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I've got nothing against licences being close to their film origins - in fact, I positively endorse it - but when this is taken to such lengths that the game turns out as poor as the movie did then I have to draw the line.

Witness The Never-Ending Story II. The film came and went at the cinemas with hardly a murmur of public interest, and unfortunately it's likely that the game of the film will suffer the same fate. The fact that the game's release trails that of the film by a good year or so is the final nail in its coffin.

It's a five-level arcade action romp. The first is a Shadow Of The Beast style horizontal scroller, the second is a 3D chase, the third is a dull climb up the side of a tower, the fourth is a Nebulus-style platform affair, the fifth a Wrath Of The Demon-style horse side. As you can tell, it's positively sparking with originality. As usually happens with these multi-event games, the individual sections are pretty weak in terms of gameplay (though moderately pleasant to look at).

They're also quite difficult, and since death is frequent the lengthy gap between lives is particularly frustrating. Although well-presented Never Ending Story 2 can only be recommended to die-hard fans of the film. That's right - all three of you.