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Tansoft are not exactly modest when it comes to describing House Of Death. It is a 'totally original adventure' and has a large vocabulary because 'it's not one of those cheapo games'. Well, at £9.99 I agree it's not 'cheapo'... but is it any good?

To start with, it isn't quite as original as you might have been led to believe. It is a standard text-based adventure that accepts abbreviated commands as you explore an abandoned film-studio hunting for treasure.

The building is haunted by various ghouls and beasts whom you should avoid at all costs (with one or two exceptions). The only special features are a larger-than-average vocabulary, a time limit, and the occasional sound effect.

In its attempts to prove that it isn't a 'cheapo' game the program sometimes overreaches itself, answering 'PUT ON MASK' with 'OK YOU'VE DROPPED THE MASK' rather than admitting that it doesn't understand you.

Later it told me that it assumed I would be wearing whatever I possessed, which meant I was wandering around wearing a mattress.

House Of Death is a tough nut to crack, and novices are advised to steer clear.