Fantastic Dizzy
| Developer: Purple Haze | Graphics: |
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| Publisher: Codemasters | Sound: |
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| Year: 1993 | Difficulty: |
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| Genre: Platform-adventure | Lastability: |
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| Number of players: 1 | Rating: |
8/10 | |
The evil sorcerer, Zaks, has cast a spell on the inhabitants of Randomland. He’s also kidnapped the pretty Daisy (again). Dizzy arrives, ready to kick ass and chew bubble-gum…
The most famous egg on legs in history returns one last time to haunt our evenings and nights, in a decidedly traditional game that serves as a synthesis of the entire series. You’ll find familiar characters and locations (callbacks to previous episodes) and an entirely classic gameplay principle: collecting objects, avoiding enemies, gathering stars (instead of coins) and using the right object to overcome each obstacle.
In short, nothing truly new, apart from a very polished presentation (enhanced by lovely lighting changes during day/night transitions). I’m pleased to note that certain things that drove me mad in Treasure Island Dizzy have been fixed: we now have multiple lives, an energy bar (no more dying from the slightest contact with a tiny insect) and the music changes from one area to another. My nerves are thankful! There are also fairly tolerable mini-games.
However, for a ninth instalment meant to be the culmination of the series, some shortcomings remain: no sound effects, reduced screen size, no save function or passwords (blessed be the emulator’s save function!). I won’t criticise the eternal three-slot inventory because, after all this time, it’s become the trademark feature of a Dizzy game. We’ve finally learned to identify a favourable spot in the game (not too difficult to access) to store our piles of objects while waiting to find a use for them…
Stripped of the irritating details, I found myself genuinely enjoying this final Dizzy adventure. Proves anything’s possible.
At the end of 2011, Dizzy poked his shell out on mobile phones (Android, iOS) for a remake of the sixth episode: Prince of the Yolkfolk.
Recently, I stumbled upon a potential heir: Reventure (2019).
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