Computer Gamer


Dynamite Dan II
By Mirrorsoft
Spectrum 48K

 
Published in Computer Gamer #18

Dynamite Dan II

Everywhere that you go, you are likely to be told that all the things that you particularly enjoy are bad for you - chip butties, the clothes that you wear and loud music. Especially loud music. Now it appears that there is some element of truth in what your parents have been telling you because the evil Doctor Blitzen has found a way of putting subliminal sound waves on everyday pop records. Whilst you cannot hear them, your brain still picks them up and the effect is that the youth of today is being totally mesmerised.

These goings on were first noticed in a group of islands known as Arcanum where Blitzen is thought to have his headquarters. So, Agent Dan is called up to fly his airship to the islands and investigate. The idea is to search the island for a hidden record which must then be played on a jukebox. Then, pausing only to refuel your dirigible, you must make your way to the next island until, eventually, you find the evil Doctor's laboratory and blow it up.

The original Dynamite Dan was one of the better platform games but this sequel looks and plays more like an arcade adventure. Movement is a simple left right, down and jump/up but the timing and positioning of jumps is seldom critical. There are many items to be collected and used en route although you will have to look after them carefully or they will get pinched when you collide with the nasties. A nasty will only steal an item of the same colour but Sod's Law says that it is usually the one that you need most that goes first. If the nasties cannot steal anything, they take just as much delight in sapping your energy. You only have one life so it is important to keep an eye on the appropriate gauge. Fortunately, there is a lot of food lying around to top up your calorie count.

Different items serve different purposes. Bombs are used for blowing up doors and allowing you access to other parts of the island. Goggles protect you from the mesmerising ray of Dr. Blitzen and fuel is needed to get your zeppelin into the air again. There are other items lying around whose use must be determined by experimentation. One is required to allow you access to a secret passage and others may offer varying forms of protection.

There is always a lot happening on the screen, and whilst this is OK to look at, I found that it produced a slight flickering effect on the screen. The game itself is reasonable without being outstanding and is likely to have its greatest appeal with those who enjoyed the original.