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There have been too many nice heroes in computer games lately, so wouldn't it make a change to have an anti-hero? You know, someone who's mean, nasty and totally ruthless. Enter Biff. His claim to the crown of nastiness is that he was rude to his mother. That's all. So it looks like we won't be having an anti-hero after all.

Biff and his mother live in a treehouse. Slightly unusual, I trust you'll agree. What is more unusual is that Biff appears to be a mutated albino yeti (the sort that live in forests, rather than snowy mountain ranges).

His mum has chucked him out of the treehouse, and so he has to wander around the screens collecting and doing things that please his mum, so she forgives him and lets him back in.

So what we have here is a platform game. Or what is often called an arcade adventure. Instead of just killing things (in fact, you can't kill anything in Biff), the idea is that you avoid the nasties and collect various objects. These need to be used in a special order to progress in the game. For example, you need to grow a tree from seeds, cut it down with an axe, and then use the planks of wood to mend a bridge. Only then can you get to the other parts of the game.

The whole thing is just a progression of puzzles and objects. There are so many that it helps to sit with a pad and pen, writing them down as you come across them. Or do as we did - just shout out the names of the objects you see. Chaos, but it works rather well. The thing is, it's pretty easy to work out what to do next. The strange thing with Biff is that he's completely unarmed. So just avoid everything you meet. This is easier said than done, because when he enters a new screen, there are often baddies starting at the same point on the side of the screen. So for a second or so, Biff will be in unavoidable contact with one.

Biff starts the game with 150 energy points. These decrease every time he touches a baddie (or one touches him). The only way to increase them is by completing sections of the game correctly. Even so, you don't retrieve much energy. This is the hardest part of Biff - you lose so much energy.

It's a nice-looking game, it's fast and there's lots to do. But it's annoying, too. Starting off in the same place as the baddies on some screens is just silly. It spoils the game for me. And Biff isn't controllable enough in certain delicate jumping situations.

Overall though, if you're a Dizzy fan, you'll love this. Not very taxing, pretty big and with lots to see, it'll keep you occupied for a fair while.

1. Biff is well-drawn and smoothly animated as well.
2. You see different things everywhere you go.
3. The puzzles are nicely thought out, if a little simple.
4. Lots of touches of humour throughout the game.
5. It's satisfying to get past the bits where you always died before!
6. No violence, so if you fancy a break from blood-letting, this could be up your street.

1. Starting many screens on top of an alien is immensely frustrating. Gaah!
2. The jump control is a bit finicky, and can trip you up.
3. It's fairly easy for the seasoned gamer, with the on-screen prompts.