Falcon 030 Power 2/F030_POWER2.iso/ST_STE/MAGS/STOSBTS2.ARJ/stosbts2.msa/DATA/DL2REV.DAT

Text File | 1987-04-22 | 6KB | 122 lines

 Game Review:

 Game    : DIZZY LIZZY II (A Winters Tale)
 Released: Budgie UK
 Price   : £2.95
 Author  : THB

  A Winters Tale is the sequel to Dizzy Lizzy, and is the fourth
THB game.  Winters Tale (henceforth referred to as DL2) follows
the same plot as Dl1, namely collect all the diamonds from a
screen.

  However, the game has been thoroughly revamped; you can tell
this straight from bootup.  A nifty Budgie UK logo zooms towards
you, before a set of film-style credits proclaim who the game was
programmed by.  Playing throughout is a Shapeshifters rendition
of Girls On Film, by Duran Duran.    Then comes the main option
screen, also pretty good. This goes through the different blocks
(that was my idea, remember, Eddie?).  This is where those
familiar with DL1 notice the first major changes.  The familiar
diamonds, boulders and bombs have vanished, and new transporters,
doors and switches have been added.  It is possible to access
instructions or high scores from here.   Pressing fire puts you
into the password screen.  This is another little Eddie graphic
masterpiece, but if I have to be pedantic I would have moved the
password input.  The old DL1 sprites have been replaced by a bog-
standard font, but there is a scroller (penned by Ian) to keep it
company.  It's difficult to say if this is an improvement or not
(the big sprites in DL1 were quite stylish) but it does its job.

  The first thing you notice on entering the game is the
graphics, again up to Eddies high standards.  Dizzy is outfitted
in ski goggles, befitting the wintry theme.  Moving about, you
are liable to walk into a cracker.  Bad move.  You die, and the
screen swaps to a message screen, warning you of the dangerous-
ness of crackers.  A bit late though!
  The aim is to collect all the parcels on a level, presumably
for delivery to your friends.  Crackers have already been noted,
and the Christmas puddings are covered in explosive brandy which
detonates when the pudding is allowed to fall, and will kill you
if you do not take steps to avoid it.  One bug is that you can
drop several puddings in a row and only the last will detonate.
  Snowballs are fatal if dropped onto you, and ice prevents you
from stopping.  Rebounders at the end of runs of ice make you,
surprisingly, rebound.  Safes are impossible to pass, but reveal
parcels upon collection of the key.
  Two new features are included.  One is the transporter.  Moving
onto this block, and pressing fire, you are instantaneously
flicked to the other transporter on the screen.  This can be used
in several ways, depending on who designed the screen!
  The other new feature is the door.  Doors are similar to safes,
but they do not conceal anything.  Using the switch somewhere on
the screen, the door can be opened and closed at will.  This is
used, again, in various ways.  One of the most cunning is on one
of my screens, where the door is used in a way I'm sure Eddie
never dreamed of!
  The last creature is one of the most annoying.  The snowman (or
Wayne, to DL1 fans) moves around, never actually killing you but
being a pest.  While Wayne cannot kill you, if you move into him
you die!  The only known way of disabling him is trapping him in
a pudding explosion; more difficult than it sounds!

  Unlike DL1, the score, lives etc. are not displayed on the main
game screen.  To see the scores you must press "M".  Then you get
a screen with a series of informative statements.  These include
the number of the screen you are on, the password, score, lives
left, and current music.
  Pressing S switches off the "save score" feature, useful if you
want to keep your disk write-protected.  The screen also features
"the fastest STOS scroller" (Eddies words) which is 9 pixels
high!
  Pressing "M" again puts you onto a music menu with another
scroller.  You also get to chose from four festive tunes,
programmed by some person called "The Cool Carrot".  In
retrospect, a couple are okay, but they repeat too quickly.
Pressing another key puts you back into the main game.
  When you are killed three times, you go onto the high score
table.  If you are good enough, you can enter your name.  This
section was one of the ones I criticised in my review of DL1 for
Bits issue 1, and I am pleased to say that this version is much
better.
  The score entry screen is functional, and the workings are
quite good.  One criticism; the "delete" key deletes the entire
name, instead of just one letter.  I can live with that, though!

  One other major problem I found with DL1 was that the screens
were too easy.  This is not the case with DL2; the screens are
pretty hard, and some indication of this can be gained from the
fact it took me an hour to solve a screen I initially designed!
  The screens lead to the major problem I have found with DL2: it
is impossible to complete!  Level 32 has been checked by both me
and Eddie and it is formally declared impossible to complete,
thus ensuring nobody can complete all forty screens!

  In conclusion, after a series of playtests, the game is as
addictive as DL1, and even better presented.  I have only a few
minor criticisms; in addition to the ones above, I would say the
presents and crackers are too hard to distinguish at a glance.
Apart from these, this is a game to be heartily recommended, even
if only 32 of the 40 levels can be played!

Percentage Scores:

 Graphics: Usual superlative Eddie in all departments
           but cracker/parcel problem marks it down     92%
 Sound   : Some dodgy sound-chip mars this but good
           spot effects keep score high                 75%
 Gameplay: Excellent and addictive; up to the high
           standard of DL1                              87%
 Value   : Could be sold at full price with only a very
           few alterations. For £3 a bargain.           97%

 OVERALL : Brilliant Budgie game to keep all ages
           occupied during long winter nights           93%

  Paul Mison, 8/8/91

 PS   Despite the fact it is August I'm saying it'll be good for
      winter nights. Why? Because Eddie is slow at finishing
      diskmags!    PM