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If the pop culture is to be believed - it's a dangerous affair, this archaeology. How dull would it be if Indiana Jones had only a brush to gently pick his way through millennia of sand and debris? So, thank goodness for Hollywood tropes and all the cliches that have remained with us since. So the scene is set for Shovel Adventure, a single-screen, multi-level arcade malarkey in which you control the intrepid explorer, Johnny Pallas. He's just discovered the elusive tomb of Pharaoh Lholha Flowers. He will be rich beyond his wildest dreams if he can muster up the courage to collect all the gems. There's a catch, you see - they are buried in the sand, and guardians are roaming the tomb. Yes, mummies, scarabs and cobras do not want their precious lair ransacked and desecrated.

Armed with his trusty shovel, Johnny must avoid the creatures and look for little mounds of sand that reveal gemstones (and occasional power-ups). Not only can the shovel be used to dig up the gems, but it can also dig holes for the guardians to fall into - in much the same way as classic arcade game Space Panic. Once all the gems are collected, an Ankh will appear, which acts as a key to the next chamber. Watch your time, these levels are tight, and there's no room for procrastination.

Sometimes, you don't want a deep and involving game. Sometimes, a 'take your brain out' experience is all you are looking for. Shovel Adventure is just what the doctor ordered for this mindset. It's a genuinely fun arcade game with Pac-Man and Space Panic elements.

Graphically, the game is lovely - from its comic book introduction to the furnishings of the tomb, it's gorgeous to look at. The sheer amount of 128K tunes in the game is an Egyptian jukebox and does well to break up any break up any feelings of repetition.

Just call me Indy!

Now this is the kind of game I really like - simple, looks amazing, sounds great and is full of atmosphere and nice little touches. Simply put, dig up all the little piles of sand to collect the gems - when they are all collected, a key appears that will unlock the door to the next level. Simples.

I managed to get to level five on my first go and the game gave me a passwordd, so I don't have to start on the first level when I play next. It seems like everything has been thought of in Shovel Adventure!

Control Keys: Q, A, O, P & SPACE.
Joystick: N/A.
Graphics: Lovely big sprites, with plenty of Egyptian-themed graphics.
Sound: An amazing amount of 128K music.
General Rating: Pure arcade fun at its very core.