Beneath a Steel Sky

Before There Was Broken Sword. there was this gem - an humourous adventure set against the backdrop of a dystopian computer-controlled city in Australia. You play Robert Foster, a boy brought up in the wilderness outside the city's walls, but with a mysterious past linked to the urban sprawl. Kidnapped by security forces, you're taken back to metropolis but escape, along with your robot pal Joey.

From there on in, you're in standard adventure territory, with the Revolution Software twist of Al characters with routines, meaning certain puzzles had to be completed when the situation was just right.

Beneath a Steel Sky is a classic point-and-click adventure that doesn't feel too difficult by modern standards. Even though there is a little bit too much pixel-hunting for most people's tastes.

Best of all, it is one of the games GOG is giving away for free.

Not exactly hard-core, this one. Beneath A Steel Sky is a fairly shallow point-and-click adventure that takes in elements of Orwellian big-brother paranoia and mixes in humour that is almost funny - but not quite.

The aim is basically to find out how you came to be where you are, and defeat the corrupt city authorities. The pace of the game can hardly be termed exciting, and this isn't helped by being a little bit too easy for most players. Say the right thing or use the right object, and progress can be quick without too much thought. It's okay while it lasts, but there's better stuff if you're willing to shell out a couple more quid.