The unexplained

It has taken me a while to come to love the interactive documentary, but two products in this batch of reviews have shown me the error of my ways. Until now, I could get excited about a CD-ROM as a reference work, but didn't want to sit in front of one and be talked at. At last, though, there are titles like the Unexplained which are good enough to deserve such concentrated attention.

I have to confess to being a sucker for the mysterious, from ley lines to UFOs. The Unexplained provides a wide ranging commentary on anything that might grab the attention of an X-Files wannabe. The look and feel is good, and suitably mysterious, with each of six major topics divided into subchapters of sound, image and occasional video. Like a good book, The Unexplained left me wanting to turn to the next section, rather than put it away. If you're a sceptic, you'll probably find the presentation unbalanced - some highly doubtful flying saucer stories, for instance, get by with hardly a raised eyebrow - on the other hand, one segment of the crop circles piece concentrates entirely on fakers. There's also the excellent bonus of a web document on the CD with online links to relevant sites. The truth might be out there, but until it comes knocking on the door, the Unexplained is as good a view as any.

Overall - A stylish Windows infotainment CD that provides a good tour of the mysterious. Priced around ú29.99 in the UK. Produced by FlagTower.