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I don't think it would be fair to describe The Scout Steps Out as just another platforms and ladders game; certainly there are screens that are based on this format, but there is a whole lot more to it also. You play the part of a scout who must go on an adventure to pick up various items. Your day starts at the base camp where a whole troop of scouts is to be found. The first thing you must do is eat some cornflakes from the huge blue and white striped bowl (not unlike that used in a famous brand's adverts). Your number of lives increases for each cornflake that you eat up to a maximum of nine at any one time - though it is always possible to come back for more.

Having done this, your trek may then begin. Passage between screens is achieved by approaching the arrows that indicate a passageway to the next screen or going into one of the tunnels. As you do this, the whole of the next screen scrolls across into place - a very pleasing effect. Some screens have interesting sound effects; the wave noises on screens that contain bobbing waves are really brilliant and the tune that plays while at base camp is an infectious little ditty.

The appeal of the game is the originality of some of the screens, the mushrooms in the woods, the electronic circuit, the wet and wavy screens. Control of your character is pixel accurate and easy to control; unlike so many games where you have to be lined up exactly to change direction. The most remarkable thing about the whole game is the fact that it is written in BASIC, though I must point out. that most of the interesting and speed conscious parts are implemented as Resident System Extensions. There isn't a screen in the game where full effect has not been made of multi-coloured graphics - your character really looks like a scout carrying a stick and rucksack, rather than some pathetic UDG, and the same is true of all the objects in the game. There are some screens in the game that are a little difficult at first, but the ability to replenish your cornflakes makes it reasonably easy to get the hang of them.