Electronic Gaming Monthly's Top 27 Atari Jaguar Games

Blue Lightning CD (Jaguar)

#27

"I'm sorry, but this game doesn't cut it. Blue Lightning looks and plays like a bad Commodore 64 game. Heck, even the Lynx version was better. The gameplay is surprisingly slow, and when you do a barrel roll, the whole game slows down. The audio is average for a CD game, nothing special. If you're going to have a game on a 64-bit CD-ROM system, it should at least be able to compete with 16-bit flight sims. Give me more After Burner or Air Diver any day." (2.25 out of 10)

Air Cars (Jaguar)

#26

"Uh ... what is this?! Somebody please tell me this isn't a Jaguar game! Tell me I'm not playing an Atari 2600. Air Cars suffers severely from very poor graphics and not-so-special sound effects. Worse yet, the control needs heavy refinement as it's difficult to direct your movement. About the only redeeming quality is the ability to play with up to four people, which doesn't save it." (3.5 out of 10)

I-War (Jaguar)

#25

"I-War is simply a polygon game where your main goal is to cruise around, shoot some shapes in each level and then find the exit. The shaded-polygon graphics aren't the best in the world, but that's not even the problem. The problem is excitement: There is none. Even the bonus levels in the game will put you to sleep. I-War is simply nothing more than a graphically enhanced version of the old Atari 2600 game Combat. Could this be a game that's not even worth a rental?" (3.9 out of 10)

Trevor McFur in the Crescent
Galaxy (Jaguar)

#24

"For one of the first games for the new Atari Jaguar system, Trevor is very disappointing. The graphics are very nice, but the game is not very challenging, not to mention the controller cramps your hand. Surely they can do better." (4 out of 10)

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (Jaguar)

#23

"More or less your run-of-the-mill action fighter game that follows the movie. There are plenty of moves to learn, and the graphics are so-so. The only problem is with the movie released a while ago, it feels like too little too late." (4.4 out of 10)

Super Burnout (Jaguar)

#22

"This game runs out of gas before the first turn. The night races were interesting, but the frame rate is something that needs improvement. I guess I've been spoiled by playing Ridge Racer and Daytona. This game is definitely a step backward from those games. The bottom line is that I didn't have fun playing it. After I went through the various tracks, I found myself putting it back in the box." (4.75 out of 10)

Cybermorph (Jaguar)

#21

"I'll have to admit that I expected more from the all-powerful Jaguar, butthis is a first-generation title. Cybermorph offers some cool feature like nicely shaped polygons and non-linear movement, but the sound effects were horrible and Skylar was a nuisance. The idea of finding pods on the planets got old quickly. There was a lot of strategy involved making Cybermorph a decent first title." (5 out of 10)

White Men Can't Jump (Jaguar)

#20

"I didn't find myself taking to the air too often with White Men Can't Jump. The half-court perspective isn't impressive at all. Some of the trash talk from the announcer is cool after you take it to the hoop, make a three-pointer or are rejected. But the game is still too blocky looking and the control isn't where it should be. You can count me out of this b-ball action. I'm all hooped out!" (5 out of 10)

Flip Out (Jaguar)

#19

"I generally like puzzle games, but lately I've been finding out that maybe I don't like them as much as I used to. The graphics are blurry and not very clear, except for the actual tiles. The concept of flipping ties is okay, but to have all these tiles in the air and then juggle them to the correct spots just bored me after a while. Admittedly, it takes a while to get used to, but it still left me frustrated with not enough incentive to push on. A decent concept but not enough to keep my attention." (5.1 out of 10)

Atari Karts (Jaguar)

#18

"This game rates high on the cuteness department but low on technique. Although the scenery changes, each race is an exercise in repetition: Pick up icons, don't hit anything. The game was easy to learn, and it looked like a Mario Kart hybrid. I just wish it offered greater variety such as a Battle Arena Mode, perhaps." (5.25 out of 10)

Alien vs. Predator (Jaguar)

#17

"I'm a big fan of both the Alien and the Predator movies, and this game's graphics are good enough to pull you right into the game. Unfortunately, the game play was not very well thought out. You almost always take a hit when fighting, and you can't jump over acid. Why do the Aliens leave all the bodies around? That's not like them. Where's the music? Is it an option I missed? It's okay as far as I'm concerned." (5.75 out of 10)

Double Dragon V (Jaguar)

#16

"Compared to the other Jag fighting games, it does play okay, but it's still below par for most other systems. The game actually plays better on the Super NES and doesn't look all that different. The biggest problem, once again, is lack of control. Sure it may be the most playable one so far, but it still isn't good enough for this fighting fanatic. I never cared for this game too much, and this version hasn't changed my mind. If you have a Jag, you might want to check it out." (5.9 out of 10)

Raiden (Jaguar)

#15

"Despite what my comrades say about this game, I think Raiden is an above average shooter. While it never got much attention from me in the arcades, Raiden does offer plenty of excitement, especially in the later levels. The music really shows what the Jaguar can do if given enough time. Plenty of power-ups, nice bombs and big bosses add up to a fun time. Now, if we can only see more games like this." (6 out of 10)

Syndicate (Jaguar)

#14

"You're looking at the best home translation of Syndicate, yet the graphics, sound and missions all rival the excellent PC and Mac versions to the pixel. An added bonus in the adjustable zoom feature for the Jaguar. The controller does a fair job of moving the character around, but all the buttons take some time to get acquainted with. If strategy games are your thing, and you love blowing stuff up, Syndicate will do nicely." (6.25 out of 10)

NBA Jam TE (Jaguar)

#13

"How many versions of NBA Jam are there going to be? I'm getting pretty tired of this game, but its translation over to the Jaguar works well. Same power-ups, same hot spots, same old, same old. I've done the math, and this game will keep Jaguar fans happy, as well as those who don't own Tournament Edition for any other systems." (6.25 out of 10)

Dino Dudes (Jaguar)

#12

"Dino Dudes is, essentially, Lemmings and Humans for the Jaguar. If you like strategy games of that type, then you'll probably find it of interest. The graphics are pretty good and the control is adequate. An OK game." (6.4 out of 10)

Bubsy in Fractured Furry Tales (Jaguar)

#11

"The talking bobcat is back, Bubsy fans will love this version of the popular character, and this one will prove challenging to even the most hardened veterans of the series. The levels are huge, the graphics are very detailed and the sound is equally impressive. Non-Bubsy fans probably won't be converted, but those raised on the feline will obviously take to the character. Just one quibble, through -- the control could be tweaked a bit; otherwise, it's a fine game." (6.4 out of 10)

Troy Aikman NFL Football (Jaguar)

#10

"The play control is a little better but still isn't what it should be for a big-time football game. The characters are huge and the game looks great. It's a step up from Troy's 16-bit games and the play options are very good. Especially the play selection accelerator which adds to the realism of the game. It was a good, solid effort and the game is still fun to play -- for the most part." (6.5 out of 10)

Theme Park (Jaguar)

#9

"At first glance, this game looks like it could be a real blast, and it is, but you are going to need real patience to get anywhere in the game. First off, the text is incredibly tiny and if you're playing through an RF cable, you better be prepared for eye pains. Second, the menus are a nightmare to navigate through at first. However, once you get these problems worked out, you'll find Theme Park to be a decent simulation game." (6.5 out of 10)

Zool 2 (Jaguar)

#8

"This is a pretty good version of the pint-sized ninja character -- enhanced by the addition of the playable female character. As usual, the levels are huge, but at times, are visual overkill. Not a bad game, though." (6.6 out of 10)

Doom (Jaguar)

#7

"The computer version is an excellent game, and this one retains many of the same aspects. All the weapons and levels are faithfully reproduced. There are several drawbacks, though. First off, the sounds just aren't there, and there is no save game feature to let you thoroughly explore and test situations. Overall, it is a good reproduction, but after playing the computer version so much it doesn't compare." (6.75 out of 10)

Wolfenstein 3D (Jaguar)

#6

"This Jaguar version of the PC hit is superior in many respects. For one, the graphics are much crisper, which makes it easy to identify enemies from afar, plus the music and sound effects have been dramatically improved. I especially like the automap feature. The only drawback that really hurts this game is that your character moves through the levels way too fast, making it tough for precision aiming." (7.25 out of 10)

Iron Soldier (Jaguar)

#5

"A surprisingly good combat simulator, with excellent polygon graphic. There are several combat systems to master (using guns and even the robot's fists to destroy buildings and enemies). One of the best features of the game is being able to pick your combat area rather than starting at the same one. The control does take a while to get used to (especially with the various buttons), but this is a very good Battlezone-esque title." (7.4 out of 10)

Cannon Fodder (Jaguar)

#4

"Finally a game that doesn't stress your brain and leaves you to some 'mindless' shooting. There is some strategy, but the fun of it is the simple move-and-shoot game play that is a great stress reliever. The characters are small but have a cute almost Lemmings appeal. If you're tired of the same old texture-mapped, high-end-looking graphics, this game will hit the spot." (7.75 out of 10)

Rayman (Jaguar)

#3

"Rayman seems to be one of the coolest new characters to come along, and Ubisoft is more than happy to put him on every system. This Jaguar edition definitely has some colorful graphics and incredible animation. Side by side, the PlayStation and Jaguar versions are nearly identical, right down to the perfect animations. My only minor gripe is, alas, the control. It's hardly noticeable except when jumping. Otherwise, Rayman is terrific and worth the price of admission." (8 out of 10)

Baldies (Jaguar)

#2

"Baldies is a fun and comedic strategy game, comparable to a cross between WarCraft and Lemmings. At first glance, Baldies looks like just another shallow puzzle game, but in actuality it is a challenging strategy-based title that incorporates a little humor and a lot of planning. Dropping skunks in the enemy base and launching surprise attacks by concealing troops in trees are just some of the high points in one challenging stage of Baldies. Gamers should try it." (8.5 out of 10)

Tempest 2000 (Jaguar)

#1

"This is the type of game I want to see on the Jag! This title brings back memories of my arcade hopping days. The vector graphics are great and the music is also superb. What really makes this game perfect is that it is new. I am very tired of me too type games and nothing done on any system to date even comes close to Tempest. If you have a Jaguar, you have to get this game. A great game to zone-out on!" (8.5 out of 10)