Christmas is almost upon us, and a time to not only celebrate with family & friends, eat lots of great food, watch feel-good Christmas movies but to also enjoy playing loads of Philips CD-i titles 🙂 Christmas can also be a difficult time for us; for me Philips CD-i has been part of my Festive season since 1994, when my parents bought me The Apprentice, Mutant Rampage and Hotel Mario. Here are some must play CD-i titles over Christmas, and a couple of surprises… 
Christmas Crisis is a traditional platform game but with a superb 3D sleigh ride bonus screen, if you can negotiate the first 6 levels. Graphics here are incredible and it really does feel like you are flying 🙂 What I also love about this game is the ability to gain a special code to return to a particular level – ONLY if you collect enough points and decorations.
The other great challenge in this game is to find the 8 hidden reindeer. Each one you find opens a new bonus stage, where you can collect more decorations and 1Ups. I have found 4 of them – how many have you found?
I have completed this game, but many years ago. I play it every Christmas to see how far I can get from scratch. Note that if you use your code to return to a level late in the game, should you find a reindeer you’ll play the same bonus screen as the first reindeer you find.
Christmas Country is an award-winning platform game from Creative Media. Curiously, it has no in-game music but superb sound effects and an overall Christmassy feel 🙂
Did you know that there is a secret place to find, where you can access a level-select? Have you found it?
There are 16 levels to Christmas Country, spanning 4 Worlds. You must collect presents during your travels, which will be used in the bonus stage to deliver to homes – and collect 1UPs (if you can hit them!). You can also collect letters to spell out ‘SPECIAL’ – and earn a random bonus.
The game has bosses at the end of each World, and these are a good challenge. I love everything about this game – a classic platformer – and even gives a nod to Sonic in how you can run (by keeping your finger on button 1) and break through walls. My Christmas wish/dream is that Creative Media release Taco’s Toyroom Troopers and Tank Doodle, which are previewed in the instruction manual to Christmas Country.
BUT one lovely bonus that DIMA gave us was to release 2 levels of the sublime Joe Guard platformer. And what a pure joy it is to play these levels.
The game has a very Christmassy feel, which can be seen in the screenshots. As is with Christmas Country, there is no in-game music but again this is more than made up for by the brilliant SFX. When you reach an owl, you can return to the same spot (should you lose a life) and collect stars to boost your score.
I was overjoyed this morning when taking screenshots for this article, to discover a hidden area in level 1 featuring this fab snowman – can you find it? 🙂 Should you progress through level 1, and it is quite a big level, you are treated to a toy shop in level 2. What a game this is – if only a full version could have been completed….
A CD-i that is a must at Christmas, is A Christmas Songbook. Beautiful traditional Christmas songs come to life through wonderful festive scenes.
For the brave amongst you, you can sing along karaoke style 😉 (that certainly wont be me!). This for me is what makes Philips CD-i so special – as well as the fantastic games, there are beautiful discs like this to enjoy.
And finally, with thanks to our very own member Blazers, is this wonderful CD-i which comes with a snowflake Christmas card ”Seasons Greetings from Philips Media”. The disc contains a festive music video.
All that’s left to say is a very Merry Christmas to you all, from The World of CD-i team 🙂