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Having seen the Commodore 64 version of Hover Bovver, I jumped at the chance to review it for Atari User. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I have to say I didn't like it.

I loved the storyline and the introductory cartoon, the music was fine (for the first hour anyway), it's just that I found the game almost unplayable. It didn't seem to respond to the joystick, so much so that I even began to think my joystick was faulty.

But as soon as I loaded another game, the joystick seemed fine, so I have to conclude it was Hover Bovver.

The game is set in the English garden where Gordon Bennet is trying to mow his lawn. He's borrowed his neighbour's machine, and the neighbour wants it back.

There's a whole strategy to be worked out based on the behaviour of the various people, the tendency of the mower to overhead, and the necessity to keep an eye on the Dog Loyalty and Dog Tolerance displays at the bottom of the screen.

I still think the idea of Hover Bovver is good and I can appreciate the strategic elements even though I barely got chance to try them out.

The package boasts "You've never played a game like this before," and I have to agree! At £7.50 you should try before you buy.