Sega Master Force


Fantastic Dizzy
By Codemasters
Sega Master System (EU Version)

 
Published in Sega Master Force #5

From chicken plop to star of a cool arcade adventure. Is this Dizzy all he's cracked up to be?

Fantastic Dizzy

Forget about your blue hedgehogs and dancing spots, there's a new hero in town and he's good whether boiled, scrambled or fried! Yes, Dizzy's an egg - but not a boring one that rolls around aimlessly with a cress fixation.

Dizzy has red gloves, stumpy legs and a cheeky grin. He lives along with other egg people, the Yolkfolk, in a treehouse village high above the land of Zakeria.

This was once a peaceful land where the Yolkfolk could go out collecting berries and chat to the troll creatures they share Zakeria with. That was until the evil wizard Zaks decided to kick up a stink. He put the whole kingdom under a black spell and made the trolls his soldiers.

Fantastic Dizzy

Now he's kidnapped Dizzy's girlfriend, Daisy. She must be rescued and the land returned to its former, friendly self.

Just Can't Get An Oeuf!

Fantastic Dizzy takes puzzle-solving and platform ingredients and throws them into a giant mixing bowl to create a unique console adventure for all ages.

There are different levels, but they're linked together so Dizzy can walk freely between them. To progress, objects must be collected and used in the correct places to solve puzzles, open up new areas and help the Yolkfolk.

Fantastic Dizzy

For example, Dizzy's friend, Denzil, is a cool dude so Zaks froze him in a block of ice. To set him free, Dizzy first has to find the hay, place that next to Denzil, set fire to it with matches then put out the fire with a bucket of water. Solving this single problem involves three objects and many treks from one side of the game to the other - but it's great fun!

The puzzles are simple at first, with obvious clues given for beginners, but the more time's spent with the game, the trickier things get.

There are other many game styles hidden inside the adventure. Dizzy rides down the rapids in a barrel, bounces from bubble to bubble after walking the plank from a pirate ship, takes a trip in a mine cart and completes a sliding puzzle for extra lives.

There's eggs-citement all the way - but will it set your head spinning?

Nick

I've known our friend Dizzy since his first adventure way back in 1987 and have probably reviewed every game he's starred in since - so you'd think I'd be sick and tired of him by now, wouldn't you? Far from it. This latest addition to his repertoire is a right cracker.

The cute animation of Dizzy - his facial expression constantly changing and fun roly-poly movement - will have even hardened gamesplayers addicted in no time at all.

All the visuals are excellent Clear and colourful backgrounds scroll by and there are even different weather and light conditions! Stand in some outdoor areas and it starts to rain, walk around for long enough and night falls.

There's only one problem I can see with Fantastic Dizzy: a password system should've been included. This really put me off. You can play all day, solving puzzles and meeting new characters, then lose a life to some stupid ant or bat and have to start the whole adventure from scratch!

If Codemasters had included a password system, this would have easily scored a Master Blaster. As it is, Fantastic Dizzy's a brilliant game, but can easily become frustrating. 89%

Rob

Hurrah! Everyone's favourite egg has finally made it to the Master System, as cheeky and egg-like as ever - only with better presentation (naturally). I'm determined not to make any awful yolks, but to say I was egg-static when I played Fantastic Dizzy is an understatement.

Guide the chucky-egg around tree-house complexes, caverns and treacherous waters, encountering poisonous spiders, charging rhinos and man-traps. Dizzy must rescue poor Daisy, a loveable little egglet who's been captured by Zaks, or be alone with his bread-and-butter soldiers.

After all those years of playing Dizzy games on the humble Spectrum, it made a welcome change to play Master System Fantastic Dizzy. Graphics are detailed and colourful, making it a real pleasure for the eyes, and the catchy main theme goes around in your head for a while after playing the game.

It's great to see Dizzy's still going strong. This game's as addictive and playable as any of his earlier games - a real winner. 85%

Verdict

Packed with puzzles, this is an excellent adventure, but it's frustrating at times.