Zzap


Wiz Biz
By Alternative
Commodore 64/128

 
Published in Zzap #41

Wiz Biz

Another adventure by Alternative Software, Football Frenzy, remains one of my all-time least favourite games, hence the trepidation I felt as Wiz Biz loaded.

During a particularly drunken session at the Duck and Plunger, you (Ralph) turned one of your ex-mates into a pink and black salamander. Once the spell wore off, Mike (the victim) seemed more than a little miffed. In fact, he abducted your good self - which is why you wake up, complete with hangover, in his castle. Escape is essential to your well being.

Written using the Graphic Adventure Creator - a utility which no-one has yet used to its full potential - Wiz Biz is a 'full colour graphics and text adventure'. All locations are accompanied by a picture, some of which are OK but they render the amount of text to a minimum.

Wiz Biz

As in the case of the three witches in Macbeth, you have a familiar and your first problem is to remember his name so that he may help you escape. In the dungeon with you is a can of lager; drink it and the name will return to you in flash.

From here the game goes downhill. Your immediate surroundings consist of serpent pits, caves, smithys and more dungeons. A general direction of up is recommended to get into the castle and its gardens; items such as sausages, frying pans, tokens and soda syphons are lying around waiting for you to pick up and puzzle over. Mapping is illogical, the frustration of which is accentuated by the lack of gameplay and atmosphere.

Wiz Biz is written with tongue firmly in cheek and humour is omnipresent. If you are looking for a serious hack 'n slay adventure in which you can swash your buckle and which consists of loads of prose and atmosphere - try another game.