Released around Christmas 1984, 'Perils' is Miner Willy's only outing on the VIC-20. Sometimes mistakenly referred to as Manic Miner, even though it boasted a full 13 screens more than the Speccy classic (33 in total), it was the top selling VIC-20 game during the early part of 1985 and reached the dizzying heights of #16 in the Multi-format Games Chart!

Its easy to see why it was so successful. From the colourful graphics and the admirable (if short) rendition of Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven, to the useful 'attract mode' that shows you some of the levels you will be puzzling over later.

But like any good game, it's the playability that sets Willy aside from other VIC platformers. Unlike Manic Miner which threw you into its fiendish levels from the start, Willy eases you in gently and it only takes a couple of goes to master the Carl Lewis-like long jumps that our hero can perform. From then on it is all about solving the puzzles as you march on through the impressive number of rooms.

There are a few minor faults with the game, Willy himself flickers at a shocking rate and the music is so repetitive that you will be reaching for the volume control by room 3. But even with those flaws, 'Perils of Willy' is a triumph on the humble VIC and is a game that can be equally enjoyed by fans of the franchise looking for another format to play there favourite game on, or VIC-20 fans wanting to see their machine of choice at its best.