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Almost Adventure
Every month we receive dozens of games that are not quite adventure but may be of interest to the diverse community of adventure gamers. "Almost Adventure" is a new monthly column that will provide a spotlight for games that may be of interest to an adventure community that enjoys experiencing different genres.. Rather than a full, graded review of the product, we will present a first impression based on hands-on playing time.
This month, we feature three games that have all been released within the past week and would all be a welcome, inexpensive stocking stuffer.
Jack
Attack 2
Developed by Seris Applications
Jack Attack 2 is a sequel to an extremely addictive 1980s Commodore 64 game called, ready for this, Jack Attack (thought I was going to throw you a curve ball there, huh?). A cross between Lode Runner and Q-Bert, JA 2 requires you to complete levels by solving puzzles. The premise is simple: you must kill monsters by falling, jumping, or bouncing on them. Levels are completed by pushing blocks and utilizing strategy to get to seemingly unreachable platforms. The player has three lives and unlimited continues to accomplish the goals.
The unique feature of JA 2 is the option to play with someone else on the same level at the same time, allowing children and adults to play together on an equal footing. Or there is also a competitive option that requires the player to try to keep his/her opponent from scoring the most points. Nonviolent and strategic, Jack Attack 2 is a blast to play with your children and belies the misconception that "they don't make 'em like they used to."
Jack Attack 2 has more than 100 challenging levels and can now be purchased at Electronics Boutique, Best Buy, and other gaming retailers for only $19.99.
No
Escape
Developed by Funcom
Distributed by Tri Synergy
So just how long did it take for The Longest Journey to find a North American distributor? Well, just one week after Funcom's TLJ appeared on store shelves, No Escape, their latest product that has been in development for the past year, is now competing for sales.
No Escape is an Internet-based multiplayer game featuring 2 to 8 players from all over the world in fierce but comical one-on-one or team combat. For those who, like me, prefer to play alone, there is also a single-player arcade mode.
Most adventure gamers are not familiar with the world of on-line, multiplayer games, and No Escape is the perfect introduction to this addictive gameplay. No Escape is a popular survival television game show that is transmitted live from a gigantic studio aboard an orbiting space station. Up to eight contestants battle each other on small, artificial planets created specifically for the show. The battles feature controlled violence sans the gore usually associated with such a product, instead using humor and over-the-top characters to involve the player. Seven game modes, in-game chat, an arsenal of weapons, and some big, noisy explosions all combined to turn No Escape into an addictive experience for an on-line newbie like me.
No Escape is now available for $29.99 at most computer gaming outlets.
Hologram Time Traveler
Distributed
by Digital Leisure
Some of you may be old enough—not me, though (ahem)—to remember Hologram Time Traveler as the first hologram coin-operated arcade game. Created by Rick Dyer of Dragon's Lair fame, Time Traveler's other claim to fame was the ability to actually reach your hand into the playing field in an attempt to grab the realistic hologram characters (or so I am told by some of our older adventurers out there).
Now we don't yet have hologram televisions, so Digital Leisure has kindly included a pair of 3D glasses with the game. While they do offer the expected effect, I did manage to hurt my hand when I attempted to reach into my television screen.
Time Traveler is one of those games that used to be unforgiving as it sucked you dry of quarters. You control the five-inch-tall Marshal Gram as you travel through the ages of time to rescue a kidnaped princess. Real people have been used in the game, but it is not all seriousness; nice touches of humor often accompany the attacks from ninjas, cavemen, space knights, and numerous other foes.
The game disc also contains some nice extra features, including the opportunity to watch all of the main sequences of the game and some fantastic video footage from the personal archives of Rick Dyer that discusses the history of the game.
I played Hologram Time Traveler on my DVD player using the remote as the controller, but the game is also compatible with the new Playstation 2 systems and will allow you to enjoy a real "blast from the past" for only $29.99.