Dizzy: Prince of the Yolkfolk logo

CodeMasters * £7.99

This latest game in the Dizzy series features the usual cartoon-quality graphics we have come to expect and also some nice sound and music. A good storyline prevents the game's durability taking a nosedive, but the major problem is that the game is not really original because so many Dizzy games have been presented in this format. If you're looking for something different, this isn't for you.

Another problem is that you only get three lives, which makes it rather tedious because there's no save-game option - every time you lose your three eggy lives you have to start from the beginning again. Prince of the Yolk Folk is a game for fans die-hard of Dizzy, and people who want an easy arcade adventure. But it can't be bad for a price of £7.99.



Rache ist Rührei!

Dizzy: Prince of the Yolkfolk logo

Vor vier Wochen haben wir noch behauptet, an dieses Spiel sei hierzulande nur über die Compilation "Dizzy's Excellent Adventures" ranzukommen. Und jetzt? Jetzt liegt es einsam und verlassen auf unserem Schreibtisch und blickt uns vorwurfsvoll an...

Dizzy - Prince of the Yolkfolk Verschwenden wir schnell einen Satz an die Backgroundstory, auch wenn das bei Actionadventures meist wenig Sinn macht: Unser Budget-Prinz wurde vom Bösewicht Rockward in eine finstere Höhle gesperrt, anschließend hat der Fiesling auch noch die Prinzen-Freundin Daisy auf sein Schloß entführt. Sowas läßt ein blaublütiges Ei natürlich nicht auf sich sitzen!

Per Knopfdruck kann ihre hochwohlgeborene Rundheit bis zu drei Gegenstände sammeln, um sie später (teilweise auch miteinander kombiniert) an der richtigen Stelle zu verwenden. Wo diese Stelle ist, erfährt man entweder durch simples Ausprobieren, oder man fragt halt die Leute, denen man so begegnet.

Neben der Hirn- ist auch Handarbeit gefragt, denen Dizzy muß über Schluchten hüpfen und auf Wolken bzw. Plattformen springen - landet er dabei im Wasser, geht es mit seinen drei Bildschirmleben dahin; das gleiche Schicksal blüht dem populären Eierkopf, wenn er sich von finsteren Gestalten auf der Jagd nach Eiweiß zu sehr rumschubsen läßt.

Zum Wiederauftanken seiner Energievorräte bedient sich das heldenhafte Hühnerprodukt interessanterweise der herumliegenden Kirschen, Dizzy ist also Vegetagier.

Grafik und Musik sind ganz nett, die Soundeffekte glänzen durch Abwesenheit, dafür steht die Stick-Steuerung wacker ihren Mann. Aber da man nur 24 Taler investieren muß, hat uns Codemasters mit dem Spiel sicher kein faules Ei ins Nest gelegt, zumal ein hübsches Poster im Preis enthalten ist. (rf)



Dizzy: Prince of the Yolkfolk logo

Ah, Dizzy. Everyone's favourite talking, rolling, jumping and exploring egg. Don't you just love him?
If you answered 'no' to the above question, please skip the remainder of this review and go straight to the next one. Thank you.

Right, you're still reading, which means you have at least some affinity for the little oeuf and his identikit arcade adventures. You'll be further encouraged to buy this game (if you don't already have the Excellent Adventures compilation it first appeared on) by the knowledge that Dizzy Prince of the Yolk Folk is universally accepted as being the best of the many Dizzy adventures to date. And this despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that it's also the smallest, standing a mere 30 screens wide.

Why is it the best? Partly because it's of a more manageable size than most of the others: you actually stand a reasonable chance of eventually completing this one, which means you can launch into it with extra keenness.

Then there's the fact that all the puzzles in Yolk Folk are reasonably logical: this means it's a proper test of skill and reasoning, rather than how lucky you are at combining the right two tenuously linked objects.

If any Dizzy game could convert the unbelievers, this would be the one. So if you've got a friend who really hates the blob in the boxing gloves, this is the game to lock them in a cupboard with for a few hours to try and cure their dislike. It's a Dizzy game like any other, it's just better than the rest.



Dizzy: Prince of the Yolkfolk logo

CODEMASTERS OUT NOW £7.99

(Read with heavy irony) Oh good, Dizzy has returned in another of those flick-screen arcade/adventures. Great, this means that once again I can wander from screen to screen picking up weird-looking objects and put them to use in a series of obscure puzzles. AND I can then spend ages talking to tedious characters who offer about as much interaction as a loo door. Basically, you know what to expect here, and it is just the same old stuff cobbled together with a few new puzzles and characters.

Still, if Dizzy games are your bag (in my case, a colostomy bag) then you will be fairly chuffed with another competent but uninspired entrant to the series. Somehow, though, this seem far more suited to the more limited Spectrum market.