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Every now and then a game comes along that is a pleasure to play and to watch other people play. Such as game is Jasper in which the hero is a mouse (for some reason I kept thinking that Jasper was a kangaroo) whose objective is to get from start to finish through 22 screens without getting duffed. Along the way are various objects that are required to make your journey possible. You are only able to carry five objects at once which are then placed in boxes at the top of the screen for future use and there is a real time clock so that with each playing you can improve your time score.

Where Jasper really wins is in the excellent use of graphics with beautifully animated creatures and very smooth scrolling screens, this just shows what can be done with a Spectrum in the hands of a good programmer.

Jasper can really be described as a arcade/adventure game with almost cartoon like characters. Jasper can jump over other animals (perhaps that is where the feeling of a kangaroo comes from) swing through the trees on a rope and jump off platforms and float down to earth using an umbrella as a parachute. It really is a joy to watch the big cats stalking across the screen and the bunnies hopping everywhere. There is plenty of action on each screen and you need a combination of quick reflexes and careful planning to make your way through all the screens.

One thing I would have liked to see would be the option of using a joystick but I understand that as so many keys have to be used it could prove a problem but the keyboard controls are very responsive and do not require you to have 258 fingers going at the same time so perhaps the joystick option is not too important and certainly does not detract from the game at all.

If you are only able to purchase one game a month for your Spectrum then I would make this your next one, I would even go as far as to say if you are only able to buy one very six months then make this the one as I am sure that its addictive value will keep you going for most of that time. Well done Derek Brewster, another Kentilla.