Tempest 2000 makes the Jaguar worth owning…

[smokehouse]

You know, I just don’t like the Atari Jaguar. For the most part it’s a lame system with a shitty controller. Most of the games stink and most fail to impress (yep, even the famed Alien-vs-Predator).

I had a complete, in box system and sold it during the great purge of summer 2005 (had to get funds up for a large Neo Geo buy…well worth it). I sold my system and all of its games…including Tempest 2000.

Fast forward over a year…

I found myself thinking about Tempest 2000 over and over again…man, did I LOVE that game. With time I came to wish I still had it.

I looked and looked for a complete system and finally found one…with a composite/stereo cable AND…Tempest 2000 (my two wants…gotta have a composite cable).

Man, after playing this game for a while, I am so glad to have it back in my collection.

It truly makes the Jaguar worth owning.

[Pete Rittwage]

There's versions for the Saturn and Playstation. I remember one of them being pretty good and the other- not so much. I forget which...

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

Yeah, while Tempest 2000 is indeed a great game, there's versions for the Playstation and Saturn (I've never played the Playstation version, but that must be the one that's not good since the Saturn version is actually an improvement on the Jag version in several key areas) as well as Tempest 3000 on the NUON, so it doesn't quite cut it as a killer app.

Power Drive Rally was always my killer app for the Jag. There's a version of that for the Genesis, but the Jaguar version is way better. It's the best top-down racer I've ever played. So much fun.

I also always have to mention the VLM on the Jag CD which was pretty mind blowing. I'd really like to see the light machine Yak created for the Xbox360.

Ultimately neither of those was "killer" enough for me since I did sell off my Jaguar and Jag CD a couple years ago.

I've never played Iron Soldier 2, which is another game that many people consider a must-have on the Jaguar.


...word is bondage...

[Arcade Antics]

I dunno.

Back in 1994, Tempest 2000 definitely made the Jag worth owning. It single-handedly sold most of the Jaguars back then. These days, I think there are lots of other games that make it worth owning, but Tempest 2000 is just... too easy. It's still cool and alla that, but I don't find myself itching to play it any more.

Now Defender 2000... THAT game makes the Jag worth owning. :D

[Mr.collection]

This (http://www.benheck.com/Games/Atari/jag/jag_page1.htm) is a jag worth owning.

[Flojomojo]

SFD, I'm with you -- I recently re-re-re-acquired a Jaguar for Tempest 2000. There's something very satisfying about the game on the Jag that isn't quite the same on any of the other platforms. I really like the eye candy of the Playstation version, the ease of use of the Saturn version (better resolution, CD sound), and NUON's Tempest 3000 is super-trippy, but the original Jag version is tuned to perfection and remains the best.

I also like Defender 2000, though it's not nearly as playable.

I'm hoping that Space Giraffe on XBLA packs some of the same magic as Tempest2K!

[bangtango]

I've sold it twice, including one in the past few months, and regretted it both times. It wasn't the only good game on the Jaguar, though. I like Alien vs Predator better, though. As much as it gets run through the mud by most people here, though, it gets to be embarrassing to admit you like the game. With all the criticism AVP takes for being "dated" and for not having music or the ability to jump, you take more heat for admitting you like it than for liking something like Checkered Flag.

But yeah, Tempest 2000 is good fun.

[allsport11]

I loved playing Tempest 2000 on the Jag. Really is one of the best games on the system. Sent it off as part of a Secret Santa package on here two years ago. Hope it made someone else happy to have it. Gotta track myself down another copy eventually. :)

[ReaXan]

I aquired a jaguar about 5 years after its release date.

I consider it more of a "24 bit" system more than a "64 bit" since its definately better than the SNES OR Genesis graphic wise but no were close to Playstation or Saturn.


If Nintendo would have boughten the Jag's technology from Atari im sure they could have utilized it and made it into a success.

Imagine a game like Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy 3 with Jag graphics back in the day.

[ReaXan]

I aquired a jaguar about 5 years after its release date.

I consider it more of a "24 bit" system more than a "64 bit" since its definately better than the SNES OR Genesis graphic wise but no were close to Playstation or Saturn.


If Nintendo would have boughten the Jag's technology from Atari im sure they could have utilized it and made it into a success.

Imagine a game like Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy 3 with Jag graphics back in the day.

[dreamcaster]

Personally though, I wouldn't bother paying the high price that Jaguars go for (never seen one in the wild here) just so I could play a game that's cheaper and easier to find on the PlayStation.

For the record, I own Tempest X3 on PSX and it's awesome.

[Hypnotuba]

I've sold it twice, including one in the past few months, and regretted it both times. It wasn't the only good game on the Jaguar, though. I like Alien vs Predator better, though. As much as it gets run through the mud by most people here, though, it gets to be embarrassing to admit you like the game. With all the criticism AVP takes for being "dated" and for not having music or the ability to jump, you take more heat for admitting you like it than for liking something like Checkered Flag.

But yeah, Tempest 2000 is good fun.


Yes, both are great! Those 2 games got me back into gaming, really. I hadn't played for years, but when the Jag was getting blown out for $30 at KB Toys back in 1997, having always liked Atari, I picked one up, along with Dino Dudes and Supercross 3D. . . . . .

Ooops. Not good game choices. I was like, this is what I've been missing? Then I bought Tempest 2000, and everything was fine. :) I was blown away.

When I got AvP, it had such atmosphere, it was great. Music would've ruined the experience. Just the hum and background noise of the ship was enough.

[Rogmeister]

I prefer the original Tempest 2000 to the Playstation version. Sometimes there's actually too much happening on screen in the PS version and it makes it hard to see what's coming. I guess the Jag version is indeed a bit easy...if I start on the first level, I can play it usually foro over an hour before I lose all my men.

Yes, AvP and a number of other early Jag games had no music but I always thought the absence of music made both AvP and Doom more effective.

Now I'm going to have to pull out my Jag soon. I haven't played it in awhile...

[Iron Draggon]

T2K is a definite must own for the Jag... if they had made it the pack-in, things might've been alot different for Atari...

My other favorite on the Jag is Ruiner Pinball... I'd say that it's a must own title too, but you kinda have to like pinball...

[Pantechnicon]

Tempest 2K on the Jag is great. It's one of the 1st games I got with the system when I got mine back in 1998.

As great as the music is on the game, I usually play with it off. Like Rog said, there's a lot of visual stimuli in this game - perhaps too much. Playing with the music off lets you hear the audio cues when you can't exactly see what's happening deeper down on the playfield.

A must own for all Jag owners. No doubt about it.

[starsoldier1]

I think the reason I haven't sold my Jag off yet is definitely because of Tempest 2000 and maybe Rayman as well. Although the graphics and sounds are better in the other versions, I like how the games have no loading screens. Also the Jag itself seems to going up in value as of late.

[Hypnotuba]

As great as the music is on the game, I usually play with it off. Like Rog said, there's a lot of visual stimuli in this game - perhaps too much.


One thing that always amazed me about this game was that no matter how much was happening on the screen, even if it was filled with flashing pixels, you could still make out what was happening and keep playing! I think the framerate even got choppy during those intense moments, but I never thought it resulted in a cheap kill.

The only thing that was tricky was some of the webs with super sharp points. I found it hard to tell which slice of the web I was on. But, these webs are very uncommon.




A must own for all Jag owners. No doubt about it.

Yes, yes. Definitely makes the Jaguar worth owning.

[camarotuner]

This comment has gotten me threatened with being shot before but, my favorite Jaguar game (besides AVP which I have given up trying to defend) is Cannon Fodder. Yeah it's a stupid game but it's an INCREDIBLY FUN stupid game.

[diskoboy]

To me - there are three must-haves for the Jaguar.

1. Tempest 2000
2. Rayman
3. Alien Vs. Predator

I no longer have a working jag, yet I still have these games if that says anything.

[Garry Silljo]

Canon Fodder is an awesome game. If the jag version wasn't a bit glitchy it would be my favorite game for the system probably.

[RARusk]

"This comment has gotten me threatened with being shot before but, my favorite Jaguar game (besides AVP which I have given up trying to defend) is Cannon Fodder. Yeah it's a stupid game but it's an INCREDIBLY FUN stupid game."

The only problem I have with Cannon Fodder is that you can't play it with a mouse. I played the Amiga version and the game works a lot better with a mouse than with a joypad.

[john_soper]

I prefer the original Tempest 2000 to the Playstation version. Sometimes there's actually too much happening on screen in the PS version and it makes it hard to see what's coming.

T2k is supposed to be unlockable in the Playstation TX3 version. I haven't done it myself, it's very hard to get to.

[Flojomojo]

I prefer the original Tempest 2000 to the Playstation version. Sometimes there's actually too much happening on screen in the PS version and it makes it hard to see what's coming.

T2k is supposed to be unlockable in the Playstation TX3 version. I haven't done it myself, it's very hard to get to.Nah, it's easy, just get a high score and enter "yiff!" or "H_V_S" <<- those __ are spaces, and then you're in. It's not a very faithful version of 2000, though.

There's a great "definitive review" of the Playstation game by Jeff "Yak" Minter, the coder who made the Jaguar version. He says that it's been tarted up and dumbed down. Text reprinted here: http://www.geocities.com/~irata/tx3.html

It really is amazing what a little bit of playtesting and tuning can do to a game. Think of Super Mario Brothers compared to all the zillions of clones that came out. SMB nailed the control and set the bar for everyone else, but even now, 20 years later, it has yet to be topped.

[pragmatic insanester]

there were two beat 'em ups slated for the jaguar. one of them, conan, looked pretty good from the two screen shots i found. i wish they could have been completed -sigh-.

[walter_J64Bit_]

I was playing T2k just today 8-) have you tried playing the game with a Rotary Control? It makes for better game play! ;)

[smokehouse]

I was playing T2k just today 8-) have you tried playing the game with a Rotary Control? It makes for better game play! ;)

I’d love to but I refuse to pay the $$ those modified Jag controllers fetch on eBay.

[sabre2922]

Tempest 2000 on Jag is one of the two great games on the system along with AVP -wich blew me away back in the day btw-Rayman is good also but was slightly better on both the Saturn and Playstation.

I second a vote for the completely kick ass Tempest X on Playstation. I practically wore out a dual shock Playstation playing that one game.
I lost the game about 6 years ago and have no idea what happened to my copy of it damn i luved that game.

[walter_J64Bit_]

I was playing T2k just today 8-) have you tried playing the game with a Rotary Control? It makes for better game play! ;)

I’d love to but I refuse to pay the $$ those modified Jag controllers fetch on eBay.

If your handy with mod's you can make your own for all most nothing. ;) You can use a 2600 driving controller, just look here.
http://www.mdgames.de/jag_eng.htm

[T2KFreeker]

I was playing T2k just today 8-) have you tried playing the game with a Rotary Control? It makes for better game play! ;)

I’d love to but I refuse to pay the $$ those modified Jag controllers fetch on eBay.

If your handy with mod's you can make your own for all most nothing. ;) You can use a 2600 driving controller, just look here.
http://www.mdgames.de/jag_eng.htm

How's it Walter, been kicking it long here? LOL

As for the Jaguar, easily one of the most underated systems ever, and still is. The machine is awesome, and Tempest 2000 is awesome as hell. Even though I do enjoy the Saturn and Playstation versions, they both do have their shortcomings over the Jaguar version, and just to make it known, Rayman is actually better on the Jaguar over the Playstation and Saturn versions, having the Playstation being the worst. The game was built on the Jaguar and ported to the other two systems. The only reason it released on the Playstation over the other systems is Sonys deep pockets. The Jaguar version has more animation frames and cleaner graphics over the other two versions and the lack of overly long load times is also a great point. The only game at the time that actually could rival it graphics wise next gen was Astal for the Saturn. Both were hand drawn and just amazing looking.