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Gallant Monty Mole braves all once more.

Darkness. A chasm of hidden fortunes. A clash of chaotic chemicals and biological creations. A world where the nocturnal creatures stalk the undergrowth and go about their daily business. A day of night is life for only a brave few, brave to face the enigma of night, brave to fight the fearsome creatures of alien nations. A world where only one courageous adventurer, may tread to keep safe this wondrous planet. Monty Mole is Impossamole.

Called upon to save the aliens planet from almost certain disaster, the hapless star of such epics as Monty on the Run and Auf Weidersehen Monty has donned his red cape and pulled up his tight blue shorts for one more time. Monty's last appearance you may be interested to note, was on ITN when the little ball of fluff poked its nose into Arthur Scargill's miners' strike.

Washed and reupholstered, Monty is back for his next adventure to finance his luxurious expense of island life. With limited sacred super powers, Monty Mole has to leap and jump and jump and leap and leap a little further across over 200 screens which are included in five different environments. The first four, Klondyke, Oriental, Jungle and Ice can be ventured in any order but all must be completed before the fifth environment, Bermuda. The aim is to defeat the guardian of each level in an attempt to retain the sacred scrolls of eternal life.

On every platform there is something to be wary of as birds, animals and other infuriating beings block your path and zap your strength if you happen to touch them.

As energy is depleted, Monty can pick up food and drink and extra armaments throughout his quest including a somewhat nifty bazooka. The Klondyke level takes Monty through the murky depths and hectic networks of a mine shaft where the hazards are more than just animal. Mine trolleys trundle along the way threatening to quash the tiny toes of our superhero. The other levels are equally adventurous offering the environments that the levels' names suggest, such as lots of trees and grass for the Jungle. The Ice level obviously adorns you with ice whereas the Oriental stage offers you a subtle taste of the east with all its calculated liabilities.

The graphics are adequate enough but Monty's movements are a little slow and difficult to control. The screens shift as opposed to scroll but the essence of Impossamole is in its huge challenge, which calls for some quick joystick work and its storyline. It's not everyday aliens beam up a superhero to save their planet. The whole escapade actually reminded me of Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade but that's probably me being a little absent minded.

Nevertheless, as a platform and ladders game, Impossamole does not fall flat. It is not the best game in its range but its history and competitiveness herald the game as a sound return to the superhero scene for Monty Mole.