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If you have read the O.P.Z review already or if you have played any of the 40-odd games that Dave Hughes has coded, you'll be familiar with the quality of his products. Left Behind is yet another worthy addition to his catalogue.

Based on the book The Martian by Andy Weir, Left Behind takes place on Mars. You must complete a task on each single in order to survive, and eventually to escape the planet. There are only eight levels so the game is very short but, like O.P.Z (Another game by Dave Hughes) the quality of the platforming is so addictive that you will find yourself returning time and time again. When I put the game on for the first time I was immediately reminded of Manic Miner due to the accuracy of the platforming required. The gameplay is in a similar style too. Collect the keys to open the door and work your way out. This comparison only grew stronger when I completed a level and my leftover time bar was converted into points, complete with accompanying sound lifted straight from that classic game.

However, the game still has a sense if individuality and uniqueness as each level is as much a brainteaser as a platformer. It forces you to figure out the best way to accomplish the task in one piece (which you rarely do!). Each task becomes more devilishly difficult than the last, culminating in the final level where you'll need the reflexes of a mythical Ninja to succeed.

From the very first minute I played the game I was hooked and finished it within a couple of hours. Although I've played it a few times since then, it's not one I will return to over and over again. The game finishes with a promise of more levels to follow but, as of yet, they are unreleased. Thus, there's a slight feeling of this being more of a demo than a complete game... which is a pity as it is so close to greatness. As with just about every game in this magazine, this is a free homebrew game and for that it is fantastic and you will probably have a blast for an hour or two. Just don't expect anything more than that.

The platforming is fantastic fun and you'll find yourself hooked on the gameplay until you finish the game. The graphics and animation are top-notch making this a joy to play. The ability to play the game with only three lives adds to the longevity of the game.

The sound starts to grate on you after a while. There's not so much of a tune but an incessant beeping. Some of the collision detection is slightly off which, now and again, leads to unfair deaths. The eight levels, even with only three lives, are way too short... but perhaps the updated version (alluded to in the completion screen) will come out someday and sort this out. Fingers crossed!

Left Behind is a fantastic Manic Miner-style game which has a lot to offer but falls short on only having eight levels. It's great fun while it lasts though and well worth checking out!