Home of the Underdogs
About News FAQs Contact HOTU GoogleGroup Music Manuals
Category Applications Action Adventure Education Interactive Fiction Puzzle Role Playing Games Simulation Special Sport Strategy War




Support the EFF
Welcome How you can help
Browse Games
Welcome Random Pick
Welcome By Company
  Welcome By Theme  
Welcome By Alphabet
Welcome By Year
Welcome Title Search
Welcome Company Search
Welcome Designer Search
Recommended
Welcome Freeware Titles
Welcome Collections
Welcome Discord
Welcome Twitter
Welcome Facebook
Welcome File Format Guide
Welcome Help: Non PC Games
Welcome Help: Win Games
Welcome Help: DOS Games
Welcome Recommended Links
Site History Site History
Legacy Legacy
Link to Us Link to Us
Credits Thanks & Credits
Abandonware Ring

Abandoned Places

dungeoncrawlers.org

Creative Commons License


Game #1675
Hall of Belated Fame Inductee  Wizkid    View all Top Dogs in this genre
Action   Hybrid

Rating: 8.83 (77 votes)

Wizkid box cover

Wizkid screenshot
A much-improved sequel to Commodore 64 platform classic Wizball, Wizkid deviates from the original in many ways. The screen no longer scrolls around, and Wizkid cannot bounce around like his predecessor. The basic action premise of Wizball (i.e. remove all enemies) has been greatly expanded to include puzzle and adventure elements, adding a lot of depth to the already unique game.

This is a game in two layers. On the surface, Wizkid is a simple arcade game where you guide Wizkid's head (yes, head) around, trying to knock blocks around the screen so they hit the baddies, killing them. Killing all baddies completes the level. Not that special, but there's more. If you bash all the bricks on a screen and haven't removed all the enemies, you are taken to a room where you must solve a crossword puzzle of sorts. If you don't complete the puzzle within the time limit, you are taken back to the action portion of the game, and must start the level over again.

So far, this arcade portion of Wizkid is similar to Wizball, only more fun, colorful, and much more difficult. The game adds a whole new dimension in the adventuring portion, though: you can collect a whole series of bonus notes, and they'll play a tune that allows you to re-embody your head and access the layer underneath the arcade game. Here, you can walk in the scenery, not above it like you did when you were just a head. As a body, you will be limited by gravity and can jump around and interact with on-screen objects, such as ringing bells or cranking wells. Some of these items require using items in your inventory, although this adventure-game element is very primitive and serves merely to add some variety. There are many extras and surprises that keep it fresh. You can gather coins, which are dropped from the sky once you clear a level. Collect enough coins, and you can go to a shop to buy items needed to progress to the next level. You can also store items in Wizkid's pockets. Last but not least, if dozens of levels and two styles of gameplay aren't enough value for your money, Wizkid features secret levels aside from the normal ones, as well as the (semi-annoying) cat from Wizball.

Overall, Wizkid is a great conversion of the Amiga game, with lots of wacky humor, secrets, nice graphics and music. While not a groundbreaking like Wizball was, Wizkid is still very unique. Beware of the extreme difficulty in the later stages. Highly recommended!

Reviewed by: Underdogs
Designer: Unknown
Developer: Sensible Software
Publisher: OCEAN
Year: 1992
Software Copyright: OCEAN
Theme: Unique
Multiplayer:  
None that we know of
System Requirements: DOS
Where to get it:
Related Links:  
Links:    
If you like this game, try: Wizball, Never Mind, Oscar

© 1998 - 2024 Home of the Underdogs
Portions are copyrighted by their respective owners. All rights reserved. Please read our privacy policy.