|
Spindizzy was released in June 1986 to much critical acclaim, scoring an enormous 98% in C64 uber-mag ZZAP!64. The plot is: somebody has discovered an unknown world in outer space, and your mission is to go there with your ultra advanced spacecraft and map the whole thing. However, you have a limited amount of time to do so and the only way to gain more time is to collect jewels scattered here and there, or explore new screens. In order to complete the game, apart from mapping the entire world, you also have to collect all the jewels.
Spindizzy is basically a Marble Madness styled game where you have to wander round a massive 3D landscape (429 screens!!) solving puzzles along the way. You can move around in all 8 directions using a joystick - pressing fire makes you gather speed, pressing the spacebar makes you brake (but also depletes time), the f-keys change the 3D perspective, while the m key provides you with a very handy map option (essential for progressing further into the game).
But is it any good ? Well, both yes and no. It is evident that the landscape is ingeniously designed, and most of the time you really have to think about which route to take, and other potential problems. Every so often, there are switches you need to activate, which in turn activate other devices, like lifts, or alter the landscape (again, essential for progressing further). Fortunately, there's an icon in your control panel which tells you what switch to turn on. It's all very puzzle-y stuff.
Nice, but alas, Spindizzy has a major flaw - it is frustratingly difficult. The controls are a nightmare to master. The slightest push in the word direction, and down you fall into the void of deadly space. Gathering speed is fairly easy to do, but stopping ain't so, especially when braking depletes valuable time. Lots of screens require ninja skills to wander through, and the time limit is too tight. Not a game for the novice or the impatient then.
The graphics are brill, the update is very fast when you enter a new screen, and so is your craft's movement. The sound is not good at all, and is entirely made of minimal bleeps and bloops - it kinda sucks. The gameplay is a "love it or hate it" affair. I think the game plays better in cheat mode to be honest. Also, a save option wouldn't have gone amiss. Starting again from scratch is a pain in the ass. The original super high ratings I don't agree with, it really is too difficult to be enjoyable, and it's certainly a shame, cause there are lots of nice touches in there. Try it out though.
Downloads: Advert
|
|
|
|
| GRAPHICS - 8/10 |
Colourful & fast isometric 3D graphics.
| | SOUND - 3/10 |
Minimal bleeps & bloops.
| | PLAYABILITY - 5/10 |
Too difficult to be enjoyable. Plays better in cheat mode.
| | OVERALL - 6/10 |
Nice arcade adventure but impossibly difficult.
|
|
| COVER |
|
|
|
; "Click to zoom!")
; "Click to zoom!")
; "Click to zoom!")
; "Click to zoom!")
