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All good games develop clones and Gauntlet, the D&D style arcade game, was no exception.

However, it is extremely rare to find a game which not only lives up to the original arcade machine, but also beats the hell out of all the other rip-offs.

Garrison is such a game. Based on the original Gauntlet machine, this version of the tried and tested 'maze' idea just goes to show what can be achieved using 16-bit power.

As with Atari's classic you can choose to play from a number of different fantasy characters, each with his/her own personal attributes. The arcade had four to choose from: Elf, Wizard, Warrior and Valkyre. Garrison actually goes one better by offering a fifth choice, a Dwarf named Thorin.

Still, having said that, you can't have as many players as the arcade machine.

The basic idea of this type of game is to bash as many monsters, magicians and deaths as you can while trying to run off with all the treasure. The plot of Garrison, however, involves a magic herb which lies at the end of the game.

It is this herb which will save a beautiful princess from dying of a terrible illness. Although this is a nice twist, most of us will be content with just grabbing all the gold!

Once the game is started, the screen is shown from a bird's eye view, looking down on the 3D rooms of the castle. Guiding your player, you must negotiate the twisting passages grabbing all that you can.

Although food and treasure are your main concerns, various magical objects are to be found scattered about the castle.

These objects range from various potions to lethal scrolls which, when cast, will destroy everything around you depending on your magical ability and also the power of the enemy.

The evil nasties which infest the 128 rooms of the game come in all shapes and sizes. There are club-wielding barbarian Guards, spell casting Sorcerers and even the odd Death or two. Most of these creatures will appear from generators which are to be found in abundance around the castle. Passing by a generator without destroying it is a very foolish thing to do!

Certain beings are very difficult to destroy, and death can only be wiped out with a magical scroll.

A feature unique to Garrison is the ability to change characters during a game. This is very handy as different levels rely on different character abilities, although it must be possible to complete every level with each one.

When you've grabbed all the gold you want you must race to the nearest exit where you'll disappear with a delightful bongy kind of sound. That is if you find the right exit; as some devious rooms have around twenty or so.

One dungeon, entitled 'Conjurers and Demons' has a supply of food enclosed inside four walls. To get it you must go right to the end of the level and... but that would be telling now wouldn't it!

One of the best things about Garrison is its true arcade quality graphics. No flicker, no colour clash and smooth eight way scrolling - this game has some of the best graphics ever seen on a computer game.

However, there is one slight oddity regarding memory.

If you have a standard 512K machine, both players have the same outward appearance although they still have different weapons and abilities. On a one meg Amiga, each player has their own individual appearance. On the whole, this isn't a problem but it would have been a lot better to keep the characters.

The graphics are complemented by some really nice sound effects, including a guzzling sound when you collect a meal and a booming laugh which echoes around when you kick the bucket.

With 128 levels of sheer arcade quality action and addictiveness which makes grown men weep, Garrison is the definitive Gauntlet doppleganger. US Gold will have to make the official Gauntlet for the Amiga arcade perfect if they want to sell any copies.