Game Information

ROM Information:
Save Function on ROM: No
Emulator/s it has been tested on: Ccs64

System:
Commodore 64
Released:
1988
Extras:

Size: 44K
DownLoad:
dizzy1.zip

Direction Pad:
Move Dizzy left and right. Jump(with direction pad to jump in direction)
Fire Button:
Pick up/use item

The Dizzy series all revolve around collecting objects, seeing where they can be used, and using them to solve a series of puzzles. It may sound easy, but the Dizzy games are anything buy easy...in fact they offer some of the toughest gaming experiences ever! This is the first in the Dizzy series, and the game revolves around Dizzy trying to make a potion to destroy the evil wizard Zaks, who has taken over his home land. Dizzy is a nice egg who will do anything to help anyone however, the task of making this potion is a lot harder then even Dizzy could have imagined.

"the game requires pin point jumping, dodging and other various games playing skills, plus a little luck!"

To get the ingrediants for the potion, Dizzy needs to use certain items to solve puzzles, without being killed by various enemies, traps, drops and other such obstacles. The game is spilt up into screens, so you enter the screen on one side and have to make your way to the exit, all you have to do now is work out how to get there!!! Usually you can see what you have to do, and what items you need to use, however the game requires pin point jumping, dodging and other various games playing skills, plus a little luck!

The game allows you to carry only one item at a time, this makes the games difficulty level a little too hard at times. Dizzy starts the game with three lifes, however there are various eggs throughout the game which act as extra lifes, and boy will you need them!

The puzzles all work by you picking up an item, finding out where it needs to be used and then using it...then picking up another item and solving the next item. It may sound repetitive, yet somehow the game makes you want to keep solving the puzzles just to see what you have to face next, and to prove to yourself that you can infact solve the puzzle...

Dizzy certainly offers a challenge, yet at times it does maybe get too hard, again coming back to the fact that you can only hold one item. The AI of the enemies is pretty good, they all follow a set route and so you have to study them, see how they move and then quickly and effectively carry out your plan of action, dodging all the eneimes, jumping over the rocks and then picking up that item to solve the next puzzle, then quickly making your way back. It's gamesplaying at its best, edge of your seat stuff...and so statisfying!

The visuals are good for the Commodore64, however they are the worst in the Dizzy series, it's all very samey with the items being a flashing colour to let you know its an item. The same can be said of the sound, there's not much music, just the odd 'ba ding' here and there and the sound effects are all pretty basic. The visuals are all pretty funky and fun, however, it's not pushing to the limits of the C64...

How does Dizzy play then, well it's a very statisfying, fun and challenging game. You always feel as if you can solve the puzzles, it's just a case of finding the item needed, being able to dodge all the enemies and then using the item. There are always enough lifes, and as long as you take your time and work out what you have to do, and how your going to do it, you shouldn't really get killed! You really only lose lifes when you start to rush in there, trying to do things the wrong way and not thinking things threw.

"this game started something very special for both Codemasters and us gamesplayers"

One of the early puzzles is based around a rain cloud, which drops acid rain, as you can guess this kills you if you walk underneath and so you are left to wonder how you pass the rain cloud. Later on you find a rain coat, straight away you think "rain cloud...", thus you end up desperately trying to get back to the rain cloud, with your new found item, this usually results in you losing a few lifes as you rush through the screens without following the enemies pattens. Sure enough, the rain coat protects you from the acid rain and thus you can move onto the next screen which brings with a new set of puzzles.

A problem arises with the fact that you can only hold one item at a time, this means that sometimes you find yourself walking back and fouth again and again knowing which item you need to solve the puzzle up ahead, but just trying to remember where you left it! If the game allowed you to hold more items, it would cut out alot of the toing and throwing, and alot of the frustration.

Theres no doubt about it, this game started something very special for both Codemasters and us gamesplayers, it started the whole Puzzle platform genre and was something fresh and fun at the time. However, we have the luxury of being able to look back and play the sequels and to be honest, this game doesn't really cut the mustard when faced up against his younger brothers.

This is the hardest Dizzy game in the series, yet certainly one of the most statisfying gaming experiences you will ever have the joy of playing, however, the sequels also offer the same statisfaction, with better visuals and sound, and an all together easier learning curve without losing the challenge.

If your looking for a challenging puzzle platform game, you won't be dissapointed with this game, after all this is the game which started off the whole Dizzy phenomena, for those of us who had the joy of playing this at the time this game has a special place in our hearts. Looking back at it now, we can see all the problems and just how hard and frustrating this game really is, it's the first in the Dizzy series, and sadly it shows!

Kevin Preston

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