ExAndOh
A dual pack of some of their best on the go
A dual pack of improved versions of Asteroids and Missile Command for the Lynx and they're overall decent versions of each. Asteroids feels familiar except you get a few power ups this time around and a shield life bar or sorts so you can tank multiple hits before losing a life not to mention I feel like the game is a bit more unwieldy to balance it out in a sense. Missile Command feels traditional except when you clear a few waves and have the option to customize your arsenal. We're talking slower missiles but bigger explosions or vice versa along with a few power ups of sorts like a screen clear if needed used by a money system that rewards you for doing well. Can't really go wrong with either of this games especially on the go.
A dual pack of improved versions of Asteroids and Missile Command for the Lynx and they're overall decent versions of each. Asteroids feels familiar except you get a few power ups this time around and a shield life bar or sorts so you can tank multiple hits before losing a life not to mention I feel like the game is a bit more unwieldy to balance it out in a sense. Missile Command feels traditional except when you clear a few waves and have the option to customize your arsenal. We're talking slower missiles but bigger explosions or vice versa along with a few power ups of sorts like a screen clear if needed used by a money system that rewards you for doing well. Can't really go wrong with either of this games especially on the go.
1994
An arcade classic at its best
Following one of the worst Jaguar games I ever played comes one of the best, Tempest 2000 really represents a new cool direction for the arcade classic. The visuals are amazing, the gameplay is still fast and frantic and it even has an amazing ass soundtrack to boot.
When you attempt to pick a mode, each time you move that cursor you're greet with a gnarly "EXCELLENT!". There's the classic Tempest you love, Tempest Plus which is a souped up version of the original, Tempest Duel which works as your standard multiplayer mode and then there's Tempest 2000 which ups the ante in visual effects and pace. The game is a visual and fun treat from start to finish along with a bumping techno soundtrack making this one of the best versions if not the best version of Tempest to date.
Considering Atari's love for constantly bringing their arcade classics in a new light, this was probably the best outcome for Tempest on the Jaguar. It's a shame that none of the other titles felt this fun and exciting.
Following one of the worst Jaguar games I ever played comes one of the best, Tempest 2000 really represents a new cool direction for the arcade classic. The visuals are amazing, the gameplay is still fast and frantic and it even has an amazing ass soundtrack to boot.
When you attempt to pick a mode, each time you move that cursor you're greet with a gnarly "EXCELLENT!". There's the classic Tempest you love, Tempest Plus which is a souped up version of the original, Tempest Duel which works as your standard multiplayer mode and then there's Tempest 2000 which ups the ante in visual effects and pace. The game is a visual and fun treat from start to finish along with a bumping techno soundtrack making this one of the best versions if not the best version of Tempest to date.
Considering Atari's love for constantly bringing their arcade classics in a new light, this was probably the best outcome for Tempest on the Jaguar. It's a shame that none of the other titles felt this fun and exciting.
I'm losing control of my life. What is this? This feels like a fever dream AI generated vertical shoot em up. It sounds bad, it looks bad even for Jaguar graphics and completely just feels like a copy and paste job. I'm not giving this game any more time.
1991
Hard to hate this one for how great it looks for a 1991 handheld game at the time compared to the Game Boy. Turbo Sub brings together the traditional alien shooter with a submarine style of gameplay that also lets you go underwater too. The first person shooting is solid and gorgeous, fast paced and completing a round lets you use gems for extra rewards to keep the run going. Really sold me on how great the Lynx was back then.
1990
I kinda was expecting a little more with a huge emphasis on the fighting but it kind of just boils down to being able to punch players to get the ball back, a few power ups and that's really it. A cool arcade basketball experience nonetheless even though you can just cheese the game in 2v2 but repeatedly punching everyone that the CPU can't act all it.
1990
An unlikely pair
Ninja Golf really sounds like something you'd make in a video game developer simulation game and they'd tell you that the genre and subject wouldn't match at all but it works surprisingly well.
The premise is simple enough in that you're a ninja that's been training for your greatest challenge yet: Nine holes of golf. The golf itself is pretty simple until you have to reach where your ball went. All of a sudden the game turns into an action game in a sense that you have to fight your way through enemies of human and nature to hit your shot again. This is ended by a vertical dragon fight until you win. You don't even have to hit exacts here more so that you have to hit the ball around the hole at least. The golfing itself may be simple but it becomes a surprisingly fun experience.
A lot of props for trying something literally out of the box that I'm actually dumbfounded that it worked. One of the most dangerous games of golf you will ever have.
Ninja Golf really sounds like something you'd make in a video game developer simulation game and they'd tell you that the genre and subject wouldn't match at all but it works surprisingly well.
The premise is simple enough in that you're a ninja that's been training for your greatest challenge yet: Nine holes of golf. The golf itself is pretty simple until you have to reach where your ball went. All of a sudden the game turns into an action game in a sense that you have to fight your way through enemies of human and nature to hit your shot again. This is ended by a vertical dragon fight until you win. You don't even have to hit exacts here more so that you have to hit the ball around the hole at least. The golfing itself may be simple but it becomes a surprisingly fun experience.
A lot of props for trying something literally out of the box that I'm actually dumbfounded that it worked. One of the most dangerous games of golf you will ever have.
1981
Pretty cool vertical arcade shooter in which you face down instead of going up. Other than getting fuel to keep going, there isn't much here to really say that sets it apart.
1989
Pretty fun for what feels like a arcade dungeon crawler in some respect. Each floor gets more and more challenging and it goes from A-Z in terms of the total floors. You can beeline for the ladder or try to rack up points for a good high score as well.
1987
Part of the RealSports series on Atari 2600 comes the boxing variant of the series. Pretty basic set up with having four characters to select from and just straight up starting in a match immediately. Surprised there's hit animations when someone gets hits making this one of the more advanced 2600 titles out there even with it coming out late in it's life.
1986
One of the best looking 2600 games and a cool sequel to Star Raiders. Trading the first person perspective for a third person perspective, Solaris brings some great frantic space shooting.
Builds upon Miner 2049er at least in the 5200 version. More elaborate platforming challenges and better controls makes this a good sequel to the former. Also doesn't walk as slow as the former as well. Gotta keep in mind there's fall damage too and a cool minigame when you gotta put your name in.
1982
Miner 2049er feels like a 2D platformer combined with a tiny bit of Pac-Man in that you have to walk on every floor to progress to the next level. He's pretty slow when you move and jump but it doesn't feel that bad compared to other titles on the platform at least. There's a few types of obstacles and options for traversal such as elevators, sand traps and etcetera. Only a few levels for this version as you need another version of this game for the rest.
1983
Likely if not the best tennis game on the system, controls are incredibly responsive, the sprites look great for what can be done at the time and the ability to even put your own name at the beginning of the match. Actual decent time with this one.
1982
Just like the RealSports football game before it, a simple and effective way to portray soccer with the resources given. Stealing the ball by running over someone, passing or switching to a different team member with the button with no goalie to really worry about. Can't ask much for more than that all things considered.
1983
A weird but satisfying gameplay loop in that more than just shooting enemies, you also have to catch that exact bullet used to destroy that enemy back and then afterwards catch the prisoners for extra points. The level design makes moving around easy enough to do that it never felt clunky and make you constantly on the move.
"quadrun! quadrun! quadrun!"
"quadrun! quadrun! quadrun!"