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With such fond memories from childhood of hearing a sequel was imminent, saving up pocket money, checking the shops every day just in case it had been released and then finally catching a glimpse of it out the corner of your eye. Thinking to yourself: It can't be! I must be seeing things... Oh my god it's real; I can get it and play it today! Sprinting home and firing it straight into the tape deck. Getting excited at the loading screen and then finally playing the game you'd longed for for so long. Often it was simply more of the same, perhaps a new mechanic or two but that was all you'd really wanted and more often than not, it was worth the wait. Not since those days have I had that kind of buzz and excitement until Andy Johns announced that Nixy 2 was not far away. We knew it was coming, like at the end of Back To The Future. Those of us that finished the first game we were treated to a teaser stating that Nixy 2: The Seeds Of Doom was "coming soon" but what did that mean? When? I've followed the progress over the last year and seen screens now and again which only heightened the anticipation but could it possibly live up to the dizzy heights of the first game? With Andy Johns at the helm I had very little doubt.

Like the first game, Nixy 2 is coded through a branch of Jonathan Cauldwell's wonderful AGD engine called AGDx. This is Allan Turvey's project; he has been working wonders with AGDx which is getting better all the time and Andy Johns has taken full advantage of these features to produce a title of the highest quality! When we think of football we know that there's great players and then there's Pele. In writing there's Shakespeare, art has Monet, boxing had Ali and AGD has Andy Johns. He has taken the same engine countless others have used and found a way to make it sing in a more beautiful way.

Once again, the game centers around Nixy the Glade Sprite (a wingless fairy or pixie character). When you think of the graphical limitations of the Spectrum and add to that the sprite limitations of AGDx there is no way that Nixy should have anything like the level of personality and charm that she does. Charm is the perfect term for this as it oozes from every aspect of the game from the jaunty music to the fine detail. There is no lazy animation or level design in sight. Each screen is a work of art and the colours on the humble speccy have never looked so good [Yes, I agree, just gorgeous - Ed].

In this year's outing there is more emphasis on the platforming elements than last time and this makes the game feel fresh. I love my platformers and anything utilising the AGD engine is guaranteed to be fun and playable. With several problem solving aspects and devilishly tricky platforming sections (complete with disappearing platforms) to traverse this isn't a game you'll be finishing in half an hour. The energy system is spot on so deadly falls won't kill you off and you have a chance to learn from your mistakes. There are collectables to replenish lost energy peppered throughout the game which are well placed and give you that little bit of respite just when you most need it. The learning curve is perfect and (as with most great games) you find yourself coasting through screens you previously struggled with after a few hours. When you finish the game you are left with that incredibly satisfied feeling and an urge to do it all over again. That in itself is the best compliment I could give.

The game hits that sweet spot of enough familiarity from the first game combined with feeling new and fresh. Nixy was an incredible achievement and this improves on the formula in every way. The music is outstanding. It's amongst the prettiest games ever to appear on the machine. The platforming is tight and fun. The game is accessible yet challenging.

It's impossible to avoid and it's not a criticism I just never wanted the game to end. Alas (on a 128K machine especially), all good things do come to an end... but I'll be playing through this time after time as I wait for Nixy 3.

Andy Johns had set himself an almost impossible task. How to improve on a game that was so loved by the Spectrum homebrew community without losing the essence of what made it great.

This has clearly been a labour of love, so much time and care has been given to every aspect of the game and that's why this shines so very brightly.

We have been spoiled this year with an abundance of outstanding new games for the ZX Spectrum. If we took all the best ones and made a crown, Nixy 2 would be that beautiful jewel right in the centre.