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Tinderbox is a Softaid supportive product produced by Gremlin Graphics. All profits will be donated to the Ethiopian Relief Fund. The game comes complete with a whole storybook on tape and has options to select the colours on screen and whether or not to display the pictures.

Tinderbox is a fairytale adventure very much aimed at a young audience and is the story of a common foot-soldier and his rise to become the husband of the beautiful princess, Rowella. On one side of the tape the whole tale is laid out before you so making the game itself that much easier and tells of how Tom, the wounded foot-- soldier, leaves hospital with only a sword and five golden guineas to his name. Toying with the idea of turning in his sword at the pawnbrokers he begins to wish he'd listened to his mum and become a Civil Servant.

A fortune teller is much disturbed by his presence as legend has it that the princess, the king's pride and joy, will end up the bride of a common footsoldier. Tom, naturally enough, thinks-this not such a bad turn of events and decides to do his utmost to make the prophecy, and his dearest wish, come true.

Crucial to his success is the witch's tinderbox which magically controls the ferocious hounds. Winning first prize in the local archery competition impresses the Captain of the Royal Guard and wins him a magnificent lute with which he serenades the princess, winning her undying admiration. But how to exile the king to an island, and how to escape the ail are problems which lie between him and the glorious wedding. All obstacles are overcome in the end and Tom becomes the Prince Regent, helping the princess in matters of state and ending the king's despotic rule over the land.

Difficulty: very easy, aimed at the younger adventurer
Graphics: very small graphics on some locations
Input facility: verb/noun
Response: reasonable