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About a year ago, I walked into my local arcade and found a crowd of people literally dribbling over a new machine. Little did I know that it would change my life for the next few weeks. It made me go without food, without water. It made me beg - and I was even contemplating pawning my mum's wedding ring.

No need to do that any more, now I can play Marble Madness in the comfort of my own home.

The trouble is, the Real Thing has arrived when the marble craze is fizzling out, thanks to numerous clones like Spindizzy, Revolution, Gyroscope and Quazatron. Fortunately, Electronic Arts has gone one better than all these, producing a game that's got spectacular graphics, excellent scrolling and bundles of detailed sprites.

The object of the game (as if you didn't know) is to guide a marble through a 3D maze full of nasty things that are trying to stop you. Reach the end before the seconds run out and you move on to the next an inevitably trickier level. Levels load separately so there's a little waiting to do.

There are two types of problems you must face. There's the landscape with its steep ramps, dips, bridges, etc. And there are a wide range of nasties to contend with. Here's the lowdown on what you can expect to find in the first three levels:

1. Level One
   Nice 'n easy, this one. No nasties to avoid, just a few downhill ramps. There are direction arrows and railings to help you.
2. Level Two
   The usual steep ramps but now there's a moving bridge (brilliantly animated) and metal tubes to go through to take a shortcut. No direction indicators this time so going the right way is crucial. At the end, there's a magnetic crater that's just - impossible. Nasties include a hostile marble that tries to push you over the edge and Springers which stun you and then swallow you up.
3. Level Three
   Nothing but steep slopes and narrow paths here. Then there's a mini-maze (takes up precious time) and a wave machine that will either help or hinder your progress. Those nice ittle Springers appear again. Also watch out for the acid pools which will dissolve you, given half a chance.

Marble Madness also has a two-player game in which both you and your opponent have a marble on the maze. Do you bash each other or team up? [I'd probably bash you - Ed]. One nasty little trick is that if you leave your opponent behind on the last screen, he immediately reappears but with a five second time penalty.

As I've already said, graphics are as good as I've seen on the C64 and the scrolling is up to Uridium standards.

Marble Madness is frustrating, compelling, gripping and most of all, addictive. There's no excuse, you simply must buy it.