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A film licence with a difference? Surely not? (Okay, no, but we've got to grab your attention somehow). Clur illuminates us...

What would you think of a man in a big brown mackintosh, wearing a big brown hat and his face bandaged up? Well, if I was you I'd avoid him like the plague. Never trust a man in a mac that won't show you his face, that's what my mum always taught me. But that's who you're playing in Darkman.

The game is a licence platform-beat-'em-up by numbers. Not that it's a bad platformer, it's just that it's there's nothing that makes it stand out from all the others. You walk along a bit, thump a few people, avoid a few projectiles then walk along some more and repeat the process.

Okay, I'm being slightly unfair - but only very slightly. There are a few twists in the gameplay as you progress but nothing in "The Crying Game" league. For example, there are the bonus levels in which you have to take as many photos of the baddies as you can. The more photos, the better your mask, so the longer you blend in with the crims on the next level (this might sound a bit odd, but it all ties in with the plot of the film which is far too complex and ludicrous to go into here).

The game progresses through a series of similar, dingy-looking levels, each with its own problem to solve. One level has you dangling from a rope attached to a helicopter, trying to avoid the rush hour traffic, while another has you leaping across the rooftops. Each of the seven levels follows the same rules of: if you can't avoid 'em, thump 'em. The scrolling is smooth enough but not stunningly speedy.

Darkman will probably take you less time to complete than it would to watch the film (plus, to be fair, going down the video shop to hire it and take it back as well), even if you're not a hardened game-player. It's an okay beat-'em-up that's far too easy for anyone with half a brain. Trent loved it! [Oi! I heard that! - Ed]

This game is so easy that you probably don't need any kind of cheat or tip to reach the end. But here's one just in case you're completely hopeless. If you're using an Autofire joystick in the beat-'em-up sections, turn it off when you get to a photo-taking level; otherwise you'll end up wasting a whole roll of film on arty shots of walls.

Graphics 60%
Yep, there are some. The graphics are definitely... er... there.

Sound 80%
The theme tune is suitably atmospheric (but is it from the film?)

Playability 80%
It's so easy that the first level or two are great thumping fun...

Lastability 50%
But it soon becomes a drag and doesn't stand up to repeated play.

Overall 66%