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Hmm, a game based on an old 1980s CPC arcade adventure. The game doesn't even hide the fact, stating in the game info screen. Anyway, Justin is an isometric arcade adventure game. The story is that you are a thief and you have to infiltrate a huge mansion, by finding the keys conveniently left outside, and blast the four safes within the building.

The first thing that you will notice is the nicely-drawn title screen then the smack in the face irritation of the theme music when you move to the menu screen. Thankfully the game itself is played without the music. You can play the game with the keyboard or joystick, in French or English. Throughout the mansion there are obstacles and puzzles to overcome, like wandering huge mice, crawling spiders. The isometric map makes for awkward movement as pressing left makes Justin walk upwards, while pressing right makes him walk downwards - a real disorientating situation that takes a while to get your head around. The obstacles themselves can be overcome by trial and error.

The graphics are colourful and well-drawn while sound effects are basic jump and death bleeps. Gameplay is frustratingly difficult with progress made through luck alone.

As mentioned, Justin is based on an old 1986 Dinamic game called Dustin, and, in retrospective, 20 years later things haven't really improved much at all.

Aaaaargh! I absolutely hate isometric games that involve jumping. Moving around is a nightmare, pressing diagonally up will not move the character in that direction. Little niggles like this add up to a deeply frustrating game indeed.

Enter the house.

Graphics 78%
P. Colourful and well drawn.

Sound 32%
N. Irritating music.
N. Sound effects are poor.

Grab Factor 46%
P. The graphics alone may grab your interest.

Staying Power 22%
N. Gameplay is frustrating...
N. ...and you might lose interest quickly.

Overall 26%
Irritating music and sound effects, poor controls and gameplay, frustrating.