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Mastertronic's range of games gets bigger and bigger every month, and as the catalogue increases so does the quality. This month's selection of cheapies have all been excellent.

Master Of Magic is a slice of arcade adventuring that even Ultimate could learn a few things from. The plot has you dragged underwater by a powerful hand whilst exploring some underground caverns. It could happen to anyone! The hand belongs to Thelric, master of magic and evil, and he refuses to let you go until you've retrieved the lost amulet of immortality.

This is your cue to head off into the maze of caverns with only a few leaves from your maths book stuffed in your pocket to map your way with.

Naturally, there are hordes of nasties hungrily awaiting your entry into their territory - among whose number are hellhounds, skeletons, orcs, bats and vampires.

As you explore, you will find clues and useful items such as healing potions, and scrolls that furnish you with information.

The screen is split into three different areas. Top left shows a birds' eye view of your movements with the caverns unfolding as you progress. Top right is the printout which tells you exactly what's happening, i.e. 'The hellhound bit you'.

The centre space is a menu which allows you to choose from a set of options (normal adventure type things like examine, run, attack). At the bottom of the screen you're given a close-up of whatever confronts you, be it a door or a nasty.

But the problem with this display is that there's rather too much going on. The birds' eye view of your movement would have been better off expanded to cover a little more detail so making the bottom area redundant, whilst the information display scrolls too quickly when there's a lot happening. Nevertheless you get used to it all eventually.

The gameplay is nothing special for its type, but it's good enough, and for three quid it's great value.

I must put a paragraph aside to rave about what it one of Rob Hubbard's best pieces of music yet. It's original and it suits the style of game very well. And blow me if I wasn't humming the tune all the way home. Buy this game for a good tune if for nothing else!