Instructions for

Spindizzy

Electric Dreams, 1986

Written by Chris Owen, HTML'd by Arnt Gulbrandsen.

Controls

Keyboard, Kempston

Aim of the game

Floating in nether space, a recently discovered dimension, is Hangworld, a strange place of platforms and ramps suspended above the void. You have been selected to explore it, controlling GERALD - the Gyroscopic ExploRAtion Landing Device.

Game play

Your task is simply to explore the whole of Hangworld, all 385 screens worth! However, you have two big problems: a time limit and a shortage of fuel. Due to budget limits, you have been given only a small amount of energy and you'll have to find energy crystals on Hangworld to replenish your supply. This is easier said than done, as moving GERALD consumes precious energy; you'll have to learn to be frugal. GERALD has a handy built-in turbo unit, which allows you to greatly increase speed in order to jump gaps. This takes up more fuel, however... GERALD can also morph between a ball, tetrahedron or gyroscope, each of which has its own particular quirks of control and may be suitable for different occasions. Within Hangworld you'll find a lift system, left behind by an extinct civilisation. The system comprises of a number of lift activator pads bearing a symbol; move onto one of these and all the pads bearing that symbol are activated. Only two different kinds of lift can be activated at once, and a scanner on the bottom left-hand side of the screen shows which types of lift are currently operating. Another on-screen window shows how many sections remain unmapped. Pressing the map key shows you the sections of Hangworld that have already been mapped out. The other windows show your time and your energy respectively. If you drop off the edge of Hangworld into the void, you will lose large chunk of time - so it is a good idea to be as accurate as possible...

Comments

"A game that is not worth missing."

Rating

93% (CRASH #29, June 1986)

Now

One of the legendary 8-bit games. An even better sequel, SPINDIZZY WORLDS, was released on the ST and Amiga in 1990.

Keys

Redefinable

Nettverksgruppa, 10/9-94, sinclair@nvg.ntnu.no