Joust
Everyone knows about this very
popular game. Joust is probably one of the all-time greatest two
player games (as my friend Jeff can attest to as we always play
it when he is over). The simple controls and the sheer
uniqueness of the game is what really makes it stand out. The
best thing that can be said about Joust is that when you play
it, you don't compare it to any other game. It is Joust and
being an original is the best compliment!
One of my favorite things about the game is the birds you ride
on and their animations. You are either riding an ostrich (in
one player mode) or a crane/stork (in two player mode). It is
neat to see them fly, but the way they walk is a nice little
touch. The legs bend in like an actual bird and they can go from
a slow step to a fast run! I applaud the programmers, who
obviously have seen a real bird move and not just assume.
Another neat feature is the slow erosion of the play field.
First there is the opening of the lava pits, including the lava
slowly rising (something I never realized until recently, the
little things we overlooked). Then as you progress further in
the game, some of the land dissolves and you find the area
getting more and more wide open. This can be a blessing and a
curse. While the open spaces gives you more room to maneuver, it
also does the same for the enemies! On later levels, this can be
a royal pain in the neck as they fly around like they just drank
down a few liters of Jolt cola.
While there isn't alot of variety of enemy, there is enough to
keep things interesting. You have the basic rider, the blue
rider who is much faster and more dangerous and the dreaded
Pterodactyl. This stinking prehistoric bird will give you fits.
As soon as you think you are in the clear, it will zip up and
take a bite out of you! While you can kill it, good luck! Only a
perfectly aimed lance will take down this bad boy and if you
miss, he won't! Last, but not least is the lava troll. While we
only see the dreaded hand of this evil beast, his presence is
felt, every time you get near the lava. He will grab anyone who
flies too close to the lava and has an iron grip. You really
have to flap fast to escape.
There may only be a few different characters to fight, but there
are also alot of different themed levels. There is the bounty
wave where a player gets 3000 points for killing the other
player. Then there is the cooperative wave, where you get points
for not killing each other. Add in the egg wave and the
pterodactyl level and you have enough variety to keep you happy.
All in all, Joust is an all-time classic and a crowd pleaser. It
is just one more reason why MAME is a great two player system
and a reason to invite a friend over to play. If your friend is
not familiar with the game, then they are in for a treat as they
will discover one of the most original games ever!
This is just a review of the arcade machine.
If you are looking for the actual arcade machine, you may want
to check out ebay. Click below to see if you can find this
game.
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