It is, perhaps, unfortunate that this program arrived shortly after I'd finished reviewing Tombs Of Arkenstone, which also "allows children and adults to create their own adventure games". There the similarity ends, no exciting story book, not much strategy to be evolved, and little role-play. It is soon obvious that they are very different creatures, and Your Adventure is really a vehicle for the application of questions and answers on any subject.

One of my colleagues said recently, that if the program required a large handbook, then it wasn't for him. Well, this program is very easy to get into, and little reference is needed to the documentation for the first option, "Have An Adventure", although it offers very clear step-by-step instructions for all the facilities offered throughout.

The program follows the popular adventure game format in which the user embarks on a journey in an attempt to reach a cave containing treasure. On the journey, the child is presented with a number of problems, and in solving them he is allowed to pass to the next stage and, in doing so, increases the treasure in the cave. Clues are available to assist in solving the problems, but if a solution cannot be found the child must buy his way past the obstacle with treasure from the cave.

An overall map is provided - not very inspiring! - which the program returns to after every problem, and the user can plot his progress on a printed copy. Those who have not taken the trouble to read the documentation first will think that the locations are almost random and the progress towards the cave haphazard. However, there are four lists, which indicate the order of the scenes, in each route. Obviously, this information is more important when using the "Make An Adventure" option, although the more discerning user will soon want to know why he has no control over the route unless he rewrites the game - which he can do, of course!

The program comes with two sample adventures - "Games 1 & 2". The introductory page in "Game 1" sets the scene in Animal Land, and all the problems and puzzles to be solved are linked with animals. Initial problems are accompanied by a larger picture of the obstacle encountered.

Maybe I tried the program too late at night, but I found some of the problems set to be ambiguous, and not all the clues were particularly helpful; maybe it was a deliberate ploy on the part of the creators to illustrate the need for unambiguous questions and clues which give a lead - to a reference book. perhaps! It is unfortunate that not enough care has been taken with the punctuation - not a good example for children.

It is the second option, "Make An Adventure", which I feel really makes this a worthwhile package. Here children can really pit their wits in producing puzzles and problems and, although it is described as a language adventure game, its use need not be restricted to this area - indeed it is open-ended. Group use is to be encouraged, thus stimulating discussion and co-operation - the competition can come later when one group tries out an adventure created by another.

"Make An Adventure" permits the making of a new adventure or the editing of a previously written adventure. Again, the second option is particularly valuable as it enables the users to revise their questions, answers, clues or advice as a result of feedback when others have used the game. In this way the "polishing process", which we so often ignore, or don't make time for, is possible. To assist in the creation of the fifteen scenes available, the publishers provide a proforma, which indicates the screen format, maximum number of characters available etc. Like the first option, this is very user friendly and the creation of an adventure is straightforward - once the questions and clues have been formulated!

My first impressions of the package were not very favourable, and I think the creator's choice of sample games was largely responsible for this. The more the program is used, the greater the potential becomes evident, and at £7.95 (educational price), it must be considered a good buy.