Atari Lynx - Multiplayer Machine

[IntvGene]

Okay, am I the only one that doesn't see the Atari Lynx as a handheld? I mean, I bought my Atari Lynx pretty much at launch at the same time as a bunch of friends, at we have rarely used it as a handheld machine. It's always been a multiplayer machine, and frankly, that's what it does best.

Slime World - best described as Metroid Deathmatch. Sure, you're shooting water, but it is so fun with five or six players.

Battle Wheels - Any Car Wars fan knows how good this game can be. Design your car, and flamethrow your friends in the Dustbowl, or any of the other arenas. Possibly the best part? Jump out of your flaming car and shoot down your friends while on foot for the ultimate revenge.

Xenophobe - Better than the arcade. 4 players at a time, over twenty levels and you can play as the Xenophobe too.

Others:
Warbirds - four player dogfighting.
Gauntlet - self-explanatory.
Zarlor Mercenary - four player shmup.
etc.

If you've never played your Lynx multiplayer. You have no idea what you are missing. It's too bad that Guardians: Storm over Doria never saw the light of day, as it might have been a great multiplayer RPG.

We used to play teams with Slime World. We would play in separate rooms, with the comlynx going under the door. Usually it was 2-on-2, although we had the odd 3-on-1 or whatever. Absolutely great. It's so hilarious that the GBA is just no being discovered for its multiplayer abilities, and the Lynx did it 15 years ago.

Anyone else have any Lynx multiplayer stories?

[Ze_ro]

Y'know, I've never even had the chance to try a multiplayer Lynx game... I don't know anyone in the same city who owns a Lynx, and I live way too far away from any of the classic gaming expos and such :(


It's too bad that Guardians: Storm over Doria never saw the light of day, as it might have been a great multiplayer RPG.

Was this the plan for Guardians? Multiplayer RPG? If so, it was definitely ahead of it's time, what with Zelda: Four Swords and all for the GBA.

--Zero

[IntvGene]

Was this the plan for Guardians? Multiplayer RPG? If so, it was definitely ahead of it's time, what with Zelda: Four Swords and all for the GBA.


Yea, that was the plan.. however loose it was. There were a couple of screenshots released. And, you can see them, along with the proposed boxart on one of the AtariAge catalogs here:
http://www.atariage.com/catalog_page.html?CatalogID=74&currentPage=2

While it was ambitious, and never got much off the ground, I do believe that it could easily have been done on the Lynx, given the proper time and programming staff.

[zektor]

I bought the Lynx at launch as well (at Babbages) and boy was a psyched. I really did love that "portable". Still do. But, unfortunately, I never found anyone else in the area with another Lynx to do some multiplayer goodness. Sad, I feel I missed out on something now...

[Gunstarhero]

I bought the Lynx at launch with a friend that also wanted one. We rode our Puch Mo-Peds in the cold at 40 MPH to the EB that had them in, which was an hour ride one-way.

We bought every multiplayer game we could get our hands on soon after that.

-Warbirds: This is the best one because this creates the most suspense. The fact that you can hide in the clouds, shut down your engine and silently stalk your enemy makes this the most exciting game for multiplayer. We actually had some furious 3 player matches after school once in awhile, with some other kid I don't remember...ooops.

-Checkered Flag: Very competetive, this puts the Jaguar version to shame. This actually has awesome control and better graphics, and it has a circuit mode for multiplayer!

-Guantlet III: Finally a game that utilized the sideways feature of the Lynx...awesome multiplayer as well.

-Rampart: Ha! It doesn't even need to be said how awesome this is, if you don't know Rampart by now, I feel sorry for you.

-Slime World: Of course the big daddy of multiplayer, I've had the pleasure of 3 player games before. Best part is seeing someone's expression when they find out they are in a room with a Megabomb, and they fervently try to get out.

-Xenophobe: Almost arcade perfect, so if you are a fan of the Arcade, then there is no negative thing to say about this, simply great.

thats all the multiplayer I can remember right now.

[omnedon]

I have 2 lynxes, two copies of Zarlor, but no ComLynx cable. :(

[NoahsMyBro]

I'm in the same boat as most of you guys - I have a Lynx and several games, but only played multiplayer once - a Checkered Flag game with a few other guys at JagFest '98.

None of you appear to be near NJ, but if any other Northeastern US area folks are reading this thread, how about we get up some multiplayer Lynx game at the next NJ Classic or NAVA? Or possibly PhillyClassic?

Anyone interested in that?