With the film licence to produce a sequel to the best selling Neverending Story, you'd think that this little offering would be a guaranteed winner. You wouldn't be far wrong.

If you've seen the film, then you'll know the plot of the game fairly well, as it follows the twists and turns of the plot pretty closely. If you haven't, then this is one better of a game, featuring some superb graphics, that'll have you gripped to the gameplay from start to finish.

The childlike Empress needs Bastian's help again and it's up to you to provide it. Set over six amazingly different levels, your first task as Bastian Bux, is to find your way through to the Ship of Secret Plots, with the giants hot on your tail in a fast moving, horizontal jump anti run game.

Upon reaching the ship, your next duty is to chase the evil dragon Smerg through the canyons on your trusty steed Falkon. In this excellent 3D bitmap game, you must fly through the canyons, avoiding rockfalls and lightning as you attempt to crush the worm against the walls.

When Smerg has finally been dealt with, you will find yourself at the walls of Castle Horok. You must then find the safest route up the walls to free Altreyu and face the evil sorceress who is causing all of the emptiness in Fantasia.

Be careful, this is no easy climb. Success will lead you into a frantic spray-can fight with the giants, as you struggle to push them off the platform.

Next up on your hectic agenda, you must flee on the back of Artax through the Orchid Forest. Using parallax scrolling, you must avoid branches and rocks on your flight, as well as ducking the attacks from the birds above.

Be warned, only the very hardy will survive through to the final section taken from the film. Here you must throw yourself into the river and fight your way through to the other side.

Scattered throughout the torrent are particularly nasty rocks and, to make matters worse, there are plenty of vortexes and whirlpools which you must avoid if you want to stand any chance of making it to the other side.

Think you can stand all of that? There is certainly no lack of action in this beautifully crafted sequel. In fact, there is almost too much at times and you'll have to be very, very quick to battle your way through to the later stages.

The variety of techniques used in the game, as well as the superb sound effects, make Neverending Story II an absolute must when it makes its appearance on the shelves.

Keep a look out for it and grab it when you can.