Spindizzy (computer game)

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Spindizzy

Developer(s)	Electric Dreams Software
Publisher(s)	Electric Dreams Software
Designer(s)	Paul Shirley
Release date(s)	1986
Genre(s)	Puzzle
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	ESRB: Not Applicable (NA)
Platform(s)	Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
Media	Cassette

Spindizzy is an isometric computer puzzle game released in 1986 by Electric Dreams Software.

A sequel to Spindizzy for the Amiga, Atari ST and SNES, called Spindizzy Worlds, was released in 1993. It featured a new level structure and a 360-degree view.

1 Plot
2 Gameplay
- 2.1 Puzzles
3 Remakes
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Plot

A new dimension has been discovered with a mysterious artificial world hanging in space and the player, as Trainee Cartographer for Unknown Worlds, has been given the task of mapping this new world. The player has been equipped with a Remote Scout Craft, an old-fashioned Geographic Environmental Reconnaissance Land-Mapping Device, known as GERALD.

[edit] Gameplay

The player controls GERALD which can take the form of an upturned pyramid, gyroscope and ball (the player can transform between the three) around a series of linked isometric screens. The goal of the game is to collect all of the jewels (found throughout the game) in the allotted time and at the same time explore all the screens. Many of the screens have puzzles that need to be solved in order to obtain certain jewels and reach certain parts of the maze. The collection of a jewel is rewarded with a small increase in the time limit. If the player falls off the play area into space or too far (resulting in the destruction of GERALD) then they are docked some of their remaining time and GERALD is transported back to where it fell from. Once the player’s time runs out the game is over.

[edit] Puzzles

The puzzles to be found in Spindizzy vary and are all based around negotiating the isometric world the GERALD finds itself in, sometimes in order to reach certain jewels. Some are simplistic mazes that need to be negotiated. Others require a large amount of carefulness and reflexes from the player in guiding GERALD over precarious drops, sometimes on slanted platforms. There are also various lifts in the game-area that can be used to reach higher-up parts of some screens and that GERALD can activate by running-over the necessary marked-tiles.

[edit] Remakes

A unofficial remake of Spindizzy has been announced in the retrogaming community and is expected to be released in February 2007. This release will feature full 3D graphics, original and new maps, isometric and first-person viewpoints, a new original soundtrack and a map editor. The game will run on Linux, Windows and Mac OS X machines and the source code will be available.