Atari Lynx recommendations

[BenG76]

I have a Lynx with four games on the way soon. The games are Toki, California Games, Batman Returns and Basketbrawl. Ive been accumulating handhelds lately and thought I would give this one a try. What games are must haves for the Lynx? Thanks

[klausien]

Of the games you have on the way, Toki is a playable port of the original, and California Games is a must have for the Surfing. Haven't played Basketbrawl. Batman Returns has excellent graphics but is hard as nails.

Almost anything involving scaling is excellent on the Lynx. The low res nature of the the screen made everything a pixel-fest, but it was extremely smooth due to the hardware scaling. It has aged better than early polygon 3D, that's for sure.

Here's a short list of my favorites:

RoadBlasters - My favorite Lynx game and an extremely satisfying arcade port. This is an absolute must have.
Blue Lightning - An AfterBurner clone, yes, but a good one.
Rygar - Excellent port of the arcade original.
Xybots - Another stunning arcade port that plays better than expected.
Chip's Challenge - Extremely common and cheap version of the old PC classic.
S.T.U.N. Runner - A surprisingly good looking sprite scalar version of the polygonal original.
Hydra - Another Atari arcade conversion with decent scaling.
Warbirds - Amazing flight sim considering the hardware.

I also recommend:
Turbo Sub
Gates of Zendocon
Gauntlet: The Third Encounter
APB
Zarlor Mercenary
Ninja Gaiden
Checkered Flag

[retroman]

rampage for the lynx is very good, and pitfighter just for the graphics they pulled off on the lynx for the time.

[zektor]

Blue Lightning, Gates Of Zendocon, and Chip's Challenge were the first games I purchased for my new Lynx back when I bought it upon release at Babbages :) These are excellent titles!

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

ElectroCop
Xenophobe
Ninja Gaiden (Arcade)
Xybots
S.T.U.N. Runner
Blue Lightning
Todd's Adventures in Slime World
Warbirds
Road Blasters
Rampart
APB

...christ, there's not much I wouldn't reccomend on the system, but I love me some Lynx.

[Steve W]

The launch titles were surprisingly good. Epyx really worked the machine well, too bad Atari didn't keep up the momentum in later years. Warbirds, Todd's Adventures in Slime World, Electrocop, three really good titles to start with. Warbirds might be a bit boring if you play by yourself, but if you find another Lynx owner with a copy of it and a Comlynx cable... fun on a bun!

[dr101z]

Along with the other titles mentioned, I would recommend Klax, Shanghai, Crystal Mines II, Warbirds, Todd's Adventures in Slimeworld, Lemmings and Blockout to start with. I need to dig out my collection but there are numerous other titles for the Lynx worth checking out.

[Steve W]

Lemmings is going to be a hard one to find nowadays. It was programmed by one of the guys who had a hand in making the original Amiga version, so it was done really well. It's become pretty difficult to locate outside eBay.

[dr101z]

Yeah, I started looking through my Lynx collection tonight and there are quite a few games that would be difficult to find in the wild. Of course, finding ANY Lynx stuff in the wild these days is pretty tough.

[c2000]

Gordo 106, Lemmings, Chip's Challenge and California Games are the ones I enjoyed the most.

[Pantechnicon]

Rampart
Shanghai
Blockout
Warbirds
Xybots
...have already been mentioned. Here are a few worthwhile ones that haven't been mentioned yet:

Power Factor - A fun platformer. Very nice graphics and sound.
Awesome Golf - A solid golf title that's frequently overlooked by virtue of the Lynx's obscurity.
Desert Strike - A straight port of the EA title for Genesis/SNES. The Lynx version has much better handling and accuracy than its console counterparts. It's a little harder to find (in fact, I had mine stolen a couple of years ago :(. Anybody with a spare please PM).
Steel Talons - A lot of people don't like this one but I think it's pretty fun once you get the hang of the controls. Graphics might be a little dodgy, but they're not really that bad. I give Atari credit for trying.

[BenG76]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I will be looking around Ebay and a few other places to find more games once I get the Lynx here.

[Pantechnicon]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I will be looking around Ebay and a few other places to find more games once I get the Lynx here.

These guys (http://www.myatari.com/) are your best bet for building a Lynx collection. They used to be a frequent CGE vendor, but unfortunately they skipped the last couple of shows. After my Lynx collection (a model II, accessories and about ~25 games) was stolen in a burglary, B&C was able to help me restore 95% of what I had lost. Highly recommended.

[davidbrit2]

You absolutely need Xenophobe. It's even better than the arcade version. The game has a proper ending, along with a massive final boss, and you can actually play as a snotterpillar in multiplayer mode.

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

Man, you guys are making me regret selling my Lynx...

Such a great and unique system.


...word is bondage...

[InsaneDavid]

Hands down the Lynx has the best version of Klax outside of the arcade. It has pretty much EVERYTHING the arcade version did, the rotated screen also works out great. As has been said S.T.U.N. Runner is superb as well, and the only excellent classic port of the arcade title that I know of. And with S.T.U.N. Runner you have to mention Hydra (as has been) as the games really go hand in hand. Rampart is outstanding, again, as has been mentioned. Paperboy has yet to be mentioned and again, it's pretty much the best port you'll find outside of modern compilations. It's amazing that the graphics, music and sound of the arcade version could be moved over to the Lynx, but they're all there. Lastly, if you like Xybots you'll love the Lynx port.

[Rob2600]

I second Klax. It's a lot of fun and the graphics and sound are fantastic.

Ninja Gaiden is pretty good, too. It's a nice port of the arcade version.

Electrocop is probably the most impressive looking game on the Lynx. The 3D graphics blew me away in 1990. The music is great, too. The game itself is decent.


EDIT: By the way, I recommend using the AC adapter or buying a battery charger and six rechargeable AA batteries. Otherwise, you'll spend a small fortune every few hours.

[RJ]

Chip's Challenge, Awesome Golf, Klax, Zarlor Mercenary, Xybots to begin w/.

[Videogamerdaryll]

Whoa..I was going to make a thread like this asking the same thing..

After I got a second Lynx and... well..I decided to put it in the bathroom :mad:with other handhelds etc..

I've actually had a bunch of sealed games for this for years that I never opened.

Ah man my wife wouls love KLAX..

California Games
Been playing the Surfing game.(asI write this).Is it possible to spin..... 5 times.... what direction do you spin him...Sometimes I spin him to the left as it seems to be the wrong harder way..: )

BMX I stink at ..Footbag I can do..


I still haven't figured out how to play the Halfpipe....What do I press?

[Ed Oscuro]

I will say that very few of these games ever interested me. Make sure you're a big fan of Atari arcade originals before you get one, because these are nothing more (and generally a bit stripped down over the originals).

[Cantaloup]

Here's an old thread with some more recommendations:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101306

My recommendations:

Blue Lightning
Todd's Adventures in Slime World
Zarlor Mercenary
Xenophobe
Rampart
RoadBlasters
APB
Rampage
California Games
Chip's Challenge

[Steve W]

People used to love Battlewheels, but I don't hear much love for it nowadays. It's not really all that good in one player mode anyway. It's like Warbirds on a one dimensional plane. Less places to dodge away from attacks, and all the enemies head straight for you. It's just an okay title.

Battlezone 2000 is a decent upgrade of the original. It takes the route of the arcade game utilizing vector graphics, but adds power ups and lets you select different tanks. The real 'meat' of the game is hidden in an easter egg. The programmers originally made an entirely different game that Atari rejected, saying it was too different from the arcade game. So they hid the first version inside the released game. I love things like that!

[SpaceHarrier]

I still haven't figured out how to play the Halfpipe....What do I press?

:above me:

I've had California Games since the Lynx was sold new and I still can't figure this out.


Anyway, back on topic, I submit:

Kung Food


just kidding

[Ed Oscuro]

Hmm. Does anybody have screenshots or (even better) video of Electrocop in motion?

I also gotta say that Toki on the go sounds enticing. Other than that there's precious little on the system I would care for; even the legendary Xybots doesn't grab me. Plus I sold off my Aliens vs. Predator "prototype" some time ago - not that I really cared to play it anyhow, having had the real thing on PC (forgive me, Jag enthusiasts).

[FrakAttack]

Don't care what the critics say/said, I always liked Gauntlet 3.

[Wraith Storm]

Paperboy has yet to be mentioned and again, it's pretty much the best port you'll find outside of modern compilations. It's amazing that the graphics, music and sound of the arcade version could be moved over to the Lynx, but they're all there.

Finally someone who agrees with me! For years I have rambled about how the Lynx version of Paperboy is the best version of the game ever developed, and iv'e played most of the other ports. I absolutely love it! If the Midway Arcade Treasures port is anything to go by... then I even like it BETTER than the arcade version.

If you like Paperboy then the Lynx houses the definitive version.

[InsaneDavid]

Finally someone who agrees with me! For years I have rambled about how the Lynx version of Paperboy is the best version of the game ever developed, and iv'e played most of the other ports. I absolutely love it! If the Midway Arcade Treasures port is anything to go by... then I even like it BETTER than the arcade version.

If you like Paperboy then the Lynx houses the definitive version.

Ah, the arcade upright is still better but that's mainly due to the control input.

[bones11]

I'll third or fourth on Klax, it's just a great version, one of the best out there. Another favorite of mine is Ponx, a variation on Pong, available from Songbird. It allows 2 players on the same screen, works surprising well.

[Rob2600]

Hmm. Does anybody have screenshots or (even better) video of Electrocop in motion?

I just checked YouTube and there isn't a single Electrocop video. I found some screen shots though:

http://www.danielthomas.org/pop/classics/electrocop_pix.htm
http://www.mobygames.com/game/lynx/electrocop/screenshots

As cool as they are, they don't do the graphics engine justice.


Here are some videos I found of other good Lynx games:

YouTube - Blue Lightning (Atari Lynx) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxKi-hSTvVg)
YouTube - Rygar (Atari Lynx) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyQB_Au_PTI)
YouTube - Xenophobe (Atari Lynx) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtJi8obZdj0)
YouTube - Double Dragon (Atari Lynx) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58U3ySqd8y0&feature=related)
YouTube - Zarlor Mercenary (Atari Lynx) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2tgRs0gbso)
YouTube - Checkered Flag (Atari Lynx) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyVd950F75s)
YouTube - Shadow of the Beast (Atari Lynx) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL2iXkT9yVY)
YouTube - California Games surfing (Atari Lynx) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql2S-wXa-H8)

Blue Lightning is smoother than some 3D Game Boy Advance games and it was released twelve years earlier!

[Steve W]

Shadow of the Beast is a great looking and sounding game, but the gameplay's a bit too difficult for me. Sadly, it's the version that I've made it the farthest into, which isn't far unfortunately. I've always wanted to play the Turbo Duo version, since it's the only one I know of that had a cheat code.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Finally someone who agrees with me! For years I have rambled about how the Lynx version of Paperboy is the best version of the game ever developed, and iv'e played most of the other ports. I absolutely love it! If the Midway Arcade Treasures port is anything to go by... then I even like it BETTER than the arcade version.

If you like Paperboy then the Lynx houses the definitive version.

If you've never played a paperboy arcade machine with full handlebar yoke controller, don't knock it.

The Lynx version of Paperboy is good, but I've been a Paperboy fan since they rolled out the arcade version ... and there are some very good ports of the arcade rom - the PSP Midway Arcade Extended Play and the PS1 Midway Arcade Classics Volume 2 are both solid.

The PS2 / XBOX / Gamecube Midway Arcade Treasures are some of the most god awful ports that Digital Eclipse have ever done, and should not be the standard by which the Lynx or any version is judged.

It's good on Lynx. Enjoy it if you get it.

[Cantaloup]

Some more Electrocop screens:

http://www.atariage.com/screenshot_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=1999

[Ed Oscuro]

I just checked YouTube and there isn't a single Electrocop video. I found some screen shots though:
Thanks; I checked for both but didn't go searching long enough to find Electocop screens.

This game was supposed to have scaling eh?

And Blue Lightning, from that video, doesn't look (or sound, ugh) like anything I'd care to play. Where's the gameplay?

At least it has a couple decent-ish sidescrollers - Shadow of the Beast and Rygar, neither of which is really my thing but they're there.

[Rob2600]

Thanks; I checked for both but didn't go searching long enough to find Electocop screens.

This game was supposed to have scaling eh?

And Blue Lightning, from that video, doesn't look (or sound, ugh) like anything I'd care to play. Where's the gameplay?

Blue Lightning is like a "lite" version of After Burner. It's not the best game, but it was pretty cool at the time.

The graphics in Electrocop do indeed scale. Imagine playing Doom, but only being able to go forwards, backwards, and strafe...no rotation. In first-person, that would stink, but in third-person (like Electrocop), it works really well.

In 1989, Electrocop's graphics were impressive, especially considering they were being done on a portable console. It's too bad the game itself is only average, at least to me.