Review: Joust (PS Store) (PS3)

The PlayStation store is slowly gathering momentum but has a long way to go to offer the wide range of classics and original releases currently on display in the Wii Arcade and Xbox Marketplace. Joust along with Rampart, were the first pre-PSone titles to arrive on the PS3 in Europe and have enjoyed a touch of optimisation to encourage browsers to part with £1.99. Yet even with that modest outlay Gamestyle is still left feeling a little cheated.

All too often the term “classic” is banded about when discussing retro releases, and Joust is no different. While it may have enjoyed tremendous success stateside upon its release in 1982, its not what Gamestyle would label a classic by any means. However it has lived on, giving birth to several sequels, interpretations and reaching out to new generations thanks to the Midway Arcade Treasures series and the Live Arcade. Therefore it is not surprising to see Midway trusting Digital Eclipse once again with this port, having previously worked on Robotron and Defender. Although for whatever reason the small price tag must have dictated the lack of effort that’s gone into this release.

While Jousting is the most noble of medieval sports, here the approach is tongue in cheek, which was symptomatic of many titles from the early 80’s. It is also an extremely shallow title with nothing more to offer than riding around on your ostrich and defeating the constant stream of enemy knights. This is achieved through precision aiming of your lance whilst charging towards your oncoming opponent. Some variety is introduced by offering varying levels of knights and the need to destroy all the eggs onscreen before the pterodactyl swoops into action. Its arcade roots and stream of targets means its fun for a few minutes but lacks any longevity.

Joust is looking great on the PlayStation 3, with the visuals extremely crisp and clear for what is a title almost 25 years old. Despite its roots being in what today is a limited format, the range of colours, shapes and backgrounds is still disappointing. Apart from taking advantage of the resolution, effort elsewhere is sadly lacking, as Joust on the PS3 introduces little else. Yes, we do have a limited two player online mode (if you can locate an opponent) and leader boards, but these will only appeal to the real retro enthusiast rather than anyone seeking out a worthwhile gaming experience. With no voice function, you’re not even able to communicate about the good old days when you do find an online foe.

Gamestyle expected much more from Joust (even for £1.99) as it has appeared elsewhere offering more superior enhancements. It is a faithful port of the original version, but lacks any worthwhile additions or game play to keep you coming back for more.

Rating: 3 / 10

Words by Jason Julier