victorvanschagen

Steel Talons objective: Steel Talons is a 3d flying game. You control a fighter helicopter and your objective is to complete 13 missions. In each map you have to destroy all enemy targets or complete a specific goal within a specific amount of time to win. The objects which you'll have to destroy include vehicles such as tanks and fighter jets, and include buildings like barracks and storage tanks. Gameplay: You start the game by choosing the training mission or one of the first two missions. You will have to complete each mission within a specific time to unlock a new mission. Use the directional pad to fly forward, backward or bank your helicopter left or right. By keeping button B pressed in combination with the pad you can either go higher or lower, respectively turn your aircraft left or right (note the difference between turning or banking the helicopter). You have three types of weapons at your disposal. Press the A button to fire your machine gun. Pressing OPTION 2 will launch a guided missile; using button B together with OPTION 2 lets you shoot bursts of unguided missiles. Finally, OPTION 1 shows your current mission data, which includes a map with enemy targets, a damage meter and ammo reserves. Pressing button B with OPTION 1 switches between third person and first person view. Audio: The quality of all the audio used in the game is decent. In the different menus you get typical militaristic music clips, which suits the nature of the game. What's a nice touch are the vocal clips which are played after selecting a mission. It's a pity that sometimes it's very hard to understand what exactly the flight officer is telling you... During the mission you get the basic sounds of firing weapons, explosions, etc. Graphics: Steel Talons has a characteristic US army atmosphere. Visually, Steel Talons is not extremely attractive. But then again, the missions are in 3d and there simply cannot be so many details. The good thing is that all the visual elements are solidly designed. All the text is clearly readable and the game has an overall good, basic quality. Value: Steel Talons is a nice little game. Every aspect fits nicely together to create an appealing package. Tough the Atari LYNX really is too limited for a 3d game, this is a very good effort (much better than Warbirds, for example) and the frame rate stays just high enough not to spoil anything. To be able to play a 3d game on the LYNX was originally the reason why I bought it, and it was a real visual pleasure to hover the helicopter close to the tall airfield command tower, press B to rotate your craft, and watch the tower circle impressively around you giving an amazing effect of depth and volume. Try it! victor van schagen

Gauntlet: The Third Encounter objective: Gauntlet: The Third Encounter is a topview adventure game. You control a small figure, exploring 40 mazes in an ancient castle looking for the Star Gem. While dodging falling rocks, killing nasty creatures and avoiding monstrous plants you collect keys, gold and a wide variety of useful items. In each maze there's a transport crystal teleporting you to the next level. In some levels you can find a computerterminal which gives you parts of the storyline or functions as a shop (you can buy items with collected gold). Gameplay: You start the game by selecting a character. Each character has a certain amount of Speed, Strength and Missile power, and the difference between the characters is how these abilities are distributed. Some may be strong but slow. Others are weak yet fast. In the game some items will increase your characters abilities temporarily or permanent. Use the directional pad to move, use button A to fire and button B to access your inventory. While keeping B pressed, you can scroll through your inventory and use or drop items with the directional pad. Controlling your character is easy, so is firing and using the inventory. It might be necessary to reorganize your inventory eventually since you can collect dozens of items. It would have been better if collected items were automatically grouped. The biggest flaw of this game becomes apparent immediately: you have to keep the screen, and the LYNX, vertical. For a while, this could be acceptable, but Gauntlet is designed as a game which needs a lot of time to complete. After some time holding the LYNX vertical becomes irritating, tiring and finally painful. I completed this game on the LYNX only a few times. The screen is clearly divided in three windows: The main screen (where you can see your character move through the maze), the inventory screen and an 'action screen' (giving a detailed view of an item or monster in front of you. In this screen you are able to read the text on computerterminals or on some items. It puzzles me why these screens weren't ordered horizontally. Audio: There are very few audio clips and they are very basic. During the game there is only one music clip, which is also quite basic. It's not particularly annoying, but it gets repetitive very quickly. Graphics: Visually, Gauntlet is just above average. It doesn't pack a punch, but it has a decent, solid quality and it's definitely not ugly. Also, Gauntlet has a few nice surprises in store from the aspect of design. When you're near the end of the game, and start to suspect that everything will look more or less the same to the end, the mazes and monsters start to change their appearance. Was everything earlier on still typical fantasy castle/ghost/spider stuff, the last few levels get a distinct scifi look and the game presents you with some very unusual enemies. Value: Gauntlet: The Third Encounter could have been better, and I think people will be put off by holding the LYNX vertical, and the seemingly repetitiveness of the game. However, for those with a little endurance will be handsomely rewarded with nice mazes, surprising monsters and a surprising double ending. Oh yes... and the dragon. victor van schagen

ZARLOR MERCENARY Objective: Zarlor Mercenary is a topview scroller. You pilot a small ship through 6 different worlds and you have to destroy as many spaceships and buildings as possible, without being blasted to bits. For each ship or object you destroy you earn cash (hence the title), which you can use to upgrade your ship. There are also many pick-ups on each level giving extra items, such as shields and megabombs. Gameplay: You either like this type of game, or you don't. For me, it was (and thanks to the Handy emulator, it is) an ideal short break to get rid of too much tension. You start the game by selecting a character with a specific strength, but this makes only a difference in the first level (or if you die often), since after level 1 you will probably have all available weapons. Use the directional pad to move, use button A to fire missiles and button B to fire your laser (it automatically targets the ship closest to yours). Pressing OPTION 1 detonates a very powerful megabomb (you start with 1), destroying everything on screen. Controlling your ship and firing is easy, and you will soon be occupied dodging laser blasts, ships and other hazards. When your experience grows you'll recognize the attack patterns of enemy ships. At the end of each level you get one or more huge crafts which must be destroyed. They too have a specific attack pattern. Recognizing this will help you survive their barrage of missiles. Because of this the game is not impossible to complete, though it will stay challenging. Audio: Basically you get the traditional sounds of laserblasts, explosions, zaps, etc. Though not highly imaginative, they are good quality and do not bore or irritate at all. The music has got some scifi influences, and I have to say is really quite nice. The original LYNX speaker gives a pleasantly warm sound (much, much better than my Gameboy Advance SP) and this music does the audio quality of the LYNX justice. If you really don't like it, you can turn it of by pressing OPTION 2. Graphics: After many years I have now an opportunity to play almost all the LYNX games using the emulator, and by comparing I can say that Zarlor Mercenary is one of the best looking games available (if not the best). Very important: all the text is easy to read and the lay-out of menus is sensible. It really is a feast for the eyes. Each level has a very distinct style, the visual design is great, and the details...oh my. It's got it all, from faux shadow effects to miniscule running figures (which you can blast as well, ouch!) It's rich in colour and style. Is it original, you ask? Not really, but we designers say: 'It's better to steal that which is good than to create that which is bad.' Value: Zarlor Mercenary really is one of the best games released for the LYNX. Every aspect is balanced to deliver a satisfying whole. Visually outstanding, with a clean interface and not too difficult. I really wish it was available on my Gameboy. victor van schagen