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There has been a lot of excitement around the release of Gimmick! for the ZX Spectrum since the early screenshots and footage emerged some time ago. Antonio J Perez has used the Mojon Twins' MK2 Engine to tremendous effect to deliver an 8 -Bit side scrolling platforming masterpiece that hits you right in the nostalgic centre of the brain. Although based on Sunsoft's 1992 NES release Gimmick! , this is not a port or a remake and bears little resemblance to the original game, opting instead to base ten worlds on the most memorable of retro video games. The shocking thing here is that it is as good as it sounds!

In the original NES game, the hero, Yumetaro rescued his owner from the 'Jealous Toys' and has been living in peace and happiness until now. The last remaining 'Jealous Toys' have managed to suck him into the incredibly modern super computer (The ZX Spectrum) where he is stuck and must fight through 10 worlds to reach the dragon who can take him home.

There are clear inspirations from Wonder Boy Dragon's Trap on the Master System as individual levels are reached through separate doors but joined together by one main world. Upon starting the game you are given a choice of 4 control options with various key combinations and the usual Kempston and Sinclair joystick options. The music is extremely charming from the outset and sets the mood of the game perfectly. The game begins with your character falling into the 8-Bit world and landing on the roof of a house. You quickly discover that most of the doors are locked but there is a kindly teacher in the Turtle School who will point you in the right direction. Each building is the entrance to a world which you must complete in order to unlock the others. There are some puzzle elements and hidden areas to discover which adds to the challenge and enjoyment of the game. You control the main character Yumetaro in the usual way as with most platformers of this era. However, there is no crouch, with the normal down button instead being used as an action key to read signs or speak to people. This can take some getting used to as years of retro gaming have conditioned your fingers to automatically press up for this function making your character jump before you realise. The jumping itself is accurate enough to feel fair and responsive. The game runs at a slower pace than many of its 8-bit counterparts but that does not make it any easier.

The first level you come to is called Mushroom Gate and is based in the world of Super Mario. The scenery and enemies are instantly recognisable and familiar. There is even a final showdown with Bowser at the end! The music here really sets the game apart with a wonderful speccy version of Super Mario Land from the Gameboy. The platforming in each level is difficult and will take some practice to master. One of the only drawbacks is the flick screen style causes cheap deaths all the time before you learn how to avoid it and even then it can be frustrating.

Your character starts defenceless but picks up abilities along the way which he can use on certain levels such as the ability to throw ninja stars which you achieve in the Shinobi World and can then use to defeat Dr. Robotnik in the Ring Gate. The feeling of pure joy when you enter a world and hear the Sonic 2 Emerald Hill tune or Castlevania, Wonderboy, Gradius and so much more makes the game worth playing alone but what makes it really stand out is that it's so charming from start to finish. I actually don't mind dying that much. The game does not overly punish you, it just starts you back at the beginning of the level with your 5 lives to try again and it's so much fun that it doesn't seem like a chore. The main character is lovable and even the animation of every jump puts a smile on your face. The game is quite long and will take a considerable amount of skill and memorising to finish but is enjoyable throughout.

The game oozes charm and personality from the beginning to end. Discovering each world and going on a trip down memory lane is a fantastic experience. The platforming is sound and the controls are accurate. The music (although lifted from other games) is what makes this really stand out. The game offers the right amount of challenge and is by no means a small game.

The flick-screen platforming can be frustrating at first. Some of the deaths seem a tad unfair and you can end up escaping rooms by sheer panic as opposed to skill at times.

Gimmick! Yumetaro Odyssey is amongst the finest new games available for the ZX Spectrum. It is a triumph in both design and execution. It unashamedly pushes every nostalgia button and is all the better for it. Whether it's to play for half an hour or to put the time into and finish the whole game, every retro gamer with the hardware or software to download and play this should give it a try.