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You would think that one of the advantages of a computerised game of Scrabble would be that it would enable you to get the game up and running pretty quickly, cutting out all that business of choosing a letter out of the bag, and using a matchstick for the missing Z.

Not so with the version just launched from Leisure Genius. This monster takes a good fifteen minutes to load. Take a slap on the wrists, LG - most people would be halfway through a conventional game using board and tiles before this tape even loads. Isn't it about time that all C64 turbo loads?

That said, the software is excellent, and provides something for that growing army of people who are sick of jumping from platform to platform, gobbling fruits, and shooting aliens.

Four different skill levels enable the player(s) to choose a game that will suit them based on their average performance at the board game, i.e. skill level one will suit players who average about the 300 points mark.

Up to four players can play the game using the computer just to keep the score and act as a board or, up to three players can take on the computer.

In my opinion the game is at its best when used by one person playing against the computer. The computer is a much better opponent than a human being - not just because on its high skill levels, it can play a very good game of Scrabble but also because it won't keep you waiting.

One drawback of the multiplayer option is that your opponents will have to seat themselves in rotation around the C64. Certain of the gameplay options mean that your opponents will also have to look away from the screen whilst you think about your next move, consider the computer prompts, and look at your tray of tiles.

If you like Scrabble, and you've got a C64, you won't want to be without this game. If it were not for this silly load time Scrabble would have ousted Zaxxon from the Screen Star spot.