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Mik3 the robot always dreamed of creating a game like his heroes, a game with great graphics and wonderful SID music. However, after a few failed attempts, he decides to do what any sane person would do in the situation: outsource. Fragments of code, graphics and audio are scattered about, waiting to be collected and transformed into viable output, before being distributed to the masses for guaranteed critical acclaim. Can you help him realise his dream of scoring a ZZAP! Sizzler?

Poor Mik3 has a stiff challenge ahead, not only in having to navigate the bowels of a software development office, with its air fans, bouncy surfaces and brittle floors, but avoiding all the denizens roaming within it as well. Contact with any of the hazards present removes one point of health, but acquiring any game component restores one point. There are also locked doors to open with the correct coloured key, and secret passages to discover. Finding everything is not easy. Thankfully, Mik3 is a skilful robot and can jump, duck and hang onto ledges in his pursuit of gaming excellence.

Once the five parts of each game component have been collected, they can be delivered to the relevant team member (Stu, Trevor, Saul) to incorporate into the game. Also look out for those gameplay ideas because the more you acquire, the better the final reviewer ranking will be.

With all the completed elements in hand, the finished code can then be delivered to Kenz for duplication and finally brought over to the review team for assessment. Just be wary of the Ludlow traffic on the roads. Can't say we ever heard about Roger, Oli, Jaz, Gaz and company having to dodge death on a daily basis! It sounded bad enough dealing with the Scorelord's obsession for Domestos, surviving another nuclear curry night, dust, dirt, empty cans and trying to hammer out reviews on an Apricot computer!

Thirty years on, I don't recall tentacled robots visiting ZZAP! Towers during my time there. Might have come in handy thinking about it, auto repeating to Roger "Yes, we will meet this month's deadline". Hmmmm, we missed an opportunity there.

Sizzler is a vibrant-looking platformer with a jolly tune to boot and, boy, is it a challenge! I like the idea of collecting the individual parts for the game (why so small though?) and learning the layout is fun, but the game certainly makes you work for it.

The majority of the challenge is in learning how to survive bouncing on those pesky floor trampolines; as such, I found the over-reliance on them tended to skew the game's difficulty and, without them, there isn't much else to challenge, given that the roaming denizens follow predictable routes. Sizzler is very well presented, easy to get to grips with and everything flows along well enough, though more variety to the gameplay would have been great - more things for Mik3 to do or some interaction with the lovely-looking scenery. I never really got immersed in the Sizzler world and I never did get to virtual Ludlow, but what I saw en route was fun.

Sadly, I never did manage to get to ZZAP! Towers while it existed, but I imagine the reality wasn't too far different from that portrayed in Sizzler. Except for the massive fans perhaps. Mik3 is well animated, the backgrounds are vibrant and the in-game music is thankfully pleasant and passive enough to not infect your headspace.

One thing's for sure, the game certainly makes you work for your collectables tempered by regaining a health point after collecting each one.

The trampolines take some practice to get used to eventually as well. The map isn't massive but requires some inventive thinking to navigate successfully, and there are the ubiquitous hidden areas and passageways, although some of that is spoiled by perusing the map included with retail copies. Don't go looking if you can!

Overall, I enjoyed Sizzler, although it probably benefitted from having the Newsfield connection.

I applied for a job at ZZAP! 64 in the 1980s but if ZZAP! Towers were anything like this back then, I'm glad I didn't get it! The 8-bit ZZAP! office is a terrifying place!

It's not just the fact it's inhabited by weird and deadly creatures (and that's not taking into account the staff!) but the layout of the place is dangerous and unconventional... hardly the best working environment!

Navigating this nightmare office is very hard. There are fans, trampolines and a distinct lack of stairs making life too treacherous at first. Mik3 may be a handsome lad, but he's too big and slow for my liking and I always felt like the game needed an extra element to lift it further.

Still, Sizzler is a tough platformer in the classic vein and a strong challenge to anyone into the genre.

Presentation 74%
Minimal in-game options, but the selection of demons is a nice touch.

Graphics 81%
The 1980s ZZAP! Towers has gaudy 1970s wallpaper! A mixed bag of sprites, some of which are lovely.

Sound 84%
FX are minimal, but the music is really quite nice.

Hookability 71%
Nobody ever said making a Sizzler was easy - but, initially, it's too hard.

Lastability 78%
Becomes more enjoyable once progress is made, but remains a very tough challenge.

Overall 77%
An imaginative take on both the platform game and life at ZZAP! 64.