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First it was Batman. Then Dick Tracy (nearly). Now this year's big thing is Robin Hood. Ed Ricketts predicts that, in 1992, we'll all be going crazy about The Magic Roundabout. Can't wait for the film...

Come on, admit it. The thought had entered your head that Millennium are jumping on the Hood bandwagon by releasing this game. Not so. This graphic adventure has apparently been on the boil for two years. So what does "the most original real-time adventure ever produced" have to offer?

Just in case you don't know the legend of Robin Hood (ahem), this is the deal. Having been chucked out of his castle by the nasty old Sheriff of Nottingham, Robin is understandably miffed. To gain revenge on the Sheriff, he decides to become a Man of the People, robbing the rich traders who are in the Sheriff's employ and giving the dosh to the poor peasants. At the same time, his ambition is also to do away with the Sheriff permanently. Oh, and possibly get Maid Marian all weak-kneed, too.

This is where you come in. At the beginning of the game you're languishing outside the castle walls, depressed, loathed by the common people, and with no idea what to do. Robin's world is displayed in overhead isometric 3D in much the same way as Populous. RH can be made to walk (or run) around using the scroll arrows or simply by clicking on the spot you want him to visit, though using this method Robin is more prone to ramble off on his own.

The world is inhabited by all sorts of characters: the Sheriff, his guards, the peasants, monks, a few deer and, of course, Marian. They all wander around and do their own thing - peasants kill the deer; the monks construct a monastery; hangings take place - and it's up to you to find out how to use them to achieve your aims.

Apart from these aims, you're given no idea as to what you should do. Robbing from the rich might be a good idea, but make sure you do it well away from the guards. Recruiting your merry men would also be useful, but where are they? And you could find some way of getting a map.

The main way to become involved with a character is to talk to him or her. You can't specify what you want to say - Robin just comes out with whatever he thinks is appropriate at the time. A speech bubble appears every time someone talks, and follows him or her around for a while.

How the other character reacts to what you say depends on what he is and how popular you are at the moment. Guards are unlikely to have a chat, but peasants might tell you something useful if you're in their favour.

Your popularity is measured by a bar next to the main display. The more heroic deeds you perform for the common people - such as giving them money or saving them from hanging - the higher it rises. The masses are a fickle bunch though, and if you don't continually help them you soon revert to being a failure in their eyes.

Occasionally everyone is called to the Sheriff's castle to hear a proclamation. This may be something trivial, like the banning of deer hunting, or a more serious announcement like you've been outlawed. In this case, it's wise to avoid the guards altogether.

If you expect the rich greenwood and the medieval buildings to be displayed in graphic majesty, you're in for a disappointment. The landscapes and buildings are passable, but the characters are terrible. For a start, they're tiny and you need a monitor to see them properly. Their size can cause problems when there's a crowd of people - you need to click on individuals exactly. As for animation, everything has a strict two-frame limit, which doesn't really inspire confidence in a game which is supposed to be a graphic adventure. Strange then, that the intermediate and information screens should be so well drawn - some of the best static screens you're ever likely to see on your ST. Another minus point is the almost illegible character set used for the speech bubbles.

Looking on the bright side, Robin Hood could have been much worst (we could have been treated to a platform game starring Kevin Costner - after all), but, in the end, it's something of a let-down. The manual promises you a huge world with endless possibilities and intelligent interaction. This is not what you get. There's actually very little for you to do once you've sussed the general aim, and the other characters never really react in surprising or intelligent ways.

It's also possible for the game to become confused. Try asking Maid Marian for a kiss and then immediately robbing her. She comes out with "Of course I will, my darling" or some such thing, whereupon you rob her. She kisses you and then screams, "Help! Help! I've been robbed!" Are these the actions of an intelligent character?

Despite its boasting, Robin Hood doesn't have the flexibility or the graphics to live up to its claims. Not a complete failure, but disappointing.

1. Demoniak has a similar, but more complex and rewarding, "real world" system.
2. Graphics undeniably influenced by Populous, PowerMonger et al, but inferior to both.
3. Like Maupiti Island, you're given only a few clues to start with.
4. Original way to treat the subject. In that respect, it's like Hill Street Blues.