Wizard Willy

Wizard Willy is a fantasy action-platformer developed by Codemasters in 1990 under their "Cartoon Time" budget label. You control Willy, a young wizard on a quest to rescue Princess Fifi from an evil Emperor's dark fortress. The game features four horizontally scrolling levels—enchanted forests, dungeons, stairways, and battlements. To progress, you must collect ten "Magic Eyes" in each level; only then can you reveal and defeat the end-of-level guardian, a fireball-spitting skull. Willy fires lightning bolts at enemies, which grow more aggressive in later stages. Power-ups include a "Vanish" smart bomb, health restoratives, extra lightning, and bonus lives. The gameplay delivers fast-paced platforming with exploration and combat at its core.

Commodore 64

Converted by Mayfield and released in 1990, the C64 version was a budget title retailing at £2.99 on tape. It boasts distinctive "chunky" graphics with a two-layer parallax scrolling effect, adding impressive depth. The soundtrack by Lyndon Sharp fits the era well. While visuals and scrolling were praised, controls received mixed feedback—jumping felt "floaty" and imprecise, and unclear platform design often led to cheap deaths. Reviewers noted the game's short length and unoriginal loop, though it was still appreciated for offering simple, fast fun. It was later re-released in the Quattro Cartoon compilation. Originally developed as Spellfire the Sorcerer, the name was changed for the 8-bit versions.