Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The heart of NIV Bible & the 20 Lost Levels of Joshua lies in its varied gameplay modes, combining devotional reading with interactive puzzles and an action-packed side-scroller. Players can navigate the full New International Version text with simple or complex word search options, making Bible study feel more like a game than a chore. Whether you’re hunting for key verses or testing your memory in themed puzzles, the cartridge aims to keep you engaged between chapters.

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Bible Word Match and Bible Shepherd both draw on well-known board game mechanics—Memory and Hangman, respectively—while weaving Scripture into every challenge. In Word Match, pairing up hidden Bible words rewards careful observation and sharp recall; in Shepherd, each letter guess can save or lose one of your flock, blending suspense with scriptural vocabulary. Both modes are single-player experiences that cater to fans of religious trivia and casual puzzle enthusiasts alike.

For those craving a more traditional gaming experience, Joshua: The Lost Levels steps in to deliver twenty additional stages of side-scrolling action. Modeled on the Game Boy title Joshua & the Battle of Jericho, this mode tasks one or two players with guiding Joshua’s avatar through hazards, enemies, and environmental puzzles. Although the controls are straightforward—run, jump, and attack—the level design ramps up in complexity and demands precise timing, making each new stage feel like a fresh test of skill.

Graphics

As a Game Boy cartridge, NIV Bible & the 20 Lost Levels of Joshua adheres to the platform’s signature monochrome palette, rendering text and sprites in crisp black-and-white clarity. The UI for the Bible reader is clean and intuitive, presenting verses in a legible typeface and simple menus that let you toggle search difficulty without fuss. While it won’t rival color handhelds, the readability is top-notch even on older hardware screens.

The word games maintain a minimalist but functional look: a grid of hidden words for Memory and a pen populated with sheep for Hangman. Icons like cherries, Booms, and the leaping sheep are rendered in straightforward pixel art that communicates their purpose instantly. It’s modest by modern standards, but the animations—such as the flashing selection box or a sheep’s triumphant jump back into the pen—add a dash of charm to otherwise static screens.

Joshua: The Lost Levels ups the ante with a more detailed sprite for its hero and a variety of backdrops: rocky cliffs, temple corridors, and symbolic set pieces inspired by biblical episodes. Enemy designs are kept simple but recognizable—serpents, armored guards, and chariot wheels—while level hazards like spike pits and moving platforms are clearly defined. Overall, the graphics lean into nostalgic Game Boy aesthetics, offering sufficient visual feedback and thematic atmosphere.

Story

At its core, the cartridge’s narrative spine is the Bible itself. For players seeking spiritual engagement, the inclusion of the full NIV text means easy access to foundational stories, teachings, and wisdom literature. There’s no supplementary voiceover or animated cutscene, so the storytelling relies on your own reflection as you navigate passages or complete word puzzles that reference real verses.

The side-scrolling Joshua adventure loosely follows the biblical account of Jericho’s walls coming down and subsequent conquests in the Promised Land. While it doesn’t delve into theological exposition, each level’s theme and set dressing nod to episodes from Joshua’s journey—moral triumphs, enemy strongholds, and divinely guided obstacles. As a result, the action feels connected to the source material, even if it stops short of a fully narrative-driven campaign.

Between modes, the game encourages a blend of study and play that underscores the spiritual message: know your Scripture, memorize key passages, and see heroes of faith in action. Whether you’re matching words from Proverbs or guiding Joshua past enemy patrols, the experience stays rooted in biblical context without overwhelming players with dense commentary.

Overall Experience

NIV Bible & the 20 Lost Levels of Joshua is a niche but commendable title for those seeking both edification and entertainment on the go. If you value faith-based content, this cartridge offers an impressive amount of Scripture alongside engaging puzzle and action modes. The variety of activities ensures you won’t grow bored quickly, jumping from verse searches to memory challenges to platforming in a single sitting.

The learning curve is gentle: word search settings let beginners or scripture scholars choose their own difficulty, and the side-scrolling action features responsive controls that never feel unfair. Multiplayer in Joshua: The Lost Levels adds replay value, letting two players cooperate or compete through the expanded level roster. For solo gamers, high-score chases in Bible Word Match or attempting to guess longer words in Bible Shepherd keep the challenge alive.

While it won’t replace dedicated study apps or high-end handheld adventures, this cartridge carves out its own space by marrying devotional reading with classic handheld gameplay. Fans of retro gaming, casual puzzle solvers, and Bible enthusiasts will find plenty to appreciate. The combination of educational tools and extra levels of Joshua’s quest makes this an appealing purchase for anyone looking to deepen their scriptural knowledge while enjoying a slice of Game Boy nostalgia.

Retro Replay Score

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