Dizzy – Prince of the Yolkfolk
My Dad liked to keep up with new technology through the 80s and 90s. We had a video recorder, some sort of satellite scanner, VHS player of course, even a CDI machine which came out just before DVD players. So when Spectrums, Commadores and Amstrads were about, Dad made sure we had one. Our computer of choice was the Spectrum ZX64 and we were able to buy games in Woolworths for a few pounds if we chose from the bargain bin. We were still quite young so we weren’t able to play many games, but I distinctly remember learning my times table through playing Robot Runner.
A boy down our road was also into computers in a big way. He was actually already using the internet, his bedroom looked like something out of Superman 3. He told us about a new game called Dizzy and one watch of him playing, we were hooked. There was something about this little pixelated egg, solving puzzles within a platform game that was instantly compelling.
Playing DIZZY then
When we first played in 1988 my brother was only five, so my older sister and I would take turns to play while he watched. The obsession began, right there in the kitchen (who sets their computer up in the kitchen?), with Lost in Space playing on the TV in the background. Though the controls were simple enough (left, right, jump and pick up) we did not find the game easy, and eventually had to go back to our friend and ask him for tips. He subscribed to a gaming magazine and it published a walkthrough, so whilst we didn’t want all the clues, if we got stuck we had a reliable source to get us back on our feet.
The Dizzy obsession grew as more games were released, and as we got older and more familiar with the storylines, we were able to progress further and further. Crucially though, we did not manage to complete any of them.
I hunted these games down online in my late 20s and discovered they could be played through an emulator, but it would be risky. Many emulators seemed to corrupt your PC or weren’t compatible with your game of choice. So it was my absolute delight to find The Dizzy Fan site yolkfolk.com a few years ago, where you’re actually able to play all the games, for free, in safe space.
Playing Dizzy now
If you’re reading this and into retro gaming then you’re probably way ahead of me, but if you haven’t yet sampled the delights then let me tell you. This site is a mecca for Dizzy fans. Not only is it wonderfully designed with nods to the original graphics, it details the history of Dizzy and his friends, has links to associated sites, trivia, merchandise and fan art. There’s even a forum if you really want to geek out. Did you know that Dora has a fear of frogs? And that Dizzy has a Doppleganger who’s aim in life is to kill Dizzy? Apparently they all wear boxing gloves because trolls hit Grand Dizzy and cracked his shell, so he makes them all wear them just in case. Bonkers. The back stories of these characters is phenomenal. If you want to really, really submerge yourself in the Dizzyverse, then I would recommend Dizzy: Retrogaming on Facebook. Full of unofficial fan merchandise, latest news and generally just great fan chat.
I have decided to take on a side-quest, to play and complete all the Dizzy games. I’d love for you to join me on this journey as I analyse the details of each game, with a touch of nostalgia from my youth.
