Ron: This is a maze game with a difference, although you'd never guess it from the title or the silly picture on the cassette insert. It's all about help Humpty escape from his enemies the Fuzzy Wuzzies (who're responsible for all the bombs) and the Deadly Snappers.

The game's twist is that instead of having control of our egg-shaped hero, you get to direct the movement of the maze itself. The reason for this is that not only does Humpty look like a rugby ball, but he also behaves like one. He sits lifeless until the maze is turned through 90 degrees, whereupon he tumbles downward by the force of gravity. Only when an object is encountered or the Fuzzy Wuzzies get in the way, does Humpty actually come to rest again. There are 18 mazes in all, complete with teleports to help poor ol' Humpty out of the stickiest of situations.

While the use of the rotating maze is interesting, in play it tends to be very disorientating - especially as it disappears momentarily each time it's rotated. However, the overall display make use of clearly defined graphics and pleasant use of colour. Best of all though is the speed. 3/5 HIT

David: Despite the age-old theme, this maze game is different enough to warrant attention. The graphics and sound are good, although there's a distinct lack of addictiveness. 3/5 HIT

Roger: Who dreams these things up? The title's enough to put anyone off - which is a shame because it's really a very good game. I'm not too sure if it'll reach the charts... 4/5 MISS

EGG ON HUMPTY'S FACE

Memory: 48K
Price: £6.95
Joystick: Kempston, Sinclair

Artic Computing is heading for a big fall if it thinks that its series of Humpty Dumpty games is going to be a success.

Humpty Dumpty and the Fuzzy Wuzzies is surprisingly addictive. Humpty is struck in a maze. He must avoid the evil Fuzzies, their bombs and the deadly snappers. If he is lucky he will find a transporter to reach safer surroundings.

As any good egg knows the way to get around is to roll and Humpty moves whenever you tilt the maze but be careful as he might end scrambled.

The game has a novel concept but does not develop it. There is nothing either in the scenario or technical execution makes it anything more than mediocre.

MACHINE: Spectrum 48K, CBM
CONTROL: Joystick, Keys
FROM: Artic, £6.95 each, £16.00 Pack

FUN TRIO

Here are three new games which all star Humpty Dumptty but definitely aren't for egg-heads. Each is based on a simple, original idea and demands a little brain power as well as finger action.

The most enjoyable of the three is Engineer Humpty in which the aim is to put a spanner in the works - literally. Each of 16 screens is a different factory made up of conveyor belts, springs, lifts and various strange creatures. Humpty's task is to drop a spanner from the top of the screen and then guide it through the works to a tool-box.

You only have control over the spanner when it's falling - you can deflect it left or right - so you have to use the machinery to do most of the work. The initial problem is to discover a viable route through the factory.

This is difficult because after just a few seconds the screen is covered over except for the area near the spanner. So initially you'll find yourself, say, guiding the spanner onto a conveyor belt which leads straight into a shredding machine.

On the Commodore 64 version the action is accompanied by a tune which wobbles out of key every time you lose a spanner - nice touch, that. On both '64 and Spectrum, the game is really addictive - not perhaps as hard as a game like Manic Miner, but satisfying nonetheless.

Humpty in the Garden is also enjoyable, but is flawed by being too easy. This time Humpty is in a network of pipes ranged above eight flower pots.

Four of the pots contain flowers, the rest weeds, and Humpty's job is to turn taps on and off, and block certain holes to ensure that water is diverted onto the flowers, not the weeds.

It's a nice idea and good fun for an evening or so. Unfortunately, once you've conquered a level it doesn't hold much further interest, and many players will find they can get through all 20 levels in about an hour. This is partly because you don't have to start from the beginning each time you fail.

Artic say the game is aimed at the younger age bracket, but if it's supposed to he a piece of educational software, they should have done their homework better on how water behaves under pressure. Some of the levels clearly violate the laws of physics!

I don't recommend buying this game by itself, but if you were going to get the other two, it's probably worth the extra money for the set.

Undoubtedly the most challenging of the three games, despite its appalling title, is Humpty Meets the Fuzzy Wuzzies. This is a maze game with the novelty that instead of moving Humpty round the maze, you move the maze round Humpty!

To be more precise, you can rotate the entire screen clockwise or, anticlockwise. If doing this means that Humpty is no longer supported, he will fall (or roll) until he hits another part of the maze.

The idea is to guide him to a door which will take him to the next, more difficult maze - there are 18 in all. Since the maze is littered with bombs, and the lethal 'fuzzy wuzzies' are also rolling about the screen in the same way that Humpty is, progress is not easy.

The maze also has teleport chambers to get you from one section to another but these can only be used once. If Humpty is rolled onto a spring though he could bounce up and down forever, or until you flip the maze again anyway.

On both the Spectrum and Commodore 64 versions of these games the graphics and sound are adequate without ever being stunning, but the real appeal comes through the puzzles they pose.

If you're worried that computer games are addling your brain, Humpty could be the perfect antidote.

The first thing that strikes you about this game is that it's... (fanfare!) an original game! Yes, they do exist, they're not just rumours put around by software houses.

Average graphics and a nice little jingle of a certain well known nursery rhyme gave a reasonably playable game, A simple game, probably one for the younger members of the family.

I liked Humpty, not least for its originality. Worth considering if you're bored with zapping.

Jeremy Fisher

The 64 version of Engineer Humpty is the better of the three with some delightful graphics, but all are enjoyable and original.

Humpty in the Garden is easy and I completed all 20 screens first time. It may suit younger children since the graphics are pretty as well.

When old Hump meets the Fuzzy Wuzzies things get a lot tougher. The game is not just a matter of logic but involves fast reactions as well and there is not much to choose between the versions on the two machines.

All six programs are very nice to look at and Engineer and Fuzzies are tough games on both computers.

Bob Wade

Artic have followed the lead of the Horace games and have produced this series of nice, cute, well-presented games aimed fair and square at the young end of the market. The best is Engineer Humpty which is fun. Humpty and the Fuzzy Wuzzies had some good graphics but the game is just a little too difficult.

Robert Patrick