REPLAY

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! Not that pirates have anything to do with Replay this month of course. But we're like that.

CodeMasters
£12.99 cassette
0926 814132
Reviewer: Rich Pelley

The funny thing with... no. In all my years as a top journalist I have never... oh look, just how do you introduce a compilation? You know how much it costs and who publishes it (it says above), and you know whats on it (see below). And then I sum up whether it's worth getting at the end. It's just all so predictable...

TURBO THE TORTOISE

With a "94% Your Sinclair" sticker proudly glued on under its title, you can probably guess that we quite liked Turbo when it first came out. Six time zones lie ahead for our amphibious hero to battle through in a (kind of) Super Mario Land sort of way, in other words by jumping from platforms, squashing baddies and collecting collectables. The gameplay really is that simple - simple, predictable and probably programmed in about a week. And. judging by my I'll-definitely-get-past-level-three-next-time experiences, (which just goes to show that to review these things I don't just look at the box and read a previous review - er, oops) it's also addictive as hell.
85%

CAPTAIN DYNAMO

There's a lot more to playing Captain Dynamo than making your way upwards, collecting the diamonds and surviving long enough to reach the end of the level (as Jon pointed out in his review). It's about skill, it's about timing, it's about having a good sense of balance. It's about reaching an obstacle, say a rotating blade, and due to a lack of skill, a bad sense of timing, and no sense of balance, dying. And then you know what to do next time or, more likely, what not to do.

The game is based entirely around this concept, with lots of obstacles (spikes, moving enemies, water) and lots of things to help (moving hooks, booster pads and apparently secret levels). The graphics are a bit fiddly, and far too slow, but otherwise Cap D is a great little game.
83%

CJ IN THE USA

The main problem with this game is that it is almost identical to its predecessor, meaning that not only has it inherited exactly the same gameplay, but also all the same problems. Number one fault is the horrible jerky scrolling which tends to make your eyes go a bit funny, and number two is the unconvincing inertia conveyed by your character, a problem common to many platform games. I mean, just look at what they were doing with the Magic Knight series and Rick Dangerous years ago. Besides this, CJ in the USA is a still a fun little outing, if rather obvious budget material.
74%

MAGICLAND DIZZY

It has to be said, they are really all the same, aren't they? And, just while we're on the subject, you have to admit that there were better games than the Dizzy series years ago on the Speccy, even on budget. And there hasn't even been much of a notable improvement or hint of new inspiration over the series. Yet, well, who cares? Everybody (else) loves the little egg, in which case let's just say that Dizzy 4 is absolutely brilliant as well. The puzzles may be obvious, the graphics basic and the sound crap. But this is a Dizzy game, you knew that, and you love them. So here's another one.
77%

STEG

Linda's reviewed this one over on page 15. Y'see, it's being released as a single game and as part of a compilation. She reckons it's a Megagame, so that bumps up the score a bit.

As to whether or not I reckon you should buy this compilation, well why not?

Label: Code Masters
Memory: 48K/128K
Price: £12.99 Tape
Reviewer: Big Al Dykes

CAPTAIN DYNAMO

What can be said about Captain Dynamo that hasn't already been said? It's a cracking platform game featuring an aged, tired super hero named Dynamo. Who, to save the name and precious stones of a fairly decrepit old dear, Lady Phyllis Uppenhofen, of planet earth, has come out of state retirement and donned his cape and springy boots once again.

The problem is that a mad scientist type, Professor Austen Von Flyswatter has run away with all her goodies and set up base on the moon. Surrounded by all the trappings and, for that matter, traps associated with evil computer game villains Austen proves difficult to defeat.

Dynamo has great graphics, great provability, great sound and a lot of quirky hidden bonus rooms and wacky features that make it a superb budget bash.

MAGIC LAND DIZZY

Oh, oh dudes, the Evil wizard Zaks has returned to haunt the Yolkfolk, trapping all of them, except for our intrepid hero, in various situations, Dizzy as usual, has to leap and bobble to the rescue and foil Zaks' dastardly plan for poultry produce domination. This is yet another classic Dizzy romp, it looks good and the old format isn't tired yet.

It'll still take some investigation and churning of grey matter to solve the multiple riddles involved. How to stop Dylan being a bush? How to stop Dora being a frog? These are the questions you'll ask yourself in Magiciand Dizzy.

STEG

Steg is a Code Masters special. Not blessed with the same logic as the rest of the world, Big Red and their task masters managed the impossible - a cute slug. Several in fact, as the whole idea of Steg is to breed and feed little slugs using the millions of maggots found in the Stegtown sewer.

This sewer is a strange place, with spikes and self animated bellows around every corner threatening to deprive t'yung'uns of food. Steg captures maggots by blowing bubbles which trap them and then allow them to float all the way back to his (or her, Codies never did work out Steg's gender) nest. Although Steg's quite hardy and difficult to damage these bubbles are easily burst and thus must be guarded all the way home.

Again, exceptional graphics and game play for a budget game are the hall marks of Steg reviewed five months ago as an SU Gold with 90%.

TURBO THE TORTOISE

Turbo the Tortoise is another weird but wonderful game, this time not from the clear Leamington Spa air induced brainstorms of Codies but from Hi Tech in the grim north. However the game's profile fits Codies' modus operandi perfectly and it's wicked too. A sure fire combination.

Turbo used to be a normal everyday tortoise until his mad professor owner conducted a few borderline experiments which, presumably, the Body Shop wouldn't be too keen on. Anyway to cut A long story short our cute shelled reptilian becomes bionic and sets off to recover parts of a time machine invention his master has lost.

Graphics aren't completely top notch but the gameplay and planning are. Somewhat reminiscent of Yogi Bear, Turbo is a fun game. A worthy addition to Super All Stars.

CJ IN THE USA

Finally, and it's a very close thing I might add. CJ in The U.S.A. weighs in with a fast, fun packed platform romp. CJ, a young trunk from Africa was away from from home one day when suddenly he heard some big bangs coming from the direction of his house. When he got back he discovered his family had been kidnapped. Using his amazing elephantine powers of deduction and with some friendly advice from the neighbouring wildebeest herd he followed the kidnapper's trail all the way to America where he must proceed to free his family.

There are four levels based all 'round the States including tours of New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Florida. Graphics are sometimes rather basic but the main sprite is fun, with his folding umbrella, and the playability factor is all there.

STEVE:
Five of my all time favourite Codies games in one box seems too good to be true. The only problem is that I've already got all of them! It's a pity that Magicland Dizzy was on Dizzy's Excellent Adventure though, it seems a bit naughty to put it out on yet another compilation. Nevertheless this pack is still tremendous.