Fantastic Dizzy is a puzzler/
However, five minutes into the game an awful realisation hit me - I'm actually enjoying this sickeningly cute stuff. The graphics are colourful and detailed, the sprites humorous (although not highly imaginative) and there are loads of different areas to explore.
This I can cope with but what storyline can possibly be behind one egg? Well, apparently Daisy (Dizzy's girlfriend, who is also an egg) has been kidnapped by the Wizard Zak who has also cast a magic spell on Dizzy's friends. Life's tough for an egg.
And what an original plot that one is, not unlike any other plot for a platformer whatsoever. Hmmm. Oh well, dodgy plot aside the game is actually quite good.
There are some great puzzle elements involved. Dizzy can carry up to three objects at one time and each one will help you in some way, for instance you need to collect the plank of wood to help you cross the spikes or pick up various keys for the elevators.
"What's so difficult about this?" I hear you cry. Well, because you can only carry up to three objects you need to work out which one you'll need to get you around an area.
This is where it becomes extremely frustrating and along with only having three lives, the fact that Dizzy is not the most agile of characters and cannot get past all the baddies will drive you up the wall.
And this is not to mention the sub-games such as the mine-carts where you have to travel along rail tracks avoiding the green monster creations and the buffers at the end of the tracks, which all combine to make it increasingly difficult to keep your Tourettes Syndrome-
The stunning backdrops should compensate in some way though and the many colours involved make the game very pleasing to the eye. But what on earth are those huge black borders down the side for? And the layout of the screens, with some of the scenery in the foreground, proves irritating after a while especially when you stumble across some baddy hidden behind a tree.
Another flaw which becomes intensely annoying is the long pause between screens, especially when jumping from one level to another as the screen flickers if you can't quite make the jump.
The music used also leaves a great deal to be desired and had me reaching for the volume switch in no time at all.
And the worst part of all this? Well, the gameplay is actually good fun, frustrating as anything, but fun. Get me a straight jacket and send me to a home for the mentally bewildered.