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Truly great games are those with simple rules, it says on the box, so Quadrel certainly could be a stonker. It relies on the very simple theorem that says you can fill any type of map with four different colours without having two areas of the same colour adjacent to each other.

Quadrel is a pleasant puzzle game based on this theorem. You play on one of a number of areas, with a range of options - solitaire mode against the clock, imposed solitaire mode where your ST chooses which space you must fill next, and a two-player mode against the ST or another person. Each player takes a turn to fill an area on-screen with any one of the four available colours. There are no restrictions except that you can't place a colour where it touches another area of the same colour. As the spaces fill up, it becomes more and more difficult to apply the colours, until eventually it's impossible to add any more and one player wins. Help is available from the ST in one-player mode but there's a time penalty for using it.

Puzzle games aren't exactly renowned for their fabuous graphics, but then they don't need 'em. Quadrel's displays are functional, colourful and not too fussy. Sound is actually rather good - sampled New Age-style music which calms your addled nerves when you've cocked it up for the umpteenth time.

As puzzle games go, Quadrel is a goodie. It's immensely simple to learn but offers an infinite capacity for experimentation. There are only two real gripes: the range of playing areas is limited and there's no way to design your own. The price is a little excessive as well - £7.99 would have been perfect. As it is, buy it if you've got so much dosh that it's coming out of your ears.