1986 Electric Dreams (UK)
by Steve Howard, Wayne Blake and Paul Smith
I was in love with Mermaid Madness the first time I saw the opening scene, but quickly lost the flare of passion when I started diving into the game.
Immediately after losing the first few plays I thought to myself: unplayable ...next!
Some time after I decided to give it another go. I gathered around some patience I was saving to play 'Sentinel' and dived in the game once more.
I battled a bit, banged the keys a lot, but once I got the hang of it... it felt good! Like a day at the beach in a quiet summer day.
I know the game is fairly simple to solve but I was never much of the patience type, especialy because here where I live most games were sold as copies, a photocopied cover was a lucky strike, and instructions was like finding a pearl in my toilet. So I didnt know what to do in these sort of games. Mermaid Madness demands not only strategy and puzzle solving but also quick reflexes, its not like cruising around 'Everyones a Wally' town, instruction clueless, just enjoying the scenery. No, you need to keep moving.
Maybe the almost absence of sound is a reason why this title is so little known or the way how fast and easy is to die is another or surely because of the bugs that crash the game. Or maybe because it isnt as complex as other games are, but that's a good thing for begginers like me at that time.
Anyway, the game is well made and very playable, with nice big coloured graphics, also the backgrounds are very nice, making exploring it a joy and not only for sea enthusiasts. The plot is very funny and very captivating. When you came across the unlucky diver you feel the rush to go and help him. Beware, its not that easy! And I like the tune at the beggining, althought it is a bit annoying.
I advise you not to look at the map at WOS before playing or it will spoil the magic in discovering.
By the way, be sure not to drop any item before its corresponding area or else you'll risk crashing the game. For example, dropping the chest in the second ray screen will surely crash the game. This doesnt happen with all objects just some. Also dont drop the dynamite before because it will explode, making you lose the game. Another tip is not to drop the salt bag anywhere before, or it will lose its power.
by Soft Design (Steve Howard, Wayne Blake, Paul Smith)
Another one I had slightly better memories compared to how it really is. You're an overweight mermaid running after the slender scuba diver that stole your heart, in a clearly unvoluntarily way, or I guess he wouldn't run from you, as we see him do at the start of each game. It's a maze/adventure type, and I'd like to appreciate it again, but it's really too hard, and the mermaid is of no easy manoeuvrability. After Prodigy another 1986 Electric Dreams game that could have been good, but it's ruined by its difficulty. And I still have to review Xarq.
2,5/5
