Top 20 Lynx Games

[digitalpress]

CrazyImpmon started a thread, let's make an "official list" for use on our Rarity Lists (http://www.digitpress.com/lists.htm) page.

So what are your favorite Lynx games? Two nominations get a game on this list - then we'll pare it down to 20 and tweak it over time!

APB
Battlewheels
Blue Lightning
California Games
Chip's Challenge
Crystal Mines II
Electrocop
Gates of Zendocon
Gauntlet 3
Klax
Lemmings
Ms. Pac-Man
Rampart
Roadblasters
Rygar
Slime World
STUN Runner
Warbirds
Xenophobe
Xybots

Here is the original link:
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3201&highlight=top+lynx

For the complete list of games (perhaps just to jog your memory), check out the Rarity Lists page here:
http://www.digitpress.com/lists.htm

[IntvGene]

My problem with a top ten list for the Lynx is just that some of the games are great multiplayer, but suck one player... like Battlewheels. But, I can't count the number of hours I've played Battlewheels multiplayer. I can't compare it to Klax, an awesome one-player game--they're just too different. It depends how you use the system..

Anyway, here's my top choices:

1) Slime World
2) BattleWheels
3) Klax
4) Xenophobe
5) A.P.B.
6) California Games
7) Gates of Zendocon
8) Gauntlet: Third Encounter
9) Rampart
10) Checkered Flag

DP: Is this what you wanted? I was a little confused if you wanted me to nominate two, or just list my favorites.

[digitalpress]

DP: Is this what you wanted? I was a little confused if you wanted me to nominate two, or just list my favorites.

That's perfect. Pick your favorites, and if someone else picks one of your favorites, consider that game "on the list" until we hit 10 - then we'll tweak from there.

[Gamereviewgod]

Double Dragon was pretty good, abliet a bit slow. Blue Lightning? Hell yeah.

[Eternal Champion]

How about the Lynx RYGAR?

[digitalpress]

Blue Lightning is my favorite Lynx game.

Klax has the best music of any Lynx game, IMO. The title track is among the best of ANY game (try it with headphones), and the game itself is just perfect for the color Lynx screen.

Todd's Adventures in Slime World. Oh boy, I spent hours and hours with this game. I love the sense of adventure. I expected the Genesis version to be the same or better but for some reason it just wasn't the same.

Xenophobe. Arguably the best version of Xenophobe ever.

All of these get my nomination as well, and have been added to the list.

[Raedon]

IMHO there is only one game worth playing on the Lynx.. S.T.U.N.N. Runner

[le geek]

Here are my nominations :)

Blue Lightning
STUN Runner
Rampart (best home version)
Warbirds
Lemmings
Shanghai
Roadblasters
Klax
Chips Challenge
Hard Drivin'

[ManekiNeko]

Let's add Xybots, Toki, and Desert Strike to that list, shall we?

JR

[RCorcoran]

Here are my personal favs for the Lynx:

BattleZone 2000
Chip's Challenge
Crystal Mines II
Eye of the Beholder
Joust
Ms. Pacman
Paperboy
Robotron: 2084
S.T.U.N. Runner
Tournament Cyberball

[Goblin]

Klax
Raiden - if you can get used to the vertical orientation
Rampart
Crystal Mines II

[Tempest]

Hmm... I'd say (in no particular order)

Xybots (my favorite)
Xenophobe (a close second)
Zalor Mercenary
Rampart
Gates of Zendocon
Klax (hate the vertical screen though)
STUN Runner
Rygar
Blue Lightning
Robotron: 2084


Tempest

[Gunstarhero]

My Top Ten Lynx Games:

-Xenophobe
-Todd's Adventures in Slime World
-Warbirds
-A.P.B.
-Rygar
-Checkered Flag
-Roadblasters
-California Games
-Gauntlet III
-Rampart

[Daniel Thomas]

Ah, the Lynx. If only a bigger company could have taken control of that handheld. It was so much cooler than the Gameboy. Here's my favorites in no real order:

Shanghai - this is my favorite game on the Lynx, and the best version of Shanghai anywhere. I'd suggest finding a Lynx off eBay just for this title.

Blue Lightning - Now this was a terrific shooter that hasn't aged at all. The canyon run is still a thrill and a half. So where's the GBA version?!

Electrocop - I know this game isn't popular with too many people, but I absolutely loved it. It displayed the finest 3D graphics on the Lynx, and it had its own mellow sense of tension (especially as the clock winds down and you keep getting lost).

Gauntlet 3 - Here's another one that isn't as popular as it should be. I don't care if Epyx designed it with another name in mind, it was always meant to be Gauntlet, and a brilliantly irreverant one at that. Who can resist playing as a punk, a nerd, or a pirate (poor bird)? All the early Epyx games were gold.

Chip's Challenge - Why would anyone bother with a simple port of Sokoban when you can get the steroid version? I love this game because it's so richly designed, and hard as nails.

Slime World - What a fiendishly clever concept! Is this still the most heavily animated game ever made? With every nook and cranny pulsing and gurgling, this was the most "alive" world I've ever seen. Throw in some terrific variety and real shocks (like the giant teeth), add an 8-player deathmatch, and you have a classic.

Klax - Yeah, the music is terrific. Why was the music in most Lynx games so terrible? This is, of course, the definitive version of the puzzler and one everyone should see.

Roadblasters - I'm a long-time fan of this game, one of the best arcade translations on the Lynx. It could be a little tougher, but it's still a heavty challenge to drive through all 50 levels. Great fun.

Xybots - Man, the Atari Games titles from the late '80s were all classics, weren't they? Even though Xybots is basically a 3D ripoff of Gauntlet, I have to say I really dig it. Still a great old-skool challenge. Ed Logg has always been one of my favorites.

STUN Runner - I'm gonna put this one down because of its technical achievements. It's amazing how closely it matches the arcade, and keeps the speed, too. My one major gripe is that this version of STUN Runner is an absolute cakewalk. I think I beat it on my very first play.

Rampart - Everyone else is praising Rampart to death, so how can I disagree? I really dig the cut-scenes that announce the next game phase. Another Atari Games classic that shouldn't be missed.

Xenophobe - I totally agree with Joe. This is the best version of Xenophobe anywhere; even better than the coin-op, I say. It's such a great action title that keeps you coming back. 4-player mode? Playing as the alien and hunting down your friends? Groovy.

Warbirds - Wonderful combat game that helped define deathmatch before anyone knew what the hell a deathmatch was. I'm amazed at how well the planes fly, and how accurate, too. And this was all done in 256k? This is how Wings on the GBA should have been done.

Finally, for "Honorable Mention" or "Jury Prize" or whatever, I'll mention Battlezone 2000 and California Games. The BMX and surfing events are still super-cool (thank goodness the surfing came back on Advance); and as for Battlezone, it's great fun, has wonderful music, and Handmade Software deserves to be listed here somehow. Whew.

[ManekiNeko]

I'm a little surprised nobody else mentioned Toki or Desert Strike. Toki was the closest thing the Lynx had to Super Mario Bros. (not counting the silly, scatalogical Scrapyard Dog, which was more like J.J. and Jeff). It was probably the best home conversion of the wacky and weird arcade game, looking sharper than the NES version and being a lot more fun than the boring, unfaithful Genesis game. It had all kinds of power ups and was imaginatively designed for a side-scrolling platformer. I really think it deserves to be noticed.
For many years, Desert Strike was THE way to play Electronic Arts' strategic shooter on the go. It's far superior to the Game Gear version and has only recently been topped by Desert Strike on the Game Boy Advance. It's got more depth than many other Lynx games and is so addicting you'll find yourself playing until the batteries are sucked dry.
Admittedly, though, you guys have done a great job selecting the other games on the list.

JR

[Atar1G1rl]

OK, these are my favorites over all for the system. No particular order:

- Ms. Pac-Man
- Klax
- Blue Lightning
- Xenophobe
- California Games
- Crystal Mines II

Honorable mention to Joust for keeping me quite content on many a long plane ride.

[Videogamerdaryll]

California Games
Gauntlet
Klax

Steel Talons
Crystal Mines II

[zektor]

Lesse:

Gates Of Zendocon
Electrocop
Blue Lightening
Chips Challenge
Gauntlet
Crystal Mines II
Klax
Lemmings
Qix
Xybots
Slime World

In no particular order of course :) I love all of these games!

[digitalpress]

Updated. I believe that any game mentioned by two different people is on the list, correct me if I'm wrong.

[IntvGene]

How did Battlewheels not get its second vote!? :o

Has anyone here tried the game? I mean, this ranks up with Slime World as the best multiplayer game on the Lynx. 1-6 players, design your own car, different modes, the ability to get out of your car (and also the ability to run over pedestrians). I can't believe it! It's #2 on my list and won't make the top 20?

Wow! In case you don't believe me, check out Robert A. Jung's review here:
http://www.digiserve.com/eescape/atari/lynx/Battlewheels.html

[digitalpress]

The only reason I didn't put Battlewheels on my top 20 is because I didn't think the solo version of the game was very good. I was pleasantly surprised on a plane trip somewhere when I tried the link version, it changed the whole dynamic of the game (kinda like the difference between playing Bomberman solo vs. real people).

Based on this, I'll second it.

[oesiii]

I forgot your stance on recent homebrews and repros but a couple of game released recently by Songbird Productions are probably worth 'Top 20' status.

Championship Rally is an enjoyable top down racer that gives you a change a pace from my other favorite Lynx game, Checkered Flag.

Cybervirus is a mission based, 3d first person vehicle game where you get to blow a lot of cool things up.

You can see screens and the games at their website:
http://songbird-productions.com/

[RetroYoungen]

Crystal Mines II
Rampart (I thought it was a great port)
Chip's Challenge
Xybots

And one no one else brought up for reasons unknown to me:
Switchblade II

Just curious, was there EVER a Switchblade I?