Jinx, though almost unheard of even in gaming circles, remains one of the biggest surprises of the PlayStation generation, due mainly to the unlikely climate to which it was conceived.
The story is a simple tale of a King, Queen and their court being put under a spell and kidnapped by pirates, leaving only the court jester Jinx to battle for their safe return. His journey involves the completion of six worlds consisting of three levels each, and though it's fair to say that it isn't the most original of gaming concepts, Jinx's design is vastly underrated, with areas that are distinctive in their appearance and offer a variety of challenges.
Mamoo City is where things kick off, and whilst it is very much in the vain of the earlier 3D platformers of its generation (such as Gex and Spyro), it proves to be an ideal opener with some nice sections designed to aid the player in learning the controls (though fortunately not with formulaic training routines) and also capturing a simple, effective atmosphere of a magical Kingdom. By the time you reach the worlds of Pyramidicia and Aquaquatica (desert and water respectively), the game really starts to stretch its legs, with a mixture of block-pushing; switch-flicking; ledge-jumping and swimming abilities mixing together very nicely - Jinx certainly manages the whole "kids Tomb Raider" thing as well as Croc ever did.
Jinx has a range of items at his disposal, ranging from cherry bombs and anvils for dispatching single enemies, to devastating tornados designed to wipe out several in one go. Best of the lot though is the egg-timer which is a supremely useful tool as it slows time around your character - not only do the enemies move slower, but so do the platform mechanisms - most notably the retracting ledges and descending ceilings. These devices are all the more welcome as they disguise the fact that Jinx's basic combat leaves a lot to be desired - his puny staff attack is extremely short range and highlights some particularly unflattering collision detection troubles, and if it wasn't for the secondary bounce attack making life a little easier, the fight system could have been a real problem.
Manufacturer's description:
Jinx, the court jester, has entertained the royal family of the planet Ploog for years with his jokes, japes and juggling. Harbouring ambitions to be a famous magician, Jinx's moment of destiny arrives one day when a band of villainous pirates kidnaps the royal family and casts an evil hex across the land. Using magical powers, Jinx's journey will take him through the six realms of Ploog, overcoming tricks and traps in his quest to save the kingdom.
Features:
* Platform game with simple, intuitive controls
* Run, leap, carry blocks, cast spells and use weapons
* An intriguing storyline
* Larger-than-life friend and enemy characters
* Large, free-roaming levels packed with power-ups
* For 1 player
Features:
- Third or first person perspectives.
- 3D graphics
- Cartoon graphics
- Medieval Fantasy theme.
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- Jewel Case Covers
