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.
More images here, here, here, here, here.
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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