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Hard Hat Mack, by Electronic Arts, is a levels and ladders game. The action takes place on a building site and there are three completely different screens. To succeed on the first, you must climb to the top by filling in gaps in the platforms using steel girders.

While doing so, you must avoid rivets which are being thrown down from above by an invisible assailant.

Once you have plugged all the gaps, you have to rivet each girder in place with a special gun that zips along the levels looking rather like a spinning top.

To assist your progress there are chains at one end of each platform which you can climb up. In addition, there is a trampoline that you can use to bounce up to the next levels, and there is also a lift at your disposal which takes you up three levels.

On the second screen you have to race around collecting lunchboxes.

In order to access the different levels you have to hop on to a girder which is hoisted up and down by a winch. On the first two screens there is a meanie called Vandal, whose sole purpose is to make life unpleasant for you. One touch from him and you're dead.

On the third screen two meanies appear - Vandal and Osha, a robot-like creature. On this screen you must collect boxes and put them into a chute. In the centre there are lifts that Hard Hat Mack can ride to get to the different levels.

The game is in black and white, and as a result the hi-res graphic detail is superb. Naturally the game as a result lacks colour, but you can't have your cake and eat it.

It could perhaps have been improved by the addition of some more different screens, and a keyboard option would cater for those unfortunate Atarians who haven't got access to joystick.

Nevertheless, the game is extremely addictive and great fun to play. And, if you'll excuse just one piun, if your tastes are like mine you'll stay riveted for hours!

The cassette version costs £9.95 and the disc version is £12.95.