| Joust...how can I, or you, forget? Games like Joust, Centipede,
and Donkey Kong are why we're here today. They introduced many of
use to the videogame world. And kept us coming back for more.
Today, games like Joust are even *more* important. They show us
that games don't need 3-D graphics, or a techno soundtrack to
provide *endless* hours of enjoyment. That being said, let's talk
Joust. The rules are simple (they always are in great games),
you're a knight, of sorts, and you've entered an
"underworld" a kind of hell. But unlike today's games
with their bazookas and pyro effects, you battle the hordes of
hell by jousting. And, instead of horses, you ride a giant,
ostrich-like bird. The only way to defeat your enemies is to
strike them with your lance. But, you must strike *above* their
lance in order to win the joust. Once defeated, the warrior's bird
returns to the form of an egg, which must be collected before it
hatches. If does hatch, another warrior emerges to seek your
demise. What Joust amounts to is a game that's part strategy, part
action game. God...this game rules.
GRAPHICS: Graphics aren't the point. Gameplay is. But the
graphics get the job done. Your character is animated well. As are
your opponents. The lava that flows below each level bubbles with
life. In fact, Joust is an arcade-perfect translation. Which is
actually a disappointment. Since the Lynx is capable of a *lot*
more. ***3/4
SOUNDS: Arcade-perfect. The nostalgia this game brings with it
is amazing. Your right back in that dark, sleezy pool hall of your
youth. There is no music, just the flapping of your bird's wings,
and the "pings" of colliding lances. It's beautifully
simple. ****
CONTROL: This takes practice. It's very realistic...your bird
drifts to a halt while in flight, and you really have to pull on
the reigns to make her stop. This goes double when your on the
ground. As your bird acually has to speed up and slow down whether
it be running or flying. The only catch...contolling your bird in
high-speed flight is next to impossible. Of course, high-speed
flight isn't a good idea. ***
OPTIONS: Two options. Depending on what button you press at the
start screen, you can select between two, different colored birds.
Not much choice. But it's something. **
REPLAY: I've had this game for almost ten years, and I'm
*still* playing the darn thing. The gameplay is so addictively
simple, you never tire of it. And that's the mark of a great game.
****
Well...there's what makes a classic. Joust will never die.
Heck, you can still find Joust machines today. And those things
are well over 15 years old!! That says it all. When you play
Joust, you're reliving history. And the Lynx version is a perfect
translation. Long live the king.
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