Chip's Challenge (1990)

Preliminary: I played this game so much as a kid and was so proud of getting past so many levels. I thought I got past every single one but I just read there are 149 in the Microsoft version? No way I got through that many... It's just a series of puzzles involving certain power-ups and whatnot. Like others have said, lots of trial and error. I usually am not a puzzle guy but perhaps the nostalgia will get me to push through a good chunk of this game. But 148 levels in the original version? Unlikely to play through all that. Still, will be fun to relive that. Shows how different my gaming was back then, I played it because it came with the computer, you know. It's what we had. So I didn't mind the endless trial and error and whatnot because that's what I was able to do. Someone recently said as long as I have good orientation, I will be fine with Phantasy Star 2. I have terrible orientation, and always have haha. I'd go through the same loop of one of the Chip's Challenge levels with the ice skates over and over, repeatedly recognizing I'd already been there. I'm terrible with mazes. But, it's an Old Favorite, so here goes nothing, gotta give it an earnest test. Now, let's see what the original Atari Lynx version was like. (Wow, I just peeked at the video and a) it's not as nice-looking as the Windows version but also b) I did get to level 148 as a kid! Wow)

Well yea it's quite a bit uglier than the Windows version, but it moves really fast which is nice for 89, I remember these levels so it's rewarding feeling, and I'm having fun re-learning the mechancis. It has lots of niceties, like the UI saying how many Chips left to collect and the hints, but 148 levels... Doubt it.

At level 10 and 11 the initial excitement started to wear down. I wont ever say I dislike the game, but this can only hold my interest so long and it lacks the same hook/urgency as a platformer or action-adventure. However, I can't deny I had to force myself to take a break, since I wanted to keep going. Hm

Yeahhh, it's a game to keep in mind if I ever want to go on a nostalgia trip (tho the Windows version), some good music, and overall a good game. Great for a launch game for a handheld gaming device. But moving on

I remember playing this waaaay back in the day in Windows 3.1. I'm really bad at puzzle games so i never got very far but it was entertaining. For a 30+ year old program it holds up surprisingly well. It runs in Win10 without a hitch. You can even pick the visuals/sound you prefer, either the original Atari Lynx (!!) version or the crummier Windows version.

The game itself consists of navigating various types of surfaces, each of which have special footwear that allow you to ignore their effect (i.e. firewalking shoes). There are doors for which you have to find keys, obstacles that have to be turned on/off with buttons, enemies that have to be avoided, et cetera.

It's not very good to be honest. There's a timer (ugh) and if you die you have to start the entire level over again. And a lot of the "puzzling" involves trial & error. Early on there's even a lame trap where one of the block you have to find chips under actually has a fireplace (i.e. instant death). Levels get increasingly maze-like as well. I could deal with this when the only alternatives were Prince of Persia or Dangerous Dave, but now i definitely lack the patience.