This is an ideal game for those of you who may have wanted to delve into serious role-playing but wished for an entry point into the genre - or those of you who want a little more action in your RPGs. The first thing those players will like is that the documentation is light - not skimpy, mind you, but short and concise, with plenty left to be discovered by playing the game. This comes on a single disk, so the endless disk-swapping usually associated with RPGs is absent.

In Keys To Maramon, you assume the role of one of four heroes: Huntsman, Blacksmith, Scholar or King's Courtier (the only female character). Each has four basic ratings for Speed (how fast you can manoeuvre around the playing area, and in a 'real time game' that often makes considerable difference), Dexterity (a percentage chance of a single killing stroke when attacking a monster), Strength (how much damage is inflicted by non-killing strokes) and Life Points (how long your character will be around).

Of course there's no point in a hero without a quest: yours is to save the town of Maramon from the monsters who come out to sack it each evening. Naturally, final success hinges on cleaning out the catacombs beneath Maramon and confronting the usual 'ultimate bad guy' who's responsible for all of that trouble.

Another key to Keys To Maramon are keys! The player starts with a key to the strongrooms (where fitful rest is available and goodies can occasionally be found). Access to the catacombs below hinges on collecting other keys, each one of an ever precious metal. This is where the better the key, the further the access. You will have quite an extensive key ring before confronting the Ultimate Bad Guy.

Another important game aspect involves visiting the town's library. For every 1,000 experience points gained, the appropriate book can be 'read' from the closed stacks in order to gain statistics points for a basic attribute. By shelling out some serious dosh, the rare book room can be visited for some major clues and aid to your character. Be sure to take notes as everything learned there will really make a lot of sense towards the end of the adventure.

Keys To Maramon is not an epic quest for the jaded adventurer. In fact, some might call it too short for the price. It is, however, a very manageable quest for the new adventurer with a quite compelling quality about it. The game is well designed with some very nice touches that make it well worth shelling out money.

Keys To Maramon is full of characters who you can meet (a full-face character portrait and menu interaction system will appear when you enter their shop/house). Here's a few of the good people of this fair town:

1. Mayor Andello Fioro Andello has been the mayor of Maramon for many years. He is very distressed at the sudden appearance of the monsters, especially since it happened only days after his three sons sailed eastward to Castle Oshcrun.

2. Madame Rosel Near the town gates like Madame Rosel, who appeared in Maramon some years ago, no-one knows from where. She was an old woman then, and she remains an old woman now. She tends her small garden and wanders the island. Her knowledge of herbs and mushrooms is by far the greatest in Maramon.

3. Denn and Arbo Steele The Steele brothers, Denn and Arbo, are casualties of Maramon's struggle against the monster infestation. Denn was crippled by Orcs; Arbo was blinded by gnolls.

Denn is now supporting both brothers by leather working and, occasionally, selling pieces of the Steele family collection or armour.

Presentation 81%
Decent title page and character selection screen, user-friendly menu system. Plenty of disk loading, unfortunately, although waiting is never excessive.

Graphics 80%
Game world is detailed and colourful. Character sprites are rather small and simplified, though.

Sound 58%
Atmospheric title music but in-game uses only simple spot effects.

Hookability 92%
Very easy to get into - grabs you straight away.

Lastability 77%
Enjoyable while it lasts - more experienced players may find it a little short.

Overall 87%
Well designed, good presentation, easy to play with a decent plotline.