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Dark Lore is your good old-fashioned traditional text adventure: no pictures, no prizes, just the simple task of finding the long-lost Sacred Talisman of Yurach by searching through the game's locations. There are over 100 of these, each described fairly vividly at the top of the screen.

Once the title screen has disappeared you're straight into the game with no instructions other than a few on the cassette cover about abbreviated inputs. "You are outside a small cave at the top of a high mountain. A steep path drops to the north, and a ravine drops to the west. What next?"

With my map on the table I set off on a straight northward path through a green valley towards a forest, only to be devoured by insects before I'd got going. Fortunately reincarnation is instant.

In another direction you pass through grassy plains to reach a desert where, if you don't get lost, you might stumble across an ants' nest. If you could only get past the massive red ant blocking your path you could perhaps find something useful. Experienced adventurers will know that the way to many creatures' hearts is through their stomach so off you set to try to find something sweet and edible, if you don't already have it with you.

The next problem is dealing with a rather superior wizard, who scarcely acknowledges your presence (nor my presents, come to think of it). If you do progress, the game opens up into encounters with pirates and bird-men, and what secret could a gargoyle hold? For those who get really stuck a help-sheet is available if you write off for it.

This is an enjoyable no-frills adventure, with tasks that tax the ingenuity, and it should keep most people puzzling well beyond the Eighth Day.