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Occasionally I get a bit bored with blasting Zongons or saving the planet Bongon from the Wongons and Plogons. So The Legend Of Sinbad sounded like a breath of fresh air. I've visions of sitting bloated in front of the telly watching the umpteenth Christmas showing of the film. Whoosh, your wish is my command, oh master.

And cue swirling Eastern music - the legend in question concerns the evil Salabim (the one with heavy eye-shadow in the film) who has kidnapped our hero on his travels. Salabim nabs Sinbad's exotic treasures and locks him up in his castle dungeon.

Sinbad must regain his pile of jewels, get out of the castle and make it back to downtown Baghdad. The game splits this mammoth task into five sections, which amount to five separate games. Luckily they all load at once so there's no messing around to do with different sections of the tape.

1. Castle Dungeon
   Disappointment here - it's a maze game. Sinbad must dash through the dungeon corridors, collect his treasure and two keys to open the dungeon doors. The usual set of nasties (snakes, guards, etc) try to do him in, as do quickly opening and closing doors.
2. Inside The Castle
   More disappointment - this one's a platform game. You've grabbed a sword just in time to defend yourself against the guards as they pop out through the numerous doors. Use your joystick to make swashbuckling swings and jump around the platforms. Make your way down to the flashing lamp to go further. There's nothing special here.
3. In The Desert
   Your camel has got to be seen to be believed - not a pretty sight. Anyway, you use your gunsight target to zap the various nasties (birds, scorpions) that attack your camel train as you cross the desert.
4. Above The City
   Disappointment continues - this one's a shoot-'em-up. You're getting closer to home so Salabim sends out the heavy mob in the form of giant roc birds and guards on flying carpets. You've got your very own aero-axminster to fly past and shoot the aforementioned aerobatic nasties.
5. Above The City (again)
   Same screen but different nasty. Salabim changes into a fire-breathing dragon in a desperate last gasp [Ahem! - Ed] attempt to stop you getting back. Dodge the fireballs (they look like sardines) that he breathes at you.

There's nothing at all special about Legend Of Sinbad. Its five games in one format would have been good news as many years ago. Gameplay and graphics are competently done and the quality music is an added bonus. In fact, there's a different tune for each section. But the game's difficulty (it's pretty tough) just isn't sufficient to hold interest.

You do get a demo mode that shows all five sections - possibly to insprite you to carry on? And you get a code when you complete a section so that you don't have to start from the beginning again. And that's it. Now where did I put my copy of Plongon's Revenge?