Joust

[kainemaxwell]

Which do you like better, Joust or Joust 2? And do you think Joust could work in a 3-D environment or strictly 2d?

[IntvGene]

I am an original Joust fan. The second one never came to the arcades around me, and I only really played it on MAME, so that's probably why.

I loved the 2600 version. It was great two-player fun. The only thing it was missing was the Lava monster.

I never really caught on to the 'transform' feature, or the futuristic look of the sequel.

[Arcade Antics]

The original Joust is one of the all time greats. Still holds up perfectly today. Everything about this game is awesome.

The sequel feels a little rushed, but I've always liked it. I think the two-player game in Joust 2 isn't as strong as it is in the first. Overall, I prefer the original version.

And please, no 3D version. @_@

[NE146]

Big fan of the original for sure. As far as the sequel, believe you me I would've JUMPED on it had I ever seen it, but with such a small U.S. release, there was basically a snowball's chance in hell of it ever coming out in my part of the worlds LOL.. No, as luck would have it the first time I ever played it was on Williams Arcade Classics Part 2 for the PS1 and of course later on Mame.

Maybe it's because I saw it so much later, but I can't really get into Joust 2. I still love Joust of course. Oddly enough, I think Joust is the only classic arcade game where I actually prefer a CONSOLE version of it (the 5200 version) over the original arcade version. :P I'd still love to own a Joust arcade cab though 8-)

[ubikuberalles]

I love Joust on the Lynx but I also like the 8-bit Atari computer version. I like the arcade version on Mame but it kicks my butt.

Joust 3D? I don't see it happening since it probably wouldn't be any better than the 3D versions of Breakout, Pong and Frogger.

[kainemaxwell]

First time I even saw and played a Joust 2 machine was at Herseypark myself actually. I think first time I really got into playing Joust when I was a kid was on my Atari XE and then when I bought the NES version.

[ManekiNeko]

I didn't care for the sequel to Joust. They tried to cram too many features into the game, needlessly overcomplicating it. Who even bothers to transform into the pegasus, anyway? It's a sure-fire way to slow your character to a crawl and guarantee their demise.
Also, everything in the game seems so... well, crowded. You barely have any room to move and as a result you're constantly killed by the game's plethora of enemies. I'll stick with the original game, thanks.

JR

[kainemaxwell]

Well you gotta hand it to them for trying a new concept with Joust. Like it or not. Now what if Joust 2 didn't have the Peagsus element in it?

[Cafeman]

http://cafeman.www9.50megs.com/joust.html

I think the first fan page I ever put up was a Joust page. I love the game and it is one of my top 5 games of all time, along with others such as River Raid and Enduro. I love the innovative, quirky concept.

I saw Joust 2 a couple times, it was in a Kmart lobby. I didn't really like it as I recall, didn't seem the same or as fun. I don't think I even have it on a compilation , come to think of it. I'd certainly play it at home if I had it.

I once tried to design a new 3D version of Joust, just for fun with some other blokes over at the old Next Generation forums. Eventually I convinced myself Joust should stay 2D -- but now, with current system 3D horsepower, I think a cool 3D sequel could be made.

[NE146]

You know.. I DEFINITELY remember a "3D" joust I downloaded off a BBS back aroun 93-95 ish.. It was in the Windows 3.11 days (LOL) and I remembered on our piece o' crap systems it played on a tiny window and seemed to be in slow motion. But it showed you on the back of an animated bird pointing into the screen. So it was almost a FPS Joust if you can imagine that.

On my pc, the screen came out to about 2 inches and if I recall correctly, the gameplay was pretty much non-existant :P. But yeah..... "3D Joust". Anyone else encounter this or remember something like it at all?

[Gamemaster_ca_2003]

I say that nothing beats the original and Joust is no exception, but that does not mean I don't like Joust 2. Also a 3D Joust would be great.

[punkoffgirl]

You know, I don't know why, but I never got into either version at all.

[kainemaxwell]

Very nice site Cafeman! I think I once got up to the teens or 20's level in Joust for the Atari XE when I was a kid.

[digitalpress]

Joust is one of my top 10 "classics". The arcade game (and to almost the same degree, the MAME emulated version with a HotRod stick) kicks so much ass. The two player game is perhaps the best head-to-head experience the classic era ever had. The 2600 version was good, the 5200 version was GREAT.

I couldn't get into the sequel. I tried, and I really WANTED to enjoy it. It was the lonliest coin-op at my college arcade. But it was just lacking the thrills of the first game. Another example of the simplicity of a game being lost to new technology and for that very reason, I hope I never see a Joust 3D.

Long live the pterodactyl!

Joust (arcade)
http://www.digitpress.com/dpsightz/arcade/joust.png
Joust 2 (arcade)
http://www.digitpress.com/dpsightz/arcade/joust2.png
Joust 2600
http://www.digitpress.com/dpsightz/atari2600/joust.gif
Joust 5200
http://www.digitpress.com/dpsightz/atari5200/joust.gif
Joust 7800
http://www.digitpress.com/dpsightz/atari7800/joust.gif

[kainemaxwell]

Can I ask how the 5200 compares then to the Nes version or the Atari XE?
(I barely remember much about the XE version so wondering.)

[digitalpress]

I can't comment on the NES version, I don't really remember (and know I never spent much time with it) but the 5200 and XE versions are identical. Remember, the 5200 is really an Atari 8-bit computer in disguise, as is the XE. There would be very little alteration in the code, if any at all.

[Arcade Antics]

Can I ask how the 5200 compares then to the Nes version or the Atari XE?
(I barely remember much about the XE version so wondering.)

The 5200 version is MUCH better than the NES version. The NES version doesn't have the right "feel" to it at all.

[kainemaxwell]

Hmm and if I could kick my NES into working I'd play it myself...

Thanks for the little tidbit of info too Joe.

[NE146]

Man I tried playing the NES version a couple of times and like AA says, the feel is all wrong. x_x I'd even venture to say it "sucks" :P Play any other version besides the NES and GBA versions ;)

[lendelin]

The NES Joust is bad, eh? Damn, I don't have an Atari, but I'd like to have and play Joust finally.

Is Joust on a classic gaming compilation for the PS1, Dreamcast, or N64 or any other "modern" system?? and if so, how does it fare compared to the original??

[Drexel923]

I haven't played Joust 2, but the first one is a great game. From the way it looks in that the pic, the second one doesn't look like as much fun. I'd still like to play it though to see first hand.

[Arcade Antics]

Is Joust on a classic gaming compilation for the PS1, Dreamcast, or N64 or any other "modern" system?? and if so, how does it fare compared to the original??

It's on compilations for the PSX, Saturn, SNES, Genesis and Dreamcast. The PSX/Saturn/DC versions are emulated, so they're spot-on. The SNES/Genesis versions are close, but I don't think they're perfectly emulated.

[bargora]

Is Joust on a classic gaming compilation for the PS1, Dreamcast, or N64 or any other "modern" system?? and if so, how does it fare compared to the original??

It's on compilations for the PSX, Saturn, SNES, Genesis and Dreamcast. The PSX/Saturn/DC versions are emulated, so they're spot-on. The SNES/Genesis versions are close, but I don't think they're perfectly emulated.
The title of the compilation is Arcade's Greatest Hits: Williams, (or Arcade's Greatest Hits: The Williams Collection, or something close to that, depending on the console). Joust 2 came out for Playstation on Arcade's Greatest Hits: The Midway Collection 2; I don't know if it came out for other consoles.

[kainemaxwell]

On the PC versions as well if anyone's intrested.

[lendelin]

Thanks, bargora, yep, it's also on Midways Greatest Hits vol.1 for the Dreamcast, I'll go for this version...thank goodness I didn't buy the NES version. :)

[NE146]

Y'know, it's funny that Balloon Fight on the NES is a better version of Joust than the NES Joust itself :P

[briskbc]

I went with the first Joust as well. I can remember it being in the corner of a convenience store that was close to the high school. It was next to Robotron. I've spent many a luch hour playing and watching others play. The store was also a Greyhound bus depot so if I ever got to school early enough I would sneak over for a game or two.

I never go to play the arcade version of Joust 2. I didn't even know it existed until 2 years ago. I'm glad I missed it though. Based on my experience with Midway Treasures, the game seems like a quarter pig. I didn't even enjoy it that much.

[kainemaxwell]

How's the NES Joust not "feel right"?

[Balloon Fight]

Joust over Joust 2 anyday. The first time I ever played the second one was on the PS2, and I could never get into it. It also seems a hell of a lot harder than the original too.