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When a good piece of software comes out, you often get people ripping it off. This happens frequently with arcade conversions - count them: Druid, Who Dares Wins II, 1943, the list is large. Well, look closely at the screenshots here, and what do you see? You see a game looking remarkably like Paperboy. When you play it, you also play a game like Paperboy, but on a skateboard.

Bubble Bus have decided to give the papers a miss. Instead, you have to collect flags whilst on your skateboard. You are doing this to save your skateboarding rep, and maybe one day, you can, if you're good enough, become a member of the notorious "Slime rat skaters".

To become a member of this elite [Whoops! - Ed] band of hot wheelers, you must complete ten levels of increasing difficulty. Controlling the board is self-explanatory. You can also kick-turn, jump and wheelie on it.

Each course is set in a different area (although some areas are repeated twice). The locations are in places like the city centre, the broken bridge, and in the suburbs (famous for the architectural delights of its Barrat housing).

As you progress through the course you must pick up flags. This is done by simply running into them. There are many hazards in your way which range from dancing grannies to punks. There are also hazards of a larger scale, such as houses and cars.

For some strange reason, these miserable layabouts down at British Gas [If you see Sid, nut him! - Ed] have gone and dug up the road everywhere, making it almost impossible for you to cross it. This is where the ramps come in. They are not always there, but when they are, use them!

On the broken bridge, there are lovely huge gaps in the road, jumping over these proves most useful. Don't fret if you come a cropper because thankfully Bubble Bus have given you an extra option, that lets you start from the beginning of any level you have completed since loading.

When you have completed a course your skater has something incredibly similar to an epileptic fit. It is in fact, meant to be a representation of the art of Body Popping. This was an ancient ritual performed by people in the late twentieth century. Some say that it is still performed in remote parts of places like Hackney.

Despite the unavoidable comparisons with Paperboy, I like this. The graphics aren't spectacular, but they are not bad either. The best way to describe them would be adequate. The backdrops are cheap and cheerful, although the sprites are a touch too basic. Soundwise it is good, a funky bop to guide you through Milton Keynes and its Barrat housing.

Skate Rock is enjoyable, it won't take you long to complete, it won't make you faint at its breath-taking graphics, it won't make you want to dance to its astonishing soundtrack, it will however give you a few hours... days even, of entertainment.

If you've finished with Paperboy and you want another dose - hang there.