Sounds simple enough, right? You'll soon realize that the game isn't as easy as it sounds. For a start, there are various alien dangers: demons, acid-spitters, and many more. In addition to a slew of hazards, there is an equally diverse variety of items you can pick up. These can either be beneficial (extra lives, extra points, demon banes and wall breakers), or detrimental (energy drains, loss of steering etc). As if that isn't enough challenge, you'll come across practically indestructible mines. These ballistic bunions have a tendency to hug the landscape, bounce up and down, or just follow you around like radioactive sheep (although it sounds much better on the Amiga than the annoying BLEEP from the PC speaker). On top of that, there's the fact that the diamonds aren't just found in 'obvious' corners and junctions. Instead, they are deviously placed in the seemingly-impervious-brick-box or the small-area-of-the-screen-covered-in-mines. And if all that wasn't enough, you've also got an unbelievably tight time limit. Despite the possibility of collecting the odd hourglass to add thirty seconds to the clock, or using the many teleports for swift transportation around the level, the limit is tough with a capital, emboldened, italic, 72 point 'T'. I guarantee every level will end with you frantically searching for the last diamond while the final three seconds drain away.

The sheer adrenaline rush and addictive gameplay of Netherworld are more than enough to make up for the lackluster graphics lacking in definition. Strip away the strange sci-fi/fantasy plot, and you've got an addictive gem not unlike the classic Boulderdash. Each level's layout and ingenious placement of diamonds, coupled with time limit, makes the game more of a puzzler than an action game, although reflexes are still crucial to success. Highly recommended, especially to anyone who enjoys a *very difficult* arcade/puzzle challenge and is looking for something that breaks the mold. Thumbs up!

Rob's review from when the game was at CW#3: "A strange demonic action/puzzle game. Netherworld wasn't one of Hewson's biggest hits but is quite an interesting game. It's hard but if you get into it, it can become addicting. To get you started: On each of the ten levels you have to collect the diamonds that are scattered around the level. The clock is your opponent as well as the various demons and mines. Shooting the bubbles reveals good and bad bonuses, so choose wisely what you pick up."