ChinnyVision - Dizzy

[chinnyhill10]

As I recall the Amtix section of Computing With The Amstrad gave this only a lukewarm review. And I only every got to play it via Amstrad Action giving away the whole game. Possibly the only time a Codemasters game appeared on a cover tape?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RenjGUgR12o


I didn't realise how much the CPC sprites flickered until I played it on the Speccy.

[Shaun M. Neary]

Despite the flickery sprites, I still rate the Amstrad version higher than the other 8bits that I've played.

Spectrum is horribly ported, on top of that, there's a nasty bug that when you play with the Sinclair port, the controls randomly change around. You can still continue using the keyboard, but fuck that! Kempston is fine though.

C64 I'd rate second behind the Amstrad. It's drab palette doesn't do much and makes the Speccy version look more colourful by comparison. It's title tune is pretty awesome though. Always felt the C64 really dropped the ball with all the Dizzies, in retrospect.

Of course, most C64 owners would disagree, but then, most C64 owners thought their shit didn't stink too. 

[Nich]

Possibly the only time a Codemasters game appeared on a cover tape?

No. Fantasy World Dizzy also appeared on an AA covertape (issue 108). There was also a playable demo of Stryker in the Crypts of Trogan, and the excellent minigame Seymour: Take One.

Like you, I haven't played Dizzy in ages, and even though I can clearly remember the layout of the map, I also struggled to remember the solutions to several of the puzzles.

[EgoTrip]

Despite the flickery sprites, I still rate the Amstrad version higher than the other 8bits that I've played.

Spectrum is horribly ported, on top of that, there's a nasty bug that when you play with the Sinclair port, the controls randomly change around. You can still continue using the keyboard, but fuck that! Kempston is fine though.

C64 I'd rate second behind the Amstrad. It's drab palette doesn't do much and makes the Speccy version look more colourful by comparison. It's title tune is pretty awesome though. Always felt the C64 really dropped the ball with all the Dizzies, in retrospect.

Of course, most C64 owners would disagree, but then, most C64 owners thought their shit didn't stink too. 

It's the music that makes the CPC version shine.

[Zoe Robinson]

Dizzy on the CPC was great but I first played it on the Dizzy collection box set, which I got after playing Fantasy World and Treasure Island to death, so the original game came as quite a shock. It's a very different beast, in my view.


It's a lovely game and the CPC has a brilliant soundtrack but I'll definitely take Fantasy World (or Magic Land) over it any day.

[chinnyhill10]

No. Fantasy World Dizzy also appeared on an AA covertape (issue 108).

Yes, of course it did. I can remember the artwork used now. Doh!

[chinnyhill10]

It's the music that makes the CPC version shine.

Makes it memorable certainly but by goodness does it get on your wick after about 20 minutes.

[Shaun M. Neary]

The biggest problem with the original Dizzy is the amount of back and fourthing. You gotta explore the map at least five times to get rid of.


Spiders
Birds
Bats
Raindrops
Apples/Other falling objects.


The ground caving in two screens to the right of starting off was another pitfall that turned a lot of people off the game. Myself, I've managed to finish it a few times on both the Speccy and the Amstrad. The C64 version's jump is quite different though and will take some getting used to.

[andycadley]

The back and forth was a bit annoying, but that collapsing bridge was just totally unfair and probably the worst bit of an otherwise great game. It's just too easy to mess it up and means an instant game over. I think I played this one after both Treasure Island and Fantasy World, so it certainly felt a lot rougher around the edges than the later titles, but I did still enjoy it enough to play it through many times (on both the Speccy and CPC)

[Carnivius]

It's the music that makes the CPC version shine.

Yep.  Two of my all time fave video game tunes in that CPC Dizzy alone.  Often find myself whistling the in-game tune even though I haven't played the game in years.

[Shaun M. Neary]

The back and forth was a bit annoying, but that collapsing bridge was just totally unfair and probably the worst bit of an otherwise great game. It's just too easy to mess it up and means an instant game over. I think I played this one after both Treasure Island and Fantasy World, so it certainly felt a lot rougher around the edges than the later titles, but I did still enjoy it enough to play it through many times (on both the Speccy and CPC)

I agree and disagree with the collapsing bridge part. On one hand, it does seem unfair and frustrating, but on the other hand, it aided in teaching pixel perfect jumping and timing, required for many games (Manic Miner and other Dizzy Games). Balls it up, and rest assured, you'll be more careful the next time around.

And yes, I *still* swear at my TV every time the bridge collapses, but you can pick your game, but you can't change the rules.