VIKING CHILD 
1 player, horizontal game 
Atari Corp., for the Atari Lynx 
$34.95 
Stereo? No 
OVERVIEW:
Can't a guy fulfill his destiny in peace? Brian the Viking child was
just sitting at home when the Norse god Loki appeared (between stints
in GHOULS AND GHOSTS, natch). Worried about the prophesy that Brian
will grow up into a mighty Viking leader, Loki has kidnapped Brian's
family, spirited them across the land, and dared the young boy to
rescue them. If Brian can survive the rescue of his family, he may get
to fulfill this destiny someday.
This is the premise of VIKING CHID, an action-adventure game for the
Atari Lynx, adapted from the European computer title. You play the
part of Brian, who must explore many stages of the side-view scrolling
landscape in search of your family. A family member has been hidden
throughout the land, guarded by both Loki's forces and a bit of
deception. Only by agility and intelligence can you complete this
quest.
GAMEPLAY:
When you boil the game down, VIKING CHILD is essentially a
run-and-jump quest game with a few adventure-gaming touches. Brian
loses health over time and in fights with monsters, while each victory
earns money and points. Though the trip is very linear, there is a lot
of terrain to explore, and houses, castles, and caves contain shops
selling weapons and magic. Finally, you can't exit a level without
first uncovering and defeating the level's chieftain monster, who is
hidden from immediate view.
In the end, the combination of action and adventure is only partially
successful, which hampers the appeal. As an action game, VIKING CHILD
is a bit slow; Brian walks and jumps at a modest rate, while monsters
run and jump all over the place. There are numerous fights, but they
consist mainly of poking creatures with a dagger or throwing weapons
against them. And while there is much to see, this game offers none of
the sophistication of real role-playing games. In its favor, VIKING
CHILD is a tough game, with time limits and Loki's forces combining to
whittle down your health.
GRAPHICS/SOUND:
The graphics on VIKING CHILD are done fairly well. The adventure
itself makes good use of earth-tone colors and detail. Brian and the
creatures are drawn small enough to give a good view of the
surrounding area, without losing much detail. There are also some
elegant static screens and lots of cute touches throughout. Sounds, in
contrast, are an absolute minimum. There are some nice scores, but the
few primary game sounds are simply basic.
SUMMARY:
While VIKING CHILD is a pleasant diversion, it is missing the
refinements needed for greatness. The biggest appeal is in exploring
the land and just trying to survive, but it should not be mistaken for
an adventure game.  Still, if you're looking for something that's a
little more than the typical run-and-jump title, VIKING CHILD is worth
a try.
 GAMEPLAY: 7 
 GRAPHICS: 8 
 SOUND  : 6 
 OVERALL : 7 
From: ST+ diskmag issue 22
... The Magic Sword of Excalibur... Proof that I am the True King!
--- JetMail 0.99beta22
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