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Basing a game on the antics of a cutesy blob of snot with big googly eyes has got to be the most hat-stand idea anyone has had all year, or any year for that matter. At least that's what Reckless Rufus seems to be. He's green and globular and, despite the fact, he seems to have legs [albeit very short, stumpy ones just like Dave's - Ed], he prefers to blob around the place like a rotund ball of recently-sneezed mucus splodging down a pane of glass [Yep, he definitely sounds like Dave - Ed].

The game is set up as over 130 screens, each getting more complicated as you go along. The aim is to squelch Rufus around the screen and collect the diamonds as you go. [Why is it always diamonds? - Ed] (Because they're valuable, you fool! - Roger] The problem is that a lot of the space is taken up by marshy land that'll suck you into oblivion if you touch it with any part of your phlegmy self.

So how do you get onto them if there's marshland standing in your way? That's where the numbered blocks that are dotted around the levels come into play. These allow you to build your own blocks, but only up to number shown on the original numbered block. So you have to plan carefully where to stick your slabs. The only safe squares to stand on are few and far between and most of them have some alter ego or another. The really nasty ones masquerade as standard blocks and only when Rufus rolls on to them do they show their true colours. There are bonus blocks as well, that can boost your score by enormous amounts or even make you disappear for a few seconds.

Making matters even more maddening are some very nasty marauding meanies that are out to get ya. Blast 'em with the laser gun, but only if necessary - there's a limited amount of firepower to play with.

Rufus has the makings of the ultimate puzzler, but it blows it. It's just so downright annoying at times. The puzzles themselves are set at the correct difficulty level, but the problem comes when you have no escape route from the baddies. You might have done everything right until almost the end of a level, when you're innocently sitting at the top of the screen and - POW! - an alien appears out of nowhere and robs you of your last life. This is not what I call cricket. Continues would be nice - there are only passwords every ten levels and, once you've lost your three lives, you're taken all the way back to level one. This is so frustrating you end up throwing your joystick down the waste disposal.

Reckless Rufus is not just a game of skill. Success, or failure, depends too much on luck. Whether you enjoy it or not, depends on how patient a games player you are.

1. Over 130 levels.
2. Intriguing premise.
3. Clear graphics, and Rufus is dead cute.
4. Great sound effects.

1. More luck than skill.
2. Passwords only after every ten levels.
3. The controls aren't very positive.