The following is the rankings of my favourite games on the Evercade 14: Atari Collection II. As usual click on the video below to see footage of each game, or look further down for my thoughts on each title:
08: California Games - 1989 - Sports
This is one of the games I played a lot on my friends Lynx. I do have one question though, was I actually good at this game at the time? Because I am terrible now. I still enjoyed the hell out of this game. I was almost in tears from laughing so hard at how utterly rubbish I was at the bike event. Why I enjoyed failing so much I don't know, but it saved me from the frustrations of the game. Though it's number 8 in my rankings I still had a lot of fun.
07: Zarlor Mercenary - 1990 - Top Down Shooter
I adore shooters, vertical, horizontal or fixed screen, so I will forgive a lot with these type of games. This isn't the best vertical shooter by a long way or the most enjoyable but I could not stop myself from returning over and over for just one more go.
06: Todd's Adventures in Slime World - 1990 - Platformer
The great thing about this game is the number of scenarios it lets you play with. Yes, whichever you choose at the start of your adventure gives you pretty much the same kind of game, but there is enough of a variation to make each interesting or hilarious in its own right. The quick death one had me laughing for ages. Yes dying repeatedly for me for some reason is a barrel of laughs. Not all the episodes are like that, but you should give that one a go at least once. Apart from that it's a solid platformer with big chunky graphics which again don't translate amazingly on the big screen but it gives it a certain style and it looks lovely on the handheld.
05: Blue Lightning - 1989 - Flight Combat
This is probably the most well known Lynx game, it was used in most of the advertisements and the one that most of us saw and thought wow! My Lynx friend of course had this title so I had played a fair bit at the time and it blew me away. Now I can see many of its flaws but for a handheld game of its time it still impresses today, and its still damn good fun!
04: Checkered Flag - 1991 - Racing
I'm a sucker for retro racing games, there's just something about them and that old style I like. This game is no different. I found it hugely playable but did need a fair few goes before I was any good. I love the look of this game and all the little touches like the wing mirrors. Great fun and one I came back to again and again.
03: Gates of Zendocon - 1989 - Space Shooter
Now this is more like it, a great horizontal shooter with a lot of visual variety and the ability to choose how to progress by means of gateways at various points in each level. There was an R-Type Final feel to this game with the level variations and different routes through the game. I especially liked the little scenes where you can continue onwards with the ship you have or dock and pick up a sparkling new one between levels. a game I will return to time and time again. Yes its rough around the edges, but there is enough thought and love put into this game I simply cant resist.
02: Electrocop - 1989 - Action
That gorgeous edible cyberpunk Blade Runner-esque style will always pull me in so the opening of this game knew exactly what it was doing. The game itself is great fun, I love how the levels are layered so it's not just left and right, you can also walk "in" and "out" of the screen. I love running around with weapons attached to both shoulders blowing the hell out of everything. I also loved the computer terminals having mini games, like a version of asteroids. This gave a strong feeling of immersion and reminded me of a Psone game I stupidly loved because of its style only - Defcon 5 - That game was a bit crap, but god did I love the world building and atmosphere. (I'll have to do an upload of the game sometime, it just makes me smile thinking about it, but I digress)
01: Chip's Challenge - 1989 - Puzzle
I think anyone who picked up this collection will probably have the same reaction when playing this game. It's amazing. It wipes the floor with every other game on the set. Some Evercade Cartridges have one game that is great enough to be the sole reason for buying the cart, even if you never touch another game on there (Though that would be silly) and Chip's Challenge is easily the one. A fantastic puzzle game that never stops being anything other than brilliant. Every new stage has you scratching your head while you work out how to proceed without ever getting frustrating, for me at least. I can't recommend this game enough.
Final Thoughts
Even though it had less games this cartridge is easily the best of the two Lynx collections. All 8 games were strong in their own way, with special mention going to the atmosphere and style of Electrocorp and the absolute perfection of Chip's Challenge. If you have an Evercade do not miss out on this fantastic collection.
With all the variety and quality games the Evercade (and soon the VS) has, it is fast becoming my favourite system - Because it has everything!
Until next time my friends, be seeing you x
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