Magic Meanies Explained

Magic Meanies
Publisher:	CDS Micro Systems
Released:	1983
Genre:	Action
Platforms:	ZX Spectrum

Magic Meanies is a ZX Spectrum video game developed and released by CDS Micro Systems in 1983. Magic Meanies is a clone of Universal's Mr. Do! arcade game.

Gameplay

The player, Meltec the Wizard, digs tunnels to collect lumps of lead. To progress to the next screen, Meltec must also collect a wandering cherry and avoid roaming enemies. There are also apples embedded in the earth. Undermining these and allowing them to fall onto an enemy can kill it, or at least block a path.^[1]

Reception

Crash magazine awarded Magic Meanies 58% in issue 2, criticizing the small, jerky graphics but highlighting the skill and quick thinking required.^[2] Sinclair User awarded only 3 out of 10.^[3] Your Spectrum gave a score of 23 out of 30, describing it as one of the better games of this type.^[4]

Notes and References

April 1984 . Living Guide... . . 3 . 68.
March 1984 . Living Guide... . CRASH . 2 . 90.
March 1984 . Magic Meanies review . Sinclair User . 24 . 10 . Magic Meanies ranks as one of the poorer pieces of machine-coded software and has little to commend it.
May 1984 . Magic Meanies review . Your Spectrum . 3 . 69 . There are already a few games of this type, but this is one of the better ones. Nine speed levels are included, and these begin quite easily, increasing to a level where a high degree of manual dexterity is required..