Alright, GamerFan, it’s a lazy afternoon in ’89, and we’ve got Jeopardy! Junior Edition loaded up on the NES. Ready to have some trivia fun?
Absolutely, RetroGamer84! Though, I must admit, trivia isn’t usually my go-to. But hey, let’s see what this game has in store for us.
So, just like the TV show, the game gives us answers, and we need to supply the question. I can already tell this is going to be a rollercoaster of keyboard fumbling.
The screen lights up with the Jeopardy! theme, nostalgic and promising a good time – if only in theory.
I do appreciate that it’s aimed at younger players, so maybe the questions won’t be impossibly hard. But that onscreen keyboard… that seems like it could be a challenge in itself.
Agreed! The cursor moves slower than a snail in a tar pit. And spelling out the questions within the time limit is going to be, let’s say, interesting. But hey, let’s dive in and see.
As they start, the first round categories pop up: Animals, Sports, Movies, Music, Math, and History.
Nice variety! But I bet they botched the simplicity with that clunky cursor mechanic. Let’s try ‘Animals’ for $200.
Okay, ready to buzz in?
They face the challenge of buzzing faster than each other, only to struggle with the cursor on the onscreen keyboard.
Man, how do they expect kids to type fast with this thing? It’s like trying to write a novel using an Etch A Sketch!
I think they really overshot with this interface. Makes me miss the simple, direct action games like Mega Man. Okay, I’ll take ‘Movies’ for $400.
They continue to play through, laughing at how cumbersome the game mechanics are.
Well, trivia is supposed to be fun, but this game needs some major ergonomic rethinking. Oh, guess what I read – the developers who made this were from Rare! The same team that gave us Battletoads and RC Pro-Am.
Rare? Really amusing! They were clearly having an off day with this one. Maybe they spent all their creativity points on their other titles.
Suddenly, it’s revealed they’re entering the Final Jeopardy round.
Okay, this is it – the final challenge! Let’s see what random category they throw at us.
Spoiler Alert – It’s ‘Famous Americans.’ Ready to wager?
Both make their wagers with some chuckles over their likelihood of winning.
Final answer is ‘This inventor patented the light bulb in 1880.’
Too easy! Even if typing out ‘Who is Thomas Edison?’ takes forever on this clunky setup.
And we did it! High scores! Now we can proudly say we conquered Jeopardy! Junior Edition, albeit slowly and painfully.
So, final thoughts on this one?
It’s a fun concept and nice for a bit of education, but the interface is a nightmare. Definitely aimed at patient kids – or masochists.
Indeed. While Jeopardy! Junior Edition might be a solid educational experience, the sluggish cursor and typing mechanic made it less fun and more frustrating. But hey, we had some laughs, and it’s a good break from battling Metroids and Kraid.
Absolutely! And for all you trivia fans out there – our top tip is to get really, really good with that NES controller.
Or better yet, stick with the TV show. Watching Alex Trebek do the job is way more entertaining. See you next game!
