Kirel

The player controls Kirel, an alien creature in a world made of blocks and inhabited by monsters. Bombs have been set in each level and Kirel must reach and defuse them before they explode.

Kirel can pick up blocks and drop them. He cannot jump higher than one block so must build staircases to reach high places. He cannot descend heights greater than one block, however if he picks up the block or item on which he stands, he will safely fall to the lower level regardless of drop.

He can build a limited number of horizontal Bridges to traverse gaps. (Remaining Bridges are indicated at bottom left of the screen.)

Kirel cannot pick up blocks from the base level, nor place blocks on the top level. He cannot pick up the block upon which the Exit door will eventually appear. He can carry only one block at a time.

Monsters move randomly around the map and will drain Kirel's energy if they climb on him. Kirel can kill them in turn by climbing on them, but this costs him Pieces of Cake. (Remaining Pieces are indicated at bottom left of the screen.) If a monster is on the highest level of the map then it cannot be killed. Nor can Kirel be attacked in that position.

Various objects are scattered around the landscape:

• Pieces of Cake enable Kirel to kill monsters
• Arrows give Kirel extra Bridges
• Sweets (resembling cupcakes, toasters, and pies) restore Kirel's energy
• Balls slow down the Bomb fuse
• Teleports transport Kirel to other parts of the map
• Pyramids block Kirel's path and cannot be moved (later levels also feature invisible Pyramids)
• Cubes destroy sections of the map and enable access to hidden bombs

When all the Bombs have been defused an Exit door will appear to take Kirel to the next level.

Your Sinclair:"This is a game you'll either love or hate. You'll find it absolutely infuriating or totally addictive. I played it for hours. Give it a try. It could just be one of the cleverest games of the year."[2]