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One of the scariest film releases of the last two years has just been made into a lavish computer game by Ocean. Come with us to Midian, the city of legend where all things are forgiven. Or are they?

Does the name Clive Barker mean anything to you? No? In that case I won't bore you with a long-winded review of Night Breed then. BLAM! Ah-ha, I'll assume from that warning shot that the Ed just fired at me that writing this review may in fact be quite a good idea after all.

Mr Barker is a Sci-fi/horror/fantasy writer of considerable talent, imagination and generally sick mind. He has, in recent years, been associated with a plethora of films including Hellraiser 1 to 10, and Night Breed and has written a bevy of bile-churning books like Weaveworld and Cabal (which, incidentally, forms the basis of the film and game of Night Breed).

The plot of hs latest celluloid stomach-wrencher goes thus: The hero, Boone, has had a disturbed and thoroughly rotten life, and now to top it all his doctor has committed a series of murders and convinced Boone that he was actually responsible.

Having become naffed off with the whole sordid affair, Boone decides to go off in search of the legendary Night Breed, a race of shapechangers who were themselves once persecuted and now live in the mythical city called Midian, a place where all sins are forgiven (completely unlike the Commodore Format office). On arriving in Midian however, Boone discovers that he has unwittingly been followed by a rather unsavoury bunch of humans calling themselves the Sons of the Free who are committed to the destruction of the Night Breed.

It has become Boone's task (as legend foretold, as always) to become initiated into the Breed and ultimately save them from a fate worse than death - well, death itself actually. I think you'll agree it's a stunning plot which beats the crap out of most game storylines. But is the actual game up to scratch?

The first point to make (and it can't be stressed enough) is that the game must be mapped, as the layout of the screens is phenomenally confusing. The screen is viewed horizontally, like a beat-'em-up, with exits on the left and/or right hand sides. There are, however, exits in front and behind of the player at various points and, because of the two-dimensional layout, it's difficult to relate the various locations to one another. So with paper and pencil at the ready, you can begin your quest.

Three major levels represent ground level, upper Midian and lower Midian, and your incredibly easy I-could-do-it-with-my-eyes-shut task [Do I detect a hint of sarcasm? - Ed] is to travel down through all three levels and win the ultimate battle against 'The Mask' who just happens to be the leader of the Sons of the Free. In order to achieve this somewhat spooky aim, a number of keys must be collected (a number which eludes me at the moment) from each of the levels.

Various opponents are strategically placed to get your back up, many of whom are S.O.T.F. members who wield a variety of weapons such as hand guns, machine guns and flame-throwers. These bounders can be defeated by being put at the receiving end of a series of punches (or bullets if you're lucky enough to have found a gun). A larger threat (literally) is posed by the various members of the Breed who, prior to your initiation, see you as a threat. There's Fatman, who sports a rather fetching head on his stomach and who attacks by vomiting poisonous bile at you. Flying teeth threaten to knock your brains out and berserkers pummel you senseless with their rather well-trained fists.

One of my favourites was the evil eye - a giant, flying, ray-shooting eyeball which only harms you if you're facing it - a nice touch if ever I saw one. There are other monsters too numerous to mention, so all I'll say is that there are over thirty.

When you reach lower Midian you must defeat The Mask. Then, and only then, can you be baptised by the Breed's God Baphomet, thus making you one with the shapechangers and able to assume a different, more powerful form yourself. It is then time for the meat and potatoes part of the game - namely, surviving the Berserkers' chamber, freeing the Breed and defeating The Mask for the last time. (Phew!)

At the start of the game, there's an option to create a key from a selection of tiles, which means that if you've played before and know what the keys look like, you can skip levels. It sounds like a real corker, doesn't it? YES! And is it? NO! The only way I can describe Night Breed is a tragic waste of an opportunity. The plot is astounding (thanks, Clive) and the series of goals in the game are inspired with neat touches (like the heads which turn into skulls as you get weaker) but the gameplay is seriously sub-standard. The graphics have been designed to such an other-worldly degree that any atmosphere that there might have been is lost, and play is made confusing. The elaborate screens have been a major downfall. The controls are also awkward to say the least. Batting opponents is primitive, involving punching them repeatedly until they fall over or slide stiffly off the screen.

Who knows, the bravely oddball graphics and the strength of the story may save this game for some people, but I feel a golden opportunity has been wasted.

1. Jumbled graphics make gameplay confusing.
2. Poor character control is very frustrating.
3. Over-simplistic fighting technique leads to repetitive play.
4. Overlaid graphics obscure action which is painful during vital battles.
5. Simple game design dressed up as a scary monster. It doesn't add up to much of a challenge.

1. Excellent storyline forms strong atmosphere and provides a good foundation.
2. Good basic game plot provides a clear series of worthwhile goals.
3. Despite their effect on play, the graphics (monsters especially) are very good indeed.