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This is not my favourite US Gold program by a long chalk. Whirlinurd is pretty standard stuff really and very similar in concept, though not detail, to umpteen other 'obstacle' games. Some people lap 'em up... others have been known to yawn away into a state of peaceful oblivion.

Hamish Pupkin (your alter ego) has rotor blades super-glued to his bonce and a handy turn of speed when it comes to a quick dash. You have to gobble up good after picking your way through highly agitated sentinels. Swivelling eyeballs, marauding alone or linked in snaking strings, seem to be your main enemy. These are aided and abetted by showers of deadly glow-balls and electric worms. That's not all. Laser beams come gushing from the floors, adding to the hazards, all of which tend to split our hero asunder.

The unwary might walk over air jets which will blast you ceilingwards. There's doors to unlock too, so be prepared to nab keys. Half of the challenge lies in not being able to see the lie of the land. Only a part of each room is visible: you need to scroll your way into action getting ready for a quick about turn. The copy I fooled around with was pre-production, but it appears that you have to discover passwords should you wish to select further sectors.

For me, the nearest part of the program is the way the hero looks bored whenever you keep him standing around too long: he taps his feet, glances here and there, and looks very glum. Hey, that's art!

As I said, not in the top band but you couldn't really slate it.