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Thing On A Spring is in some ways similar to a ladders and platforms game in as much as there is only one correct way around the game. However, the stunning originality of the game and the marvellous graphics more than make up for the old style of gameplay.

Your little springy thing must bounce around connected multiple screens. The main problem is to keep up your oil supply. If this runs down you will die. Oil is used upon collision with any of the surrounding attacking objects; they don't really attack, they just wander around in set, and sometimes not so set, patterns. These objects have constantly changing appearances. On entering a room, you may at first be acosted by a rampant Pac-Man, but another entry may result in a roaming pussy cat!

En route, you can find extra oil cans that will replenish your rapidly diminishing supply. There are also objects that will help you finish certain screens, like a device to make the escalators work, another thing that bounces you around the screen, etc. You will also find pieces of the object needed for the final showdown with the bad guy. I never got anywhere near that far, the first four screens were enough for me!

The graphical effects are superb, as I have already mentioned, with Gremlin Graphics' usual style of presentation throughout. The sound is also of a high quality with some good original music playing throughout the game.

The problem with this game is that it just defies description. So all I can say is that I think that it is very good, but have a look at it if you are going to buy it. But that can't be a bad thing.