in a quest for energy-giving green apples; defying gravity he vaults from ledge to ledge collecting floating letters that will give him the password to rescue his friend the Pup at the end of the game.

At the same time his remarkable (and energy-sapping) agility comes in handy for dodging various airborne hazards. He lacks fire-power, relying on nimble paw-work to reach his goal, but the letter collection makes this an agreeably educational game that doesn't need any mayhem to be enjoyable.

The graphics throughout are fine; the quest takes in 24 rooms and 60 landscapes, with a variety of adversaries for the paranormal dog. The game needs patience and a certain amount of ingenuity; the margins for error as you try to keep the dog's energy levels up are slight, and although some of the green apples are easy targets, the aerial bombs in many different disguises are all over the place.

Trouble Brewin' is similar in style, the aim being to collect ingredients and utensils and use them to make wine. There are five stages, all more or less the same - they differ only in the items you have to collect and the nasties you have to avoid.

The brewer jumps, climbs and waddles, but he has none of Super Mutt's charm. Once you've seen one screen full of ladders and ledges, you've seen them all unless there's something outstanding about the graphics. But Super Mutt may be demanding enough to make Trouble Brewin' a source of relaxation, especially as you can stay on the five practice screens instead of taking on the whole game.