Black&White for the PC is a modern morality test which, the creators claim, helps you "find out who you really are".

It takes the form of a quasi-religious mission in which you become a being worshipped as a god. After annoyingly lengthy introductory scenes, you choose your character symbol and meet your "consciences" of good and evil who guide your decision-making throughout the game.

The object is to spread your influence through-out the kingdom recruiting disciples and building up your deity.

You can achieve these goals by either doing good, e.g. saving the sick, or bad, e.g. terrorising the native population with summary execut-ions and destruction of their village.

You can adopt a "pet" creature and teach it to fight and perform miracles, learning the difference between right and wrong from your praise or punishment.

Confronted by chall-enges, you need to use your moral sense and sometimes miracles to overcome them.

Advanced graphics and complex controls need to be mastered before you can truly appreciate the game play.

There is a multi-player option in which up to eight gods and their creatures can face-off against one another through modem or network.

You need an up-to-date platform but installation is easy, if slow.

Black&White could well become engrossing and addictive for those, unlike myself, who can suspend belief suffic-iently to buy into in its rather heady scenario.

Price: £34.99
Contact: 0870 2432435
Feel good factor: 8.5 out of 10.

Review by Owen Richards
evolution has two Black&White PC-ROMs to give away. Send your name and address to evolution, Argus House, Crowhurst Road, Hollingbury, Brighton, BN1 8AR by May 22 to be entered in the draw. Please mark your envelope "Black&White competition".