Amstrad Action


Fantasy World Dizzy
By Codemasters
Amstrad CPC464

 
Published in Amstrad Action #52

AA Rave

Fantasy World Dizzy

Dizzy has managed to get himself into hot water again. The hard-boiled adventurer is in a nght pickle, for not only has he been captured by an evil wizard and slung in the can, the baddies have also poached his true love Daisy. [Hang on, methinks I detect some outrageous pun-making - Ed.] For the moment he's been left to stew, but soon he's going to be in for a real grilling. They're sure to make him crack [Enough - please!] if he doesn't manage to hatch a scheme to scramble out. Its no yolk, for he risks being fried, powdered and subjected to various other unsavoury ways of going to that great big omelette in the sky. He'll just have to soldier [Aaarrrggh!] on and whisk Daisy away, curry her to safety, and if possible build up a big enough nest-egg from the wizard's treasure to shell out for that little cottage in the country where the couple can live happily ever after in eggstacy...

Fantasy World Dizzy is the third in the popular series of cartoon style arcade adventures from the Oliver Twins. Each game, although having essentially the same game-play. has seen an improvement in the mechanics of the program - Fantasy World Dizzy is the best yet.

A neat menu system has been created, offering greater flexibility when handling objects. There's a lot more text in this game too. Each location is named, often giving vital clues for solving the problems encountered there. As well as Daisy, several other 'yolk folk' have been introduced into the game. These characters offer objects and advice to our hero, and inject a lot of humour into the game. Probably the greatest improvement to the game, though, is that Dizzy Three has three lives instead of previous one. It's a good thing too, cos you're gonna need 'em!

Fantasy World Dizzy

Dizzy starts off being kicked into the dungeon by his gaoler, a hideous wart-faced troll. The troll won't let our hero pass - promptly booting him back in if he tries - but can be bribed to offer an important little titbit of information. Once you've escaped via the back-door, the whole fantasy world opens up - and the puzzles are more devious than ever.

Graphically, the game offers nothing new over the usual Dizzy format. The Neil Adamson backgrounds are drawn well enough, but are nevertheless a straight port from the Spectrum version. The game suffers musically, too. The David Whittaker tune slows down alarmingly in places, and isn't a patch on the music in Treasure Island Dizzy. However, once you press that fire button (and hit the Music Off option), all that is forgotten. The gameplay makes up for everything, drawing you into a complex plot of magical dragons and mysterious castles.

The Yolk Folk, too, are great caricatures. There's Denzil the dude, Dylan the hippy, Grand-Dizzy and the lazy egg Dozy. When Dizzy approaches one of these characters, he enters into a wittily-scripted conversation. It's touches like this that really make a game stand out.

Fantasy World Dizzy

Fans of the energetic egg-head won't be disappointed with the latest Dizzy adventure. The puzzles are more cunning than ever, but are counterbalanced by the addition of more lives, which encourages experimentation.

It might be only £2.99, but don't let that put you off. Fantasy World Dizzy is better than many full-price releases. A must on anybody's Christmas list.

Second Opinion

They've done it again! Just when Edwina thought it was safe to show her face in public, the Oliver Twins put together another stunning egg-stravaganza to torture the nation. Egg-cellent stuff. [You're fired too - Ed]

Green Screen View

Fantasy World Dizzy

Dizzy looks just as good in green.

First Day Target Score

Collect eighteen coins.

Verdict

Graphics 65%
P. Well-drawn graphics.
N. Backgrounds are Spectrum conversions.

Sonics 49%
N. Not one of Whittaker's best.

Grab Factor 93%
P. Instant appeal with a well-known theme.

Staying Power 87%
P. If you manage to complete the game, try again but collecting all the corns.

Overall 89%
The Olivers reach Dizzy new heights!

Trenton Webb

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