Crash


Edd The Duck

Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: Zeppelin Games
Machine: Spectrum 48K/128K

 
Published in Crash #96

Edd The Duck

When you think about it, children's TV, past and present, is full of friendly, smiling presenters sticking their hands up various animals' bottoms. Harry Corbett was probably the first, giving Sooty cause to raise his eyebrows in mute surprise. I bet the little bear was hapy when old 'H' popped his clogs. But then his dopey son, Matthew, came along and availed himself of a furry posterior.

And then there's Rod Hull and Emu - are you surprised he's such an aggressive bird?! Keith Harris's Orville deserves everything he gets, of course, but Gordon The Gopher's quite a lad. Do you think he's naturally that squeaky? Nope, unassisted by the human digits he's a baritone for the local operatic society.

But what of Edd The Duck, Gordon's replacement as CBBC mascot? Well, he may have a sore botty but at least he has the honour of his very own computer game. Striving for megastardom, Edd has to travel through the BBC studios collecting stars.

There are twenty stars in each level, but plenty of nasty creatures out to stop him. Hitting them with snowballs (?!) stuns them for a few seconds, allowing little Edd to waddle past.

When first released on the Speccy, Edd The Duck received a warm welcome from both Nick and myself. Okay, it owes more than a little to Rainbow Islands for inspiration, but that isn't such a bad thing. I'm a sucker for a good platform game, and Edd The Duck fits the bill (ho ho!) nicely.