Big K


Pyjamarama

Publisher: Mikro-Gen
Machine: Spectrum 48K

 
Published in Big K #9

Pyjamarama

There are occasional bright moments in a games reviewer's life, very occasional, not always too bright, and definitely momentary. Pyjamarama is a positive ray of sunshine. It may however have detrimental effects on your Central Nervous system. I was hauled away forcibly from the screen by a kindly colleague, mumbling "No, no, don't let the over-ready chickens get me".

It's set in the nightmares of one Wally, a little man, but with big problems. He trying to wake up for work, but to do this he needs to find his alarm clock and wind it up. Unfortunately, this must be done in dream reality, and everything's come alive or got bigger. Hands come out of the floor, library books acquire aggressive instincts, and nothing is quite what it seems.

The result is a large and very entertaining graphic adventure. Wally can walk right or left, or jump over things. This is under keyboard or joystick control. There are plenty of objects strewn about the rooms to be picked up, which is done by just walking over them. It isn't always clear what they're for however, and while you're figuring that out, Wally's "snooze energy" is running down. It's also depleted by contact by the sinister hands, roast chickens et al, so the simple everyday act of winding up a clock becomes a full-scale quest.

The graphics are beautifully realised, so each new location is a joy to discover. But can anyone out there figure out a use for the beach ball?