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Every soul has a dark side because of they way they swim [That's 'sole', you fool - Ed]. But there's nothing fishy about this new game from Ocean. In case you missed the film it's based on, you play a scientist who's horribly disfigured in an explosion at his lab. The explosion was manufactured by arch-mobster Robert G Durant, whose pyromaniacal cronies went a-torchin' your pad on an evidence elimination mission (some papers incriminating Durant had fallen into your hands). All burned up with no face to show, you set about the perfectly reasonable job of seeking revenge. Enter level one. Starting off as a humble brown sprite, you learn that Durant's dudes are going to pick up drug money in Chinatown. It's money you need, so you go to intercept it by sideways-scrolling your way past gunmen, thugs and ninja. You have to do a lot of dodging and there's a fair amount of distance to cover. But the bad guys are easy to beat up. Once they're down, they stay down.

On an intermediary screen you have to spy on cronies walking past windows, while photographing one of them, so that you can construct a disguise. Time is of the essence and you're low on film but you can do it if you keep calm.

In level two you're trapped in a factory by Durant's cronies and the only way out is up to the roof. This platform level brings back memories of Batman: The Movie but save the comparisons. The games soon become even more similar. The bad guys here are harder to beat up (they get up again, in other words) and some of scenery is trapped with spikes. But it's a cracking level to play.

On the next level, you return to the factory roof to face Durant and his grenade-firing helicopter. You have to leap from rooftop to rooftop in order to escape. Avoid the explosions while getting into a good enough position from which to reach the next building.

Next you prepare a time-bomb back in the wreck of your old lab and then fight your way out of the building. But assuming you get out of there sharpish, it's on to level five where all you've got to do is survive. However, by now you're hanging from a rope beneath the chopper, as the pilot dangles you in front of freeway traffic. Succeed and you scramble aboard a tanker, tie the rope and put paid to Durant. But... The real evil mastermind was someone else all along. The showdown with Strack takes place on a skyscraper cluttered with the last of the cronies and a few more traps. You win by throwing Strack from the roof.

Darkman is familiar Ocean fare carried off with slick graphics, satisfactory sound effects and balanced gameplay. No ground breaking moments take your breath away but what is there is good. My only reservation is that more accomplished joystick jockeys will crack it with far less effort than I applied. Handle with care.

1. Possibly a little too easy for experienced gamers.
2. Looks like some of Ocean's old Batman code has been given a new lease of life.
3. Hefty multiload.

1. Chunky, well animated sprites and crisp background scenics throughout.
2. Seven completely different styles of gameplay to capture the plot of the film.
3. Original idea for the 'tween level game.
4. Reasonable sound effects often act as hazard warnings.
5. Responsive controls help the playability.
6. Programmed with finesse.
7. Good ending.