As an old Reptonion Granddad, I sadly miss the halcyon days of the 8-bit era, when life was simpler computer-wise. In nineteen hundred and frozen to death, I purchased my Acorn Electron from Dixons in the High Street. My youngest son had a BBC computer which sparked off my interest in them. The 'free' games package was ok but I was not into 'Shoot-'Em-ups' and Chess against the computer (It always won!). I did not yearn for any attachments - too much hassle! I was content with my 'slim-line' Dixons recorder which was tuned to perfection!

Then it happened. Repton arrived and I was hooked! Time had no meaning. I sat bleary-eyed in my computer room (converted box room!) killing monsters, moving boulders and re-directing spirits! I lost weight, DIY jobs were left undone, you could not enter my garden without a guide dog or a shotgun. Mumbled words drifted upstairs, "I don't know why you don't put a nightie on that machine and take it to bed!" (Sounded a bit kinky to me!). I lay awake at night working out strategies but never finished the game in time to win a prize.

Then came Repton 2, Repton 3, Around The World In 40 Screens (with Repton), The Life Of Repton, not to mention Repton Thru Time! Unfortunately, in my opinion, the later games were more involved and lacked the graphic clarity of the earlier ones, but I completed them. When the Repton series ended, I was in limbo. I tried Ravenskull, Paperboy, various puzzle games, Clogger, Ballistix, etc and some programming but they did not compare with old Repton.

Then I discovered Perplexity - based on the old 'Pacman' munching dots but with so much more! This was it! I was off again!

A password was needed to enter each of the sixteen levels which got progressively harder. There were boulders which, when moved into the correct position, turned into stars to be gobbled up; keys which had to be matched with locks in order to proceed along passages; and those damned monsters that had to be avoided! Every minute of my spare time was taken up but eventually I cracked all sixteen levels!! I was so chuffed that I dropped a line to Superior Software. They kindly sent a velum completion certificate, adding that I was one of the first three people to complete the game!

There are no hints or tips that I can offer other players of Perplexity - it is a matter of 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration together with the careful planning of your moves. One thing I can offer is a list of the passwords for all sixteen levels!

Ray Lennard, EUG #1