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There's a little button on the cassette inlay which says 'World Number 1'. This, I presume, is a reference to the software rather than its sponsor, lately fallen to the rank of runner-up, though as CDS have been working on this game for a long time now it might have been true when they began. I remember seeing the prototype at the 1984 PCW Show.

The loader is worth a mention, incorporating a picture of Steve 'boring' Davis, as he's known in the game, scrutinising a shot from the bottom cush - real Pot Black stuff. Then they go and ruin it all with - you guessed it - horrible C64 bip bip muzak of the worst kind possible, eeurrgghh! I hate it. Why do they do it? It adds nothing whatever to a game of this sort. CDS wouldn't put it on their Colossus Chess program, so why snooker?

Anyway, with that one exception, the game itself is very good. You can play a mater, or the C64, or the C64 will play itself. In a straight game, you position your shot with a small X cursor. You can then decide how much spin to impart by positioning the same cursor on a sort of enlarged cue ball icon at the bottom of the screen. Strength is indicated by a horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen, and can be adjusted with the joystick. I was quite impressed by the realistic behaviour of the cue ball, although it didn't always go where I expected (it doesn't when I play the real thing).

There are nine skill levels. I found after a few practice games that about level five or six gave pretty reasonable competition. Level nine is a good laugh; you don't get a look in. The C64 pots balls from near impossible situations with the most ridiculous trick shots! Highly suspicious, if you ask me.

If you're tired of playing, there's an edit function with which you can set up special positions, trick shots, etc, or just practise.

This is, without doubt, the best snooker/pool simulation around. The only thing that would put me off buying it is having Steve Davis' ugly mug plastered all over the box!