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By the end of 1985, traditional platform games had gone out of fashion. Therefore, this game is anything but conventional. Take the story for instance: there are eight islands, each containing 24 screens and 32 randomly strewn objects for you to collect and use. You arrive at each island by airship. Your objective is to explore each island, find a record, play it on the jukebox, collect some fuel for the airship, then move on to the next island and do the same again. On the final island you must destroy the jukebox and then escape within three minutes. Straight forward enough? There are the inevitable monsters to avoid who will otherwise drain your energy and more annoyingly, pinch crucial items. It's extremely entertaining, highly original and very challenging.

Dynamite Dan had been a huge hit for Rod Bowkett and Mirrorsoft, so naturally a sequel was always going to be developed for the ZX Spectrum.

This one was released late summer of 1986 - and once again another D Dan arcade game was a huge hit.

Rod Bowkett created another fine platform game (and sequel) for the ZX Spectrum.


ZX Spectrum Games Dynamite Dan IIThe evil Dr Blitzen was up to his old tricks, and our hero Dynamite Dan was sent in to save the day. He had set up a new headquarters within a group of eight islands (The Islands of Arcanum) and in the usual mad professor megalomaniac way had laid dastardly plans for world domination. Muha ha haaa.

His latest idea was to destroy the youth of the world by planting subliminal sound waves in records (not CD's or MP3's - it was the 80's remember!)

Unaware of this deadly threat, those young folks would listen to their favourite songs on vinyl their minds being gradually destroyed. Without Dan, all would be lost and Dr Blitzen would take over. Another fantastic ZX Spectrum arcade game plot!

It was up to our Dan to infiltrate Dr Blitzen's headquarters, locate the record pressing plant and blow it to kingdom come. To do this Dan had to explore all eight islands (that made up Arcanum) which would give you the password to access the plant.

In a nice feature, a jukebox and record was present on each island and playing this record would reveal part of the password. You could then jump into the trusty airship and move to the next island. Breaking the game up into 8 islands (stages) was a great idea by Bowkett.

The usual nasties (usual for these classic platform games) were out to get you and make your life difficult. Robotic minions and monsters would attempt to drain Dan's energy level - some would even steal items from you. Dan could replenish lost energy by eating the bowls of fruit and drinking the cups of tea dotted around the levels.

As in the original game, Dan could walk left and right and perform pretty hefty jumps to negotiate his way around the levels.

ZX Spectrum Games Dynamite Dan 2 In Game
To improve on the original, various bonus items could be collected which powered you up for a while. Bombs could be used to blast away doors, and some levels had secret passages on them - finding these areas was not always easy.

In another improvement over the first game, the difficulty level had been tweaked. Dynamite Dan was an incredibly difficult game, and Rod Bowkett had taken this on board and made the sequel a little easier.

Dynamite Dan II was a very good arcade platform game that ranked alongside Jet Set Willy and Technician Ted. It had just the right mix of action, puzzles and wacky graphics. A good game.

On release:
This had been pretty highly anticipated because the original game had been so well received. Fans of the original needn't have worried, the sequel was even better than the first game. It was more playable, had slightly better graphics, great sound effects and more features. Once again, Rod Bowkett (and Mirrorsoft) had a Crash Smash on their hands.

The test of time:
Fans of platform games will still enjoy Dynamite Dan 2, and we here in Spectrum Games reckon that it is one of the better platformers you could get for the machine. Dynamite Dan 2 is still fun to play and has the right amount of 'wackiness' in it to make you want to have another go. Not bad at all. I don't think Rod Bowkett created any more games for the Speccy, which is a shame as the guy was obviously talented.

Give Dynamite Dan 2 a go - it's still a bit of a blast.

DAN!.... DAN!.... DAN!

We recommend getting hold of the real hardware but if not then download a ZX Spectrum emulator and download Dynamite Dan 2 for the ZX Spectrum. Alternatively you could try and play it online.

GENRE: Platform Game (Arcade Game)
RELEASE DATE: September of 1986
RELEASED BY: Mirrorsoft
DEVELOPER(S): Rod Bowkett
PRICE: £7.95 - UK

Dr Blitzen is back with a vengeance! He has set up his headquarters in a group of eight islands - The Islands of Arcanum - and once again, he has laid dastardly plans for world domination. His latest idea is to destroy the youth of the world by planting subliminal sound waves in pop records. Unaware of the deadly threat Dr Blitzen poses, teenagers listen to their favourite stars on vinyl, unaware of the threat they pose! As the pop fans listen their minds are gradually destroyed, and soon Dr Blitzen will be in control.

Luckily, Dynamite Dan is on hand to confront his old enemy and save the world. His main task is to locate Blitzen's secret hideout, find the record pressing plant where the mind-sapping singles are made, and destroy it. All eight islands that make up Arcanum have to be explored before the password that gives access to the pressing plant can be assembled. A record and a jukebox has been placed on each island, and when the record has been found, playing it on the jukebox reveals part of the code. Then it's time to refuel the airship and move on to the next island.

The first island is a maze-like network of pipes, ladders and iron girders, all brightly coloured. Dan climbs up and down the ladders or leaps off girders in the search for the record and the jukebox, which have to be found as quickly as possible. Yes, it's a platform game in the mould of the original...

Of course, nothing is ever as easy as it sounds. As you make your way round each island there are hosts of nasties out to get in your way. Some are robotic, others monster-like, others spectral. Each of them moves in a different way and at a different speed. You must either jump over them or simply avoid them - whichever is easiest. They all sap energy on contact, and a bar at the bottom of the screen shows Dan's energy level. Some nasties have a small dose of kleptomania and rob Dan of the useful objects that he has collected. White sprites steal bombs, while magenta nasties steal fuel which comes in magenta cans.

Then, of course, there's the deadly Dr Blitzen himself who is is keen to zap Dan at every opportunity with his mesmeric psychon ray gun. A touch of this and you have difficulty controlling Dan - so beware! Dr Blitzen looks every bit the mad professor with long wispy hair and dark sun glasses to hide his eyes. He dashes about on his mini-hovercraft, blasting away with this MP ray gun.

Your score so far is shown at the foot of the screen, along with the objects Dan has collected on his travels. Look out for bowls of fruit, oversized cherries and grapes, and cups of tea - they all revitalise the energy bar when Dan walks over them. Bombs are scattered around the islands, and these can be used to blast your way through barriers, giving access to different parts of the landscape. A set of large red-rimmed goggles protect Dan from the mesmeric powers of the evil Blitzen's ray gun, and cans of fuel must be collected to refuel the blimp so Dan can escape to another island. There are mystery objects on the islands, which disappear from the game when the blimp takes off... so find them before leaving! Each island contains a secret passageway, though access to it depends on having the appropriate object. Be careful, however, not to fall into the sea. You might not float!

Once you've collected the eight elements of the password and gained access to the pressing plant, it's time to plant a bomb and beat a hasty retreat - Dan has three minutes to get back to the airship. But it's a long journey and Dynamite has only one life. The future of pop music, never mind the mental health of mankind, is in your hands.

Producer: Mirrorsoft
Price: £7.95
Author: Rod Bowkett



Another view of the Islands of Arcanum - this time Dan has collected the Outboard Motor... can come in handy when he falls in the drink

CRITICISM
"I really hated Dynamite Dan so I was a little dubious when I was given the sequel to review. Happily, this is a completely different game from its 'parent'. The first thing that you notice are the brilliant sound