PTE57: A Lynx to the Past

[Neon Ignition]

This year marks the twenty fifth anniversary of the Atari Lynx, one of numerous contenders against Nintendos handheld line.

Did you used to own one and what were your memories of the machine? What games were its jewels?

[VR46]

I remember my younger brother getting one for Christmas, must have been 1989, didn't it take something like six AA batteries? sure at the time it was great, did it come out before the original mono Gameboy?
Remember the games and graphics being good for it's day but it wasn't to be a success at that price, and the cost of batteries etc.

[capcom_suicide]

I was a big Lynx gamer. Had both the original and Lynx 2, and I suppose about 20 games.

My memories:

- Battery life was dreadful
- Cali games was great
- Blue lightning was the "Amaze" game
- Todds Adventures in Slime World was the game that really hooked me
- Awesome golf was the best golf game I had on any system for years
- Zarlor Mercenary was a great top down shooter

These games were great, but my goodness there was a lot of DREADFUL stuff too, and it never really got well supported.

[DeathAdder]

I liked mine, and still have a bash on it from time to time. When it was first out, I loved Blue Lightning, Zarlor Mercenary, Warbirds and Steel Talons in particular. Also had APB, Electrocop and Gauntlet, but never really liked them.

Having played on it recently, Zarlor Mercenary is still great, although unless you have autofire, it is hell on the thumbs. Warbirds is still good for a quick blast. Blue Lightning still looks good - at the time, the graphics were mind-blowing.

However, some of the other games I have now are unplayable - Rampage is one.

Double Dragon is surprisingly good on the Lynx.

Chips' Challenge is supposed to be a good game, but I have never played it.

The battery life is poor, but it was better than the Gamegear, especially on the Lynx 2.

[mugetsu]

i hated the thing, although cal games was pretty good.

[Mr Ono]

Had one of the original bricks. Plugged into the mains all the time but played California Games to death on it.

Actually can't remember playing anything else apart from Klax! maybe.

[Duncan James Waugh]

Awesome machine with some fantastic 3D titles as well, didn't see anything like that until the GBA which was what 10 years later? Not to mention the awesome link up options. Some really good homebrew and post-market commercial releases too. Epyx did a great job on this one imo.

[Colin]

Should've been a great machine but for me the bulk of it's library was awful. Put ridiculous amounts of time in California games though, if always while plugged in to the mains......

[ShadowDancer]

Up there with tiger game.com. Played California games like you guys have. Big, bulky, didn't have the charm of the original Gameboy, even with its colour palette.

[CMcK]

I've owned both versions of the Lynx but can't say I was fond of it. Chips Challenge was very enjoyable and there was a cracking port of Klaxon as well. There was a shooter I really enjoyed as well but can't remember the name of it.
From what I've read the Lynx was a really powerful machine for the time. Probably be interesting to see what modern home brew coders could do with it.

[Neon Ignition]

I have memories of the format and I played it once. It was before I really started to pay handhelds any attention as I'd have only been about 7 when it came out. By the time I was looking it was already over but I have faint memories of ads on TV for it too.

[capcom_suicide]

I never did get rid of all my old console stuff, so it's still boxed up!

[Guts]

I know what the Lynx is (I didn't back then), but I never saw it in real life and don't even remember it being marketed here in Finland, unlike Gameboy which had TV ads etc. So, the last poll option for me.

[DeathAdder]

I've owned both versions of the Lynx but can't say I was fond of it. Chips Challenge was very enjoyable and there was a cracking port of Klaxon as well. There was a shooter I really enjoyed as well but can't remember the name of it.
From what I've read the Lynx was a really powerful machine for the time. Probably be interesting to see what modern home brew coders could do with it.

Probably Zarlor Mercenary.

[BaronSqwelch]

I was a big Lynx gamer. Had both the original and Lynx 2, and I suppose about 20 games.

My memories:

- Battery life was dreadful
- Cali games was great
- Blue lightning was the "Amaze" game
- Todds Adventures in Slime World was the game that really hooked me
- Awesome golf was the best golf game I had on any system for years
- Zarlor Mercenary was a great top down shooter

These games were great, but my goodness there was a lot of DREADFUL stuff too, and it never really got well supported.

Pretty much the same as me..but I loved APB too.

I was such a spoilt child I had my lynx in one blazer pocket and my PC engine GT in the other at school
We used to lose hours of break times playing Cali Games...seeing who could get away with the most ludicrous forward flips on the BMX mainly!!