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Have Denton Designs gone mad? This game is in black and white! Actually it's for a very good reason. Much the same reason, in fact, that some films are in black and white - atmosphere, and, that most rare of qualities, style. Where Time Stood Still is a very stylish game.

The plot sounds as if it's lifted from some creaky old movie, The Land That Time Forgot, or something like that. Four characters crash land on a rocky plateau and meet untold dangers as they 'desperately seek a way out, a pilot, the Bogart-alike called Jarrett, sweet newly-weds Gloria and Dirk and fat fool Clive.

This characterisation goes beyond mere disk liner notes, as the four personalities actually behave in character, and understanding this is a genuinely important part of the game. For example, what always happens in adventure films when fat hopeless people try to cross dodgy wooden bridges? (Hope you picked the rope up...)

Thus the black and white is part of the style of the game, it's supposed to remind you of old movies. And the effect works, at times the screen is almost like a pencil drawing, with deft use of shading and highlighting to give life to the background graphics.

Despite the fact that the entire game can be played with mouse control (more or less) you soon realise that, although Where Time Stood Still looks like an arcade game, it actually plays more like an adventure. True, there are plenty of sections where you need arcade-type skills - guiding the characters along the marshes for example, but for the most part you have to solve puzzles and figure out the correct uses for objects. Rescuing Clive, who gets into trouble about one minute into the game requires a bit of thought but no dexterity at all.

There may be a problem for some people, as this is a game which can be completed completely, and I doubt you'd really have a good reason to want to do it twice. That said, though, doing it once is going to take a lot of brainpower and effort... If you like your challenges a little more cerebral, you'll love this game. Arcade bash-heads may be put off.

1. Jarret: Pretty much your standard Bogart/Indiana Jones hero. Thinks he doesn't need anybody else but does. The leader of the party unless killed, he is chief tough guy and problem solver and, without him, you'll find the going pretty tough.
2. Gloria: Naff name but no bimbo this. Gloria is a bit yukky when with new husband Dirk but also finds herself attracted to Jarret. Although she is a problem in that her need for food and rest is possibly only exceeded by Clive, don't be tempted to just ignore her. At least one puzzle in this game is virtually impossible to solve without her.
3. Clive: Fat, foolish, and totally useless - or so it seems. He whines, demands food, and constantly endangers the rest of the party. There is this terrible temptation to just lead him over a cliff or sacrifice him to some passing monster... maybe you shouldn't.
4. Dirk: Athletic and bright but goes seriously hopeless if anything happens to Gloria. Dirk is good in a fight and, with his mastery of languages, is best at dealing with natives. This, you can be sure, is going to be vital at some point.

There are lots as you would expect.

1. Mazes: Both the mountains, and more especially the marshes are tortuous mazes. The real problem is that wrong turnings waste time and mean more food and drink supplies will be used up.
2. Monsters: Prehistoric nasties swoop and slurp all over the place, some are easily avoided but others, particularly in the marshlands are very difficult to get past.
3. Natives: Very dangerous, keen on human sacrifice and hard to do business with, and yet you must find them to complete the game.
4. Natural Hazards: Marshes are boggy. Rocks crumble and oid wooden bridges are not very safe.

Mouse or joystick control. In movement mode you merely guide Jarret across the landscape and the other characters follow - assuming they aren't tired or hungry or dead. Make sure everyone has caught up before pressing on.

Objects are found scattered around the game and some characters already have objects on start-up. There is no written description of objects held, each is represented visually on a character 'control' window you may call up at any time. A couple are a bit difficult to recognise but mostly this works fine.

In this mode characters may be instructed to pick up or drop an object or USE ITEM. No more need be specified, the computer understands the most logical use for the item in context.

The sound is nothing to write home about - just a few bleeps when using the control screen and a simplistic tune at other times. But aesthetics aside. Where Time Stood Still offers sufficient complexity and depth to keep most arcade adventurers content for some considerable time.

Work is underway and this version should be complete by the time you read this. The graphics will remain in black and white, although extra shades of grey will be used to make the characters and scenery smoother still, and sound is unlikely to change drastically. Expect to see it in the shops late in September.

Denton Designs' The Great Escape has already made its way onto the PC, so there's no reason why Where Time Stood Still should suffer during the process of conversion as both games follow a similar format. A release date has yet to be fixed, but Ocean are anticipating a release before the end of the year.