Wiz ‘n’ Liz (MD, 1993)
Graphics-7.5 Sound-8 Control-8 Challenge-9
Level Design-7.5 Frustration-8.5 Fun-7*/7.5 Originality-7
Overall Score-7.5
*2-player
+
Innovative gameplay (the spells, some mechanics (dying rabbits, hidden extra time when at 10 seconds left))
Easy to pick up and play
Difficulty options
Three somewhat different endings (depends on chosen difficulty)
Fast paced
2-player versus
Bonus stages and hidden extra lives (not sure how to activate these)
Buy stuff with the stars you collect (fruits for mixing, hints, extra time)
Can jump down through platforms which can be jumped up through
Very large bosses (poorly animated though)
A couple of mini-games (pretty lame)
+/-
Non-linear structure (choose between a few levels in a small hub area at each rank/chapter of the game)
Password save
Time limit which isn’t refilled between stages (need to either collect clocks in stages or buy time in a shop which you need to find the correct spell for)
-
Trial & error spell mixing (without the manual?)
Somewhat dizzying to play for extended periods of time
Simple bosses
Repetitive
Simpler gameplay in 2-player mode
Redundant intro spell mixing in Sorcerer mode (serves as a tutorial but who needs it on that difficulty level?)
Overly expensive hints in the hint room
Somewhat dark and repetitive graphics
Level Design-7.5 Frustration-8.5 Fun-7*/7.5 Originality-7
Overall Score-7.5
*2-player
+
Innovative gameplay (the spells, some mechanics (dying rabbits, hidden extra time when at 10 seconds left))
Easy to pick up and play
Difficulty options
Three somewhat different endings (depends on chosen difficulty)
Fast paced
2-player versus
Bonus stages and hidden extra lives (not sure how to activate these)
Buy stuff with the stars you collect (fruits for mixing, hints, extra time)
Can jump down through platforms which can be jumped up through
Very large bosses (poorly animated though)
A couple of mini-games (pretty lame)
+/-
Non-linear structure (choose between a few levels in a small hub area at each rank/chapter of the game)
Password save
Time limit which isn’t refilled between stages (need to either collect clocks in stages or buy time in a shop which you need to find the correct spell for)
-
Trial & error spell mixing (without the manual?)
Somewhat dizzying to play for extended periods of time
Simple bosses
Repetitive
Simpler gameplay in 2-player mode
Redundant intro spell mixing in Sorcerer mode (serves as a tutorial but who needs it on that difficulty level?)
Overly expensive hints in the hint room
Somewhat dark and repetitive graphics