"Everyone," says Ocean "is going ape over Donkey Kong.' Tsk tsk. Not only is this statement possibly the most horrible pun in the universe, but it is completely untrue.

People weren't even particularly excited three years ago when Ocean's other version of the game appeared - Kong.

The plot centres around the kidnapping of the hero's blonde girlfriend by an enormous ape who attempts to escape on a platform of even-higher iron girders. Mario, the hero, must negotiate the assault course of falling barrels, fireballs and dodgy ladders.

In fact, when you take a long look at the two games - the original Kong and this effort - you realise that apart from some graphics changes, and some improved sound on the new game, there has been virtually no development in the three-year space.

It seems that Ocean has merely put right most of the mistakes they made with the original Kong.

Hardly the correct idea really.

Label: Ocean Price: £7.95 Joystick: various Memory: 48K/128K Reviewer: Jim Douglas

***

It's too little, too late. Here we have Kong, three years on and it's much the same. Progress? Who cares?