David M. Brown's Blog, page 45
July 10, 2013
Game Review: The Addams Family
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Review: The Addams Family (Amiga)I can remember seeing The Addams Family at the cinema in 1991 and I saw the sequel Addams Family Values two years later. Pity they didn’t make more with the same cast but the unfortunate death of Raul Julia (Gomez) in 1994 sadly put paid to that. Back in 1992 a game version of the first film appeared on the Amiga.
You play Gomez and have to search different sections of your mansion to locate and liberate your family members who are all being held by a myriad of bosses. Throughout this platform game you have some puzzles to solve, obstacles to avoid and enemies to either kill or bypass dependent on your approach. Your wife, Mortica, is the final family member to be rescued from the Judge so before that you’ll have to find Pugsley, Wednesday, Uncle Fester and Granny.
Very similar to a Mario platform game, Gomez kills enemies by jumping on their heads with some firing projectiles at you so timing is of the essence. You start outside the mansion and upon entering you’ll find a series of door connecting by stairways. Your family members are somewhere behind each door so you can search for them in whatever order you feel like. The central door contains Lurch playing his piano along with Thing. In the same room is another door currently blocked by a wall and only in freeing your relatives will this be removed giving you access to the final section of the game. Once you’ve saved a family member they will wait with Lurch by the piano.
While Lurch has a relaxing time in the game, Thing has been busy leaving some red boxes marked “A” for you which offer useful hints on advancing through certain sections of the game. As you traverse the platforms, avoiding pits of spikes, blades and other obstacles, you can collect money which helps boost your lives. Each life is made up of a health counter which is represented by a small number of hearts and meaning Gomez can only be hit so many times before he is killed. Hearts can be gathered on your journey to boost your levels if you get low but these are not as frequent as you might hope.
The Addams Family is quite a tricky game relying on you to time jumps well and avoid some nasty obstacles on your journey. There is no save option either which is slightly annoying. Instead you are given passwords by your family members when they’ve been rescued. These are in effect save points, allowing you to resume the game with the corresponding family member already rescued. The game relies heavily on the Mario series but it is still enjoyable and I don’t recall Mario games on the Amiga so it was great to have a platform game like this.
The Addams Family is a fun but tricky platform adventure. It loosely ties into the film but some elements are pure randomness which seems apt with the family in general. This isn’t the best platform game I can recall from the Amiga days but it’s a solid enough effort though quite tricky in places. Having that famous theme tune included doesn’t do it any harm either.
Verdict: 4/5
Game Review: The Addams Family | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: Young Frankenstein
Starring: Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle, Cloris Leachman
Directed by: Mel Brooks
Runtime: 102 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: Young Frankenstein
Mel Brooks’ famous comedy parody of Frankenstein movies is one I’m ashamed to say I’ve never seen until now. The film traces the grandson of Victor Frankenstein, Dr Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder), who is a lecturer at an American medical school and does not like anyone mentioning his crazy grandfather. Frederick has even taken to pronouncing his surname differently. Frederick learns at the outset that he has inherited the family estate in Transylvania and heads out to inspect the property leaving behind his fiance, Elizabeth (Madeline Kahn) who keeps her man at a distance.
Frederick is met by first Igor (Marty Feldman) and a beautiful assistant Inga (Teri Garr) who delivers more than one sexual innuendo into the story. Frederick also has to contend with the housekeeper Frau Blucher (Cloris Leachman) whose name frightens distant horses whenever it is uttered. Despite his aversion to the family history, Frederick finds himself following in his grandfather’s footsteps when he uncovers a secret lab and intends to revive a corpse! Frederick entrusts Igor with the task of acquiring him the brain of a renowned scientist but Igor messes up and procures a brain with a warning on the jar that it shouldn’t be used. When Frederick prepares the monster (Peter Boyle) and revives it, his creation immediately escapes the laboratory and has numerous encounters with the town locals. He’s also pretty good and dancing and for one lucky lady he proves himself to be something of a stud in bed.
When I previously tried Blazing Saddles I found it to be funny but not as brilliant as I was expecting. Young Frankenstein is a different matter completely. It fully justifies its tag as a comedy masterpiece. Filmed entirely in black and white to match the old horror movies, Brooks expertly crafts a story that is hilarious but also has some moving moments as well which make it more than just a compilation of witty gags. Wilder is brilliant in the lead but is ably supported by Feldman, while Boyle makes for a great creature. There are plenty of classic scenes and quirky characters to keep you entertained from the start right up until the final confrontation.
For me, Young Frankenstein is Mel Brooks’ best film. It cleverly spoofs previous Frankenstein movies, is very funny, has a great cast, settings and a brilliant script to go with it. While I didn’t dislike Blazing Saddles, I do feel this film eclipses the classic western spoof easily.
Verdict: 4/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Young Frankenstein | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 9, 2013
Film Review: Broke Sky
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About Broke Sky (2007)[image error]BROKE SKY is quintessential southern noir the story of Bucky and Earl, two county workers breaking their backs to keep the highways clean of roadkill under the scorching Texas sun.When a carcass-removal call turns up something far more disturbing than a flattened armadillo, best friends are torn apart by a decades-old secret that will have them questioning everything they think they know about each other.
Starring: Will Wallace, Joe Unger, Bruce Glover
Directed by: Thomas L. Callaway
Runtime: 97 minutes
IMDB Review: Broke Sky
Thomas L Callaway’s thriller follows the story of locals Bucky (Will Wallace) and Earl (Joe Unger) whose job is to drive around the area collecting roadkill and there is a lot of it. They are soon faced with the prospect of a truck that is more efficient at collecting roadkill than their current system of shoveling corpses into a sack. Bucky and Earl are left with an uncertain future with one of them surplus to requirements. With Bucky married and his wife wanting a baby, he suggests Earl step aside and let him have the job but Earl has another idea. He suggests they work through the night, taking roadkill from outside their designated area and increasing their collection stats in the hope of proving their efficiency and being more competitive than the latest technology which requires just one man.
Earl is a bit of a ladies’ man and has no qualms about sleeping with one of the local women within hours of her husband being killed in a tragic accident. When Bucky and Earl pick up a young hitchhiker Tess (Jamielyn Kane), it’s clear that Earl already has his next conquest in mind. Nothing more is said until the two men take a call to collect an animal’s remains from an old man, Rufus (Bruce Glover), which is in a well outside. Instead of lifting an animal from the well the two men find the remains of Tess! While Bucky wants to go straight to the police, Earl insists they dump the body in a pit where they take the other remains. Earl reveals he has slept with Tess and knows forensics will link him to her murder but he is adamant that he had nothing to do with it. Bucky reluctantly agrees to keep quiet but as the two men fight to keep their jobs and remain silent their relationship becomes more strained.
Broke Sky begins well and manages to remain quite a tense thriller throughout. Having the theme of roadkill inevitably leads to some pretty unpleasant scenes and one in particular may prove too upsetting for some people to watch. These moments aside the film manages to retain the interest as we move towards the denouement. The question is who is responsible for Tess’ murder? Is it Earl? Or was the girl’s death down to someone else that now poses a threat to the rest of the town?
Broke Sky has been compared by some critics to a Coen brothers’ film. It certainly has some of the ingredients though the execution isn’t quite up to the standards of the Oscar-winning brothers. That said, this an intriguing little mystery thriller that unravels at a decent pace though the final conclusion is somewhat lacking in any major surprises. Worth a look though.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Broke Sky | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 8, 2013
Film Review: Chernobyl Diaries
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About Chernobyl Diaries (2012)[image error]From the creator of Paranormal Activity comes a terrifying new thriller set on the site of the world’s most horrific nuclear disaster.Chernobyl Diaries follows a group of six young vacationers who, looking to go off the beaten path, hire an “extreme” tour guide. Ignoring warnings, he takes them into the city of Pripyat, the former home to the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, but a deserted town since the disaster more than 25 years ago. After a brief exploration of the abandoned city, however, the group soon finds themselves stranded, only to discover that they are not alone…
Starring: Jesse McCartney, Jonathan Sadowski, Olivia Dudley
Directed by: Bradley Parker
Runtime: 86 minutes
Studio: Warner Home Video
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: Chernobyl Diaries
Drawing on the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986, Chernobyl Diaries begins with a group of travelers – Chris (Jesse McCartney), Natalie (Olivia Taylor Dudley) and Amanda (Devin Kelley) – who are making their way through Europe and heading for Moscow. They stop in Kiev and hook up with Chris’ brother Paul (Jonathan Sadowski) who suggests they go on an extreme detour to the abandoned town of Pripyat which had a forced mass exodus due to the nuclear explosion at Chernobyl. Wouldn’t a detour to go skiing be a better idea? After joining with the tour guide Uri (Dmitri Diatchenko) and two more travelers – Zoe (Ingrid Bolso Berdal) and Michael (Nathan Phillips) – the group all head for Pripyat for a brief tour but soon find they are not alone.
Gaining access to Pripyat is no easy task, I’m pleased to say. A military blockade prevents Uri from going through to the town whereas normally he has had no problems taking tourists there. Our resourceful leader has an alternative route though and after after a few hours touring Pripyat it’s time to head back. Inevitably, there is a problem with the van and the group end up stranded in the town with those radiation levels still pretty high. That’s a minor issue though given what is waiting for the group outside. When Chris and Uri go out to explore a disturbance in the middle of the night, they are attacked by unseen assailants with only Chris making it back to the van though suffering with a serious wound to his leg. Attempts to contact the outside world prove futile and the tourists are faced with a struggle for survival and knowing it is not safe to linger long in Pripyat with the high radiation levels.
Chernobyl Diaries has a decent build up and the premise of an abandoned town due to a nuclear explosion was a pretty good one. Facing a threat in the air you breathe as well as something sinister haunting the town sounded pretty good to me. Sadly, once the group have come under attack the film itself behaves as if it’s been wounded and descends into mediocrity very quickly. What is waiting for the tourists in Pripyat is nothing spectacular or overly surprising and the attempts to explain what it’s all about at the end fail to enhance the experience. If anything, the plot twist actually makes the film ten times worse. This is a real shame because I felt the premise was a good one but the execution was painfully weak.
Chernobyl Diaries begins well but suffers worst than the tourists who walk into this nuclear nightmare. A better thought out narrative, improved acting and a completely different ending would have given this film many plaudits, I’m sure, but sadly it finishes up as a distinctly average and unsurprising experience which is unfortunate.
Verdict: 2/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Chernobyl Diaries | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 7, 2013
Film Review: The Way
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About The Way (2010)[image error]“The Way” is a powerful and inspirational story about family, friends, and the challenges we face while navigating this ever-changing and complicated world. Martin Sheen plays Tom, who comes to St. Jean Pied de Port, France to collect the remains of his adult son , killed in the Pyrenees in a storm while walking the Camino de Santiago,. Rather than return home, Tom decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage to honor his son’s desire to finish the journey. What Tom doesn’t plan on is the profound impact the journey will have on him. From the unexpected and, oftentimes, amusing experiences along “The Way,” Tom begins to learn what it means to be a citizen of the world again. Through his unresolved relationship with his son, he discovers the difference between “the life we live and the life we choose.”Starring: Martin Sheen, James Nesbitt, Deborah Kara Unger, Emilio Estevez
Directed by: Emilio Estevez
Runtime: 121 minutes
Studio: Arc Entertainment
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: The Way
Emilio Estevez heads behind the camera to direct his father in this moving drama that covers both the strained relationship of a father and son and also an incredible journey of discovery and enlightenment. Thomas Avery (Martin Sheen) is a hard-working ophthalmologist who is devastated to hear that his only son Daniel (Emilio Estevez) has died in the Pyrenees while walking the Camino de Santiago route beginning in France and ending in Galicia, Spain. Inconsolable, Thomas identifies his son’s body and decides not to return home. Instead he takes Daniel’s backpack and in his son’s memory vows to complete the epic journey himself.
Thomas is filled with regrets throughout his journey, especially the less than pleasant parting he and Daniel had the last time they saw one another. While Thomas has been content with working hard in America, Daniel has sought the freedom of new places and experiences in travelling the world. Thomas begins his own journey with some difficulty but on the way he meets a Dutchman, Joost (Yorick van Wageningen) who is aiming to lose weight on the walk but cannot resist the local delicacies, not to mention the wine; Sarah (Deborah Kara Unger) is from Canada and on the pilgrimage to quit smoking and escape an abusive husband; finally, there is Jack (James Nesbitt), an Irish writer who is suffering with writer’s block and in need of some much-needed inspiration, which he finds in Thomas’ story. Thomas reluctantly allows the group to join him and together the four friends attempt to complete their own individual journeys. Thomas is also accompanied by the spirit of Daniel who he often sees on the road as he scatters his son’s ashes at different points along the way.
Emilio Estevez’s drama is well-crafted with a terrific leading role from Martin Sheen as the grieving father. Though he is somewhat rusty at the outset of his journey, this is very much a path of enlightenment for Thomas and by the end his perspective on life has been completely changed, Daniel’s final gift to him being a striking revelation about life in all its intricacies. Wageningen is delightful as Joost, Unger’s is a complex and troubled character, while Nesbitt offers much of the light relief that keeps the film moving along nicely.
The Way is an accomplished drama with a great cast, lush scenery and one very special journey, which I wouldn’t be opposed to taking myself one day. Addressing the importance of family and our individual journeys through life, this one is well worth your time.
Verdict: 5/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: The Way | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 6, 2013
Rapid Reviews: Five Days, Do You Believe in Magic, Quit & Run, The Art of Thinking Clearly
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As an avid reader, I sometimes have to weigh up whether I want to review a book after reading or jump straight into my next wordy adventure. I’ve read dozens of books so far this year and nearly all of them deserve some attention but there just aren’t enough hours in the day. So I’m going to be including some of these titles in regular Rapid Reviews round-ups, so you can see what made it to the top of the ‘To Be Read’ stack.
Rapid Reviews: Five Days, Do You Believe in Magic, Quit & Run, The Art of Thinking Clearly
Too small? Click top right to make it full screen or view on FlowboardHave you read any of these titles? What did you think?
Rapid Reviews: Five Days, Do You Believe in Magic, Quit & Run, The Art of Thinking Clearly | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: Eraserhead
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About Eraserhead (1977)[image error]Is it a nightmare or an actual view of a post-apocalyptic world? Set in an industrial town in which giant machines are constantly working, spewing smoke, and making noise that is inescapable, Henry Spencer lives in a building that, like all the others, appears to be abandoned. The lights flicker on and off, he has bowls of water in his dresser drawers, and for his only diversion he watches and listens to the Lady in the Radiator sing about finding happiness in heaven. Henry has a girlfriend, Mary X, who has frequent spastic fits. Mary gives birth to Henry’s child, a frightening looking mutant, which leads to the injection of all sorts of sexual imagery into the depressive and chaotic mix.Starring: Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Allen Joseph, Jeanne Bates, Judith Roberts
Directed by: David Lynch
Runtime: 85 minutes
Studio: Absurda/ Ryko
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: Eraserhead
David Lynch’s debut film took years to complete due to a lack of funding but is now considered as an undoubted masterpiece. It tells the story of Henry Spencer (Jack Nance) who returns home from work to be told by his beautiful neighbour (Judith Anna Roberts) that his girlfriend Mary X (Charlotte Stewart) has called and invited him to dinner at her parents’ house. Henry attends the dinner but appears socially awkward, lacking in assertion and maladjusted in whatever environment he finds himself in. He is informed by Mary’s mother (Jeanne Bates) that Mary is pregnant with his child. Henry agrees to marry Mary and raise their child together but what follows is far from ordinary family life.
Henry and Mary’s baby is not human. It is a mutant child of sorts, wrapped tightly in a bundle, constantly crying and unwilling to eat anything that its parents offer. When Mary goes home to her parents to get some sleep Henry is left holding the baby and Lynch’s surrealist and confusing influence takes over. When not lusting after his neighbour, we see Henry’s head in space, his entire life seemingly controlled by the Man in the Planet (Jack Fisk) who pulls some levers at the film’s outset to begin the story. Henry also encounters a Lady in the Radiator (Laurel Near) who enjoys singing and dancing and entertains our uncomfortable protagonist. The question is can Henry reconcile reality from illusion and how will he cope looking after the baby alone?
While David Lynch is undoubtedly a fine director, his work is not always for the faint hearted or the easily confused. My previous experiences with the likes of Mulholland Drive and Inland Empire gave me fair warning for what Eraserhead might do to my brain. Everyone has their own interpretation of what this film is really all about. On a basic level it can be treated as a horror with the taciturn Henry forced to finally take action and do something to care for the mutant child in his apartment. The meanings run far deeper than that though and it’s one of those films that will be discussed for decades to come. While I admired the storyline and the techniques that had gone into the film, the conclusion is grotesque and very dark which will prove off-putting for many people.
Eraserhead is an impressive debut work, put together on a tiny budget, though its financial constraints do not show as they so often do in other films. Every scene is painstakingly worked and this being Lynch it’s a treasure trove of conflicting meanings for film fans to argue over for the rest of their lives. That unpleasant denouement taints this somewhat for me but if you are a fan of Lynch’s work then this is a must-see to go back to where the legendary director began.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Eraserhead | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 5, 2013
Film Review: Supercroc
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About Supercroc (2007)[image error]An elite military unit must stop a giant reptilian creature from reaching Los Angeles.Starring: Cynthia Rose Hall, Matthew Blashaw, Kim Little, David Novak, Kristen Quintrall
Directed by: Scott Harper
Runtime: 85 minutes
Studio: The Asylum
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: Supercroc
Scott Harper’s Supercroc may one day finds its way into a Thesaurus, nestled under synonyms for awful, appalling, atrocious etc. This very simple story begins with a group of expert soldiers searching woodland and heading for a giant lake. Celia Perez (Cynthia Rose Hall) is the main heroine of the film, showing the men how to multi-task by patrolling and discussing wedding plans with her fiance who is also a soldier. A giant crocodile soon appears, or at least an attempt at depicting a crocodile anyway. Celia sees the other soldiers wiped out including her fiance and she is alone.
After weeping for about two minutes for her lost love, Celia is soon found by more soldiers including Joe Lynch (Matthew Blashaw) who sees his unit slaughtered as well. It’s down to Celia and Joe, as well as army headquarters to stop the giant crocodile which is descending on a nearby city with the promise of more bloodshed. It’s annoyance might have something to do with Dr Leah Perrot (Kim Little) arranging for some of the crocodile’s eggs to be stolen. Yes, she’s as foolish as those nitwits in the Alien films wanting to capture an alien for the weapons division. Do these people not learn?
There are many issues with Supercroc. In fact, finding a notable positive amongst the detritus is no easy task. I did laugh at the crocodile but I’m sure I wasn’t supposed to. I’ve been more frightened of a runny nose than this crocodile made up of utterly dreadful effects. The acting is weak, the story uninspiring and boy is this croc easy to take down! Another major issue was the sound. I had the volume cranked up to the max but still struggled to sometimes make out what the hell people were saying. This may have been a blessing in disguise to be fair. Perhaps the worst bit was when the geniuses at main headquarters are looking at a scanner and saying this large item, shaped like a giant crocodile, has been spotted but we don’t know what it is! What? Are you kidding me?
Supercroc is a disaster from the beginning. A group of soldiers we struggle to hear are quickly killed off and we’re left with a tough woman which I do approve of but she’s soon being helped by a tough guy who she can manage fine without. That said, the crocodile looks far from intimidating and the film’s only saving grace is that it falls short of the 90-minute mark.
Verdict: 1/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Supercroc | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 4, 2013
Film Review: Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight
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About Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995)[image error]A mysterious drifter known as Brayker (William Sadler) possesses the last of seven ancient keys that hold the power to stop the forces of darkness and protect all humanity from ultimate evil. But the human race is safe only so long as Brayker can evade the demonic Collector (Billy Zane) who has gathered the other six keys. In his obsessive quest for the key, the Collector rallies an army of ghastly cadavers against Brayker and the inhabitants of a run-down hotel. Armed with automatic weapons, sacred blood and sadistic humor, Brayker and the strong-willed Jeryline (Jada Pinkett-Smith) must lead the other guests in a gruesome battle against the Collector and his evil horde of ghouls. Infested with a talented cast, thrilling special effects and the Crypt Keeper’s deadpan delights, Demon Knight delivers diabolical fun and a body of frights.Starring: Billy Zane, William Sadler, John Kassir, Jada Pinkett Smith, Brenda Bakke
Directed by: Ernest R. Dickerson
Runtime: 93 minutes
Studio: Universal Studios
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: Tales from the Crypt: Demon KnightThis horror from the Tales from the Crypt series begins with the Crypt Keeper directing a horror flick of his own before presenting Demon Knight to us. Frank Brayker (William Sadler) is being pursued by the Collector (Billy Zane) when they are involved in a car crash which Brayker walks away from. After failing to steal a car in a nearby town, Frank is helped by the local drunk Uncle Willy (Dick Miller) and they head for a boarding house, home to a mixture of locals. When the police show up with the Collector in tow, it is clear that Brayker is a wanted man and quickly arrested. The Collector is keen to remove an artifact Brayker has stolen but before he can do so the police try to arrest him as well for stealing a car.
The Collector soon reveals his true nature, murdering one police officer before unleashing a horde of demons against the boarding house. Using blood in the ancient artifact, Brayker is able to seal the doors and windows with a force field that demons cannot penetrate. The Collector is nothing if not resourceful though and he soon uses his powers and charms to lure the locals inside the boarding house to their deaths. What is the secret behind the artifact Brayker carries? Why does the Collector need it? Who will survive to the end? How can they defeat the Collector?
This reminded me of a cheesy eighties horror flick which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sadler takes a good part as the drifter charged with an important mission, while Zane steals the film as the menacing Collector, toning down his frightening performance in Dead Calm and camping it up a bit to produce a memorable bad guy. There were a few familiar faces fighting the demons, including Thomas Haden Church and Jada Pinkett Smith in early roles in their careers. The effects are not brilliant but not dreadful and there is enough here for a fun night’s entertainment.
Demon Knight is an amusing, sometimes gory, horror film with a show stealing turn from Zane. A decent cast rises above a silly storyline and delivers some amusing set pieces. It might end on a somewhat predictable note but as horror films go this one isn’t too bad.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 3, 2013
Game Review: Magicland Dizzy
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Review: Magicland Dizzy (Amiga)Arguably the best Dizzy game there ever was, this sixth outing for a close relative of Humpty Dumpty was released in 1990 and saw our hero in the midst of yet another exciting adventure. It was great to revisit yet another gem from the Amiga days but how does it hold up today?
Dizzy arrives in Magicland to face off against his old foe, the Evil Wizard Zaks. Dizzy has the added complication of six of his friends being trapped in this world and you’ll need to free them before taking on Zaks. Working his way through Magicland, Dizzy must locate a series of items and solve some pretty nasty puzzles if he is to save his friends and defeat Zaks. Not that the wizard isn’t prepared for Dizzy.
Magicland Dizzy is graphically one of the better Dizzy games by far. The settings are simple yet intricate, ranging from treetop dwellings to the depths of a volcano. Dizzy’s six friends are each in a different state of peril. Dylan is a half egg half bush, Dozy is in the midst of an enchanted sleep, Denzil is trapped in a block of ice, Dora has been transformed into a frog, Grand-Dizzy is stuck in a mirror and Daisy is so big she can’t leave the room she has been left in. Each of your friends require you to locate a specific item or solve a puzzle to liberate them. You are limited to carrying three items at a time so will need to be selective when visiting different areas and collecting further objects on your adventure.
Dizzy’s path is by no means a straightforward one. He has a troll, a snarling rat and even ghosts standing in his way, not to mention an encounter with Zaks as you reach the game’s conclusion. Some of the puzzles are more straightforward than others and as you collect items you may find yourself resigned to some trial and error in searching for the answers. Dozy for example requires Dizzy to find three items in total which help wake him up but I’m not saying what those items are. Other puzzles are more obvious and you shouldn’t be stuck for too long with many of them.
Magicland Dizzy contains some fun references to fairy tales including a troll guarding a bridge with a goat nearby, a friendly witch and there’s even a genie tucked in there somewhere too. As with all Dizzy games the experience is relatively short but this is quite possibly as good as these games ever got. The graphics are great, the puzzles are head-scratching but intriguing and there are some brilliant characters to meet along the way. There’s even a chance to pull the fabled sword Excalibur from a stone but can our hero Dizzy succeed in this challenge?
Magicland Dizzy is more than twenty years old but still looks fantastic for its age. Yes, the experience is sadly a short one and once you’ve been through it some of the charm will have been lost. However, this is for me a contender for the best Dizzy game that was ever made. There is little if anything to fault with it.
Verdict: 5/5
Game Review: Magicland Dizzy | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
