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The half-boiled storyline could have been poached from a hundred different games. Dizzy and Daisy were in the Enchanted Forest collecting cherries when they became hopelessly lost. Rather than wandering around aimlessly, the avid twosome decided to visit a nearby castle to obtain directions. However, while searching the many rooms for sides of the species Homo Sapiens, Daisy caught herself on a mystic spinning wheel and fell into a sleep so deep it would surely last for a hundred years [Zzzzzzzz! - Ed]. As Dizzy tried to wake her, Rockwart, the evil (and very large) troll, grabbed him and locked our hero in an underground chamber...

Originally part of the Dizzy's Excellent Adventures compilation pack, Prince Of The Yolkfolk is yet another chapter in the seemingly never-ending story of all things eggy.

Taking the role of Dizzy, your aim is (as usual) to solve problems while trying not to make an omelette of yourself. The puzzles facing you range from the blatantly obvious to the hopelessly obscure: how, for example, can you pass the troll guarding the castle gate? Looking at the objects available is of little help, as it's only by trial and error that the problem can be solved. This is unsatisfying, killing the logical thinking aspect and leaving the gamesplayer frustrated.

However, the Dizzy games are such a simple and enjoyable concept, it would be a strange day indeed it one lacked playability. POTYF is no exception. Stomping around the 40-odd screens that make up the playing area, solving puzzles and avoiding the numerous nestles, is as absorbing as you can gel for four pounds. But there are a few faults...

The graphics look as if they've been ported directly across from a Spectrum. They also flicker in places: not something you expect to see in games these days. Beauty is only skin deep, as they say, but I would have hoped for a lot more from a C64. Secondly, there isn't enough in the game for a hardened Dizzy fan, 40 screens really isn't much for an arcade adventure, and I counted roughly sixteen main puzzles, with a fair helping of cherries (you have to collect 20) hidden behind scenery. To be honest, there are puzzles of a more arcade variety - timing jumps to get to a specific point is an integral part of the game - but we already take these for granted in cartoon adventures. Finally, the slow screen update is a bit of a yoke, which soon becomes irritating end seems as unnecessary as the flickering sprites.

Don't get me wrong - I actually like POTYF, but feel that the problems seriously detract from the overall shine of the product. My advice for the less affluent Dizzy fans out there is to wait for Crystal Kingdom Dizzy, which looks to become the all-time bestest-ever "eggstravaganza". But if you can't wait that long, Yolkfolk isn't back - and you certainly won't end up with egg on your face if you "shell" out for it! [You're fired - Ed]

Presentation 70%
Average title screen, 'cartoon' game-complete sequence.

Graphics 58%
Very Spectrum-esque with flicker, but serve their purpose.

Sound 82%
A right-ripping in-game tune by no mistake!

Hookability 89%
Dizzy triumphs again... instantly addictive!

Lastability 72%
Not really enough content for lasting appeal

Overall 76%