Chip’s Challenge 1 & 2 Review

Hearing about Chip’s Challenge gives me a rush of nostalgia like nothing else. I recall this game when I was a toddler believe it or not. This game on MS-dos at the time was handled as shareware, which for those who do not know what that is: freely passed software. Mostly in floppy discs, hard discs, even down to surfing online on dial up BBS. Unfortunately, this game was a bit before that was accessible. It was based off of the Atari Lynx hand held system before moving to other platforms. Those platforms are listed above if you are curious. The original game was designed and coded by Chuck Sommerville, who also made about a third of the levels. Most of the conversions from the Atari Lynx original to other formats were carried out by Images Software in the UK. But that is for another time. It has been a good while since I sat down to cover a throw back game, well that is sort of a fib I did cover Al Lowe’s Leisure Suit Larry reboot. Chip’s Challenge is a over head puzzle game. Much like others you might know as push block games you might have played around with on older systems, or through emulation. I will be covering both games for this review.

The game itself is mostly a puzzle game combining some really nifty elements of items which help you along the games over its one hundred and forty five plus levels. The games story plot is basic. You play as Chip who tries to join the Bit Blasters Club however he is told he must complete all of the challenges before him before he may hang out with his dream girl named Melinda the Mental Marvel. The game itself is quite long. This is referring to the first game of course. Prior to its initial release they have done away with its password save feature, and placed in a progression save feature. Every time you boot up the game it will land you where you left off prior in a previous play through. How does it play do you ask, did it translate well for a modern crowd?

Well they have very much so tried to keep the old charm of the game by merely enhancing the graphics slightly. Keeping that flavor the older game prescribed. Rather then the arrow keys you are given the WASD keys to navigate Chip around each puzzle map. The puzzles paced well at first, then the spike in difficulty hit the moon after level fifteen. Not to say that is a bad thing, I do not really enjoy when a game holds me hand most of the time. That slows down games way to often let me tell you. One thing the game is lacking is one of the more basic things gaming has today. I understand emulating the classic windows experience, however no actual support of full screen for the game. At all. I went to go look any where to see if the developers were going to address this issue and they did say in a new patch to come will allow users to go fullscreen. Sadly at this point and time for the review I had to get a chair and see very close to my monitor, as if me and the said monitor were sharing a spaghetti dinner. Lady and the tramp reference… what?

Most of the game is trial and error, with the sense of the traditional key collecting most games were notorious for back in the day. Think I wanna be the guy, but with more clear set traps, or obstacles in your path.The game play is and was enjoyable.  From the original, this is a great updated version. The only issue I have with the game is the fact for now it is stuck in windowed. Having a large monitor, it is murder to see the game sadly. I recall as a child getting up to level forty five before my brother took over the pc to do his thing online hunting down some demos from PC Gamer, or whatever he was up too. The game can be beaten roughly under 7 hours given with the errors you make first times through. You may revisit levels to try to beat your first try.  The games items are a mixed blessing. You use the items to get over ice, one directional platforms, and fire.Adding to the complexity of the game. Enemies are usually narrow, having a fixed set of moves you can easily figure out at time.s However, screw those balls that bounce around. The price range of this game set is very reasonably priced. five dollars lands you the original game, remastered, plus the unreleased Chip’s Challenge 2. Plus a level maker.

The second game: Chip’s Challenge 2 you are left off with Chip and his new dame, Melinda the Mental Marvel attending a annual e-prom. Chip McCallahan had won the heart of Melinda the Mental Marvel and they were celebrating together at the Bit Busters annual eprom. Now a new challenge has been issued by the International Brain Game Club. As the two best Bit Busters, Chip and Melinda have a fresh set of levels to beat together, which have been created by Vladimir Gerajkee the Puzzle Master from a combination of new & old monster, hazards and game elements.The game itself was unreleased supposedly. Along with a level editor to add and make your own twisted little puzzles. The game play is the same as the Ship’s one, however with a few enhancements that balance out the games difficulty quite a bit. The tutorial gives you a easier work through into the games flow. Mid way through It was very frustrating in a good way. I was stumped. I sat there for so long just trying to beat a level. Melinda is also playable in the game. Having a free range to walk on ice, unlock yellow doors. However she does need a special perk to get across certain planes. But I will leave that to you to figure out, as I do not like giving away too many spoilers in puzzle games.

I was just stumped for a while. I managed to get through, after doing so I felt so accomplished. part two boasted a big time improvement of its older brother in CC1. Its truly a great thing to feel  that joy completing such a challenge in most games. When finally beating level 72 I felt like the man.