Firebird
£3.95

Perhaps somebody should tell Firebird that it isn't all Fu Manchu and Chow Mein east of Dover. Their latest game includes Chinese Mandarins and Japanese Samurai, all out to stop our hero. He must be a mighty important guy to have the whole weight of the orient thrown against him as he indulges in that cliched quest to rescue a princess.

Traditional Japanese houses have paper walls. The same goes for this game because behind the admittedly pretty graphics lies no more than yet another maze game, and one that's tissue thin at that. Its major gimmick as a stone jumping routine that's so easy that the few times you do fail it will be because you're nodding off.

Difficulty comes in the shape of the warriors who block your path and must be disposed of by knives found lying around. The fact that there are barely enough of these makes life harder. But don't throw one then dodge off screen to avoid the Samurai's sword because you'll have wasted a weapon - they don't carry through. With scoring in the three figure range it won't even please the high number freaks.

Why Firebird are putting this out in the Super Silver Range I have no ideas, but Confucius, he say, don't buy this road of oliental Coberers.