Terry's Big Adventure Commodore 64 game

TERRY'S BIG ADVENTURE

Terry finds himself a bit weary of life. Bored with watching Prisoner Cell Block H, consuming baked beans, and juggling blue jelly, he's resolved to embark on a substantial adventure all around the colorful, magical land he calls home.

One thing that never loses its charm for Terry is his bright red yo-yo, which he wields with deadly accuracy. This comes in handy as he encounters a variety of lethal little creatures during his travels. However, wielding the yo-yo isn't without consequences, as hitting something may knock him backward, perhaps into water or a green mushroom. While a graceful jump can usually avoid these obstacles, Terry needs to be cautious due to his inertia, causing him to slide along the ground.

Beyond sightseeing, Terry's objective is to collect special mushrooms (for future leisure, as they make him dance and giggle) and various items such as keys for accessing specific areas, flags to multiply his score, and stones for an alternative weapon. Some creatures leave behind letters when disposed of. Collecting those that spell out T-E-R-R-Y provides limited invulnerability, and spelling E-X-T-R-A earns him an extra life.

Upon first glance, the small graphics may remind you of Super Mario Bros, but once you play the game, it becomes evident that it has unique features of its own. The yo-yo, an uncommon game element, sets it apart, and the game mechanics, reminiscent of Super Mario Bros, create a nostalgic yet distinctive experience.

Your goal as yo-yo-wielding Terry is to reach the far-right end of each of the twelve levels within the time limit. Along the way, you'll find magic mushrooms to collect, but beware of the poisonous green-tinged ones!

Protecting the mushrooms are various villains, including flying pink stars, hedgehogs, and balloons. Some enemies yield letters: collecting T-E-R-R-Y grants temporary invulnerability, while spelling out E-X-T-R-A rewards you with an extra life.

The short-range yo-yo with a substantial recoil proves useful, but for longer-range firepower, hurling big rocks is the answer.

Review: Being a fan of the Super Mario Brothers style of game, I found Terry's Big Adventure instantly playable. While Terry feels a bit slow, and the rebound effect of hitting enemies is somewhat silly, the game overall plays well enough. It may not bring anything new compared to Giana Sisters, but it's well-presented and reasonably priced.

Update: Presentation: 77% - No multiload, but no two-player option either. Graphics: 72% - Cute and cheerful. Sound: 68% - A cheerful tune gets you into the spirit of it. Hookability: 86% - Simple to get into but very hard to stop playing. Lastability: 81% Overall: 82% - Great value for money.