Review: Joe's Treasure Quest
Score:
81%
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Yes, this is another fairly high-scoring game, but don't get worried that I'm overrating these titles - I'm simply trying to bring you notice of the best games before the summer is completely gone. Rest assured that some of the turkeys will get named and shamed in due course!
Joe's Treasure Quest is interesting in that it combines elements from several genres. I'd describe it as "a level-based, first person arcade platform puzzle" (phew), which should give you the idea that this is different from anything you've played before.
So you're Joe, and you have complete control of him, from a first person perspective, turning, walking forwards and backwards and jumping when the need arises. Your quest takes you along rickety paths with vertigo-inducing falls on either side, the idea being to collect all the gold coins on each level and then make your way to the exit (painted like a target).
Sound easy? It is at first, but then it starts to get a lot, lot harder. Some path tiles fall away once walked on, so you've got to be quick in getting across each segment and you've got to plan your route carefully so as not to need one of these pathways later on. Then you encounter pinball-like bumpers - touch one of these and you'll be in the chasm in seconds. And THEN you find levels where elevator-like tiles are the key to getting around, with pathways miles above or below each other, and you'll be involved in Indiana Jones style leaps of faith from one tile to another. And all the time you've got to be precise in your walking, otherwise you're off the edge. Again.
The screenshots probably explain the game better than I can in words, but suffice it to say that Joe's Treasure Quest is very well programmed, very challenging in its gameplay and surprisingly addictive. It's also available for UIQ, by the way, so virtually everyone can join in.
The official web site claims the game has 'dozens' of levels, but the gameplay is so hard that I was only able to get through five in two hours of playing. Maybe I'm just not very good at this sort of thing, or maybe the game's a little too hard. The web site also promises a global ranking list, though there's no sign of it yet, nor indeed any extra levels which are hinted at in the documentation. Maybe I'm being too impatient? Synergenix need to put a little more effort into their web site and game support.
Still, a score of 81 means that I recommend this game. It's original and well put together. And in these days of far-too-easy titles that you get bored of in an hour or two, I guarantee that this one will have you still tearing your hair out well into hours five, six, seven and beyond.
Reviewed by Steve Litchfield at