Joust is a classic arcade action game, originally released in 1982 by Williams Electronics and ported to the NES in 1987. You control a lance-wielding knight mounted on a flying ostrich, battling waves of enemy knights riding buzzards. The core mechanic relies on altitude: to defeat an enemy, you must collide with them while positioned higher on the screen.
How to Play
Navigate the arena and repeatedly flap your mount’s wings to gain altitude. When you knock an enemy from their buzzard, they drop an eggโcollect it quickly before it hatches into a stronger, faster opponent. Watch out for the Pterodactyl that appears if you take too long to clear a wave, and avoid the Lava Troll hands at the bottom of the screen.
Controls: Use the Arrow Keys to move, press Z to flap your wings (A button), X for the B button, Enter for Start, and Shift for Select.
Tips
- Stay High: Altitude is everything. Try to stay near the top of the screen to give yourself a natural advantage over spawning enemies.
- Egg Priorities: Always prioritize collecting dropped eggs. If they hatch, the new enemy will be mounted on a faster, more aggressive colored buzzard.
- Pterodactyl Weakness: The Pterodactyl is dangerous but can be defeated by striking it perfectly in its open mouth with your lance.
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