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Metamorphosis provides us with some existential insight into the dawn of man. Like with most synopses, it's surprising we made it through to walking on two legs at all - it's a tough old universe out there.

The game begins in the lowest level of Hell, in which you control a Xenomorph-like creature, which is about as low down the evolutionary ladder as you can get. Its energy level is also limited, so death comes easy to such weak beings.

The game's idea is to ascend through the evolutionary process towards humankind by locating special discs that have been scattered throughout the terrain. Of course, this is easier said than done - you have to battle your kin, many of whom have evolved further than you. You can defeat your brethren by spitting black tar on them until they devolve down into the lowest form, which is then edible, and you can replenish any energy lose in battle. You can also leap on their heads to stun them.

The game is divided into interconnected platforming levels, with each sub-level being isolated from the other until three discs are collected. These are located in battle rooms which are essentially single-screen arenas where you battle a horde of your kin. Access to the portals that take you to these rooms requires keys. These keys also are hidden throughout the game; it may require you to revisit previously visited levels.

As you progress and evolve, your energy meter also extends - this is vital for the battles ahead.

Metamorphosis is a highly unique game; it takes the over-saturated platform genre and gives it a fresh breath of life. The whole concept of evolutionary ascension is handled brilliantly, and its unique graphical style magnifies this. Everything looks influenced by H.R.Giger artwork, and the dark-twisted aesthetic of Hell is portrayed with painful precision.

The balance of exploration, platforming and battling is superb. The music perfectly matches the mood, and is just as disturbing as the graphics.

The game may seem difficult due to starting with very little energy, but with perseverance, you soon get used to the brutal nature of Hell - it is dog-eat-dog down there.

This is one of those games that, at first, I have no idea of what to do. I know I am in hell, and for the first five minutes or so, I literally had no idea what was going on and died very quickly. "Press R to restart" flashed mockingly at me rather too often.

Persevere though and you start to see a little more that the game has to offer and realise that this is a platform game in disguise.

The visuals are quite extravagant for the Spectrum with the blue, red and the black combination of graphics giving the game a deception of depth.

The sounds and musical dities that accompany the gameplay are spot on, and add atmosphere to the rather sinister surroundings you find yourself playing in.

Metamorphosis is most unique, and once over the initial difficulty and lack of direction from the game, there is a lot of fun to be had, as you explore the depths of hell, in your quest to evolve to being something that resembles 'man'. Love it.

Control Keys: Q, A, O, P, SPACE.
Joystick: Kempston, Sinclair.
Graphics: Very colourful and highly detailed.
Sound: An atmospheric 128K tune with limited sound FX.
General Rating: The authors have created a rather unique game here. Crash can't wait to see what they bring us in the future.