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Navigate caverns, avoid free-floating obstacles, collect items, decipher clues, and return triumphant to safety. It's a familiar recipe, but you may not have seen it served up as well as this for the Spectrum before.

The backpacker is Ziggy, faced not by the Universe but by the superbly designed Caverns of Exile. Ring wraiths patrol the caverns, where exotic creatures are exiled among the iridescent stalagmites and corals. The scrolling is smooth and Ziggy's progress, whether on foot or through the air by jetpack, is a treat to watch. His flame-thrower flickers like a lizard's tongue.

The game comes with more information than you can take in immediately. Coast through it a few times, rattling around the caverns like a pinball. Items go into Ziggy's backpack. Symbol Shift gives you a progress report on their status, but don't be dismayed by the news that the Googly Bird has died of a nervous breakdown. It's quite happy decaying slowly in the backpack. Later the status report will add Flook to news of the Googly Bird's demise, suggesting that it was just hard luck that you picked up a neurotic specimen.

Many of the game's best features turn up through trial and error. Short-cuts, barrier-breaching combinations of backpacked items, and handlike rock formations all help you on your way. The time allowance is generous enough for you to take your time. The main point of frustration is that the flame-thrower doesn't settle the ring wraiths' hash for very long - next time you visit one of their screens, they're back on patrol intent on causing you even more trouble.

Keys and a talisman are the ultimate objects of the game, and the talisman is due to come in handy when Part II is published. Part I should keep you entertained until then.