Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Buzzard Bait stays true to the classic Joust formula, casting you as a valiant knight astride a noble ostrich. The controls are crisp and responsive, allowing you to flap your way across the platforms with surprising precision. Mastering the timing of your wing flaps is crucial: too few, and you’ll miss your target; too many, and you’ll spin out of control or collide with walls.

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Each wave introduces new challenges, from groups of standard enemy riders to lava trolls that shamble along the lower platforms. After defeating a foe by landing atop them, their ostrich transforms into an egg that must be collected before it hatches back into a rival. This risk-reward loop keeps you on your toes and encourages aggressive play while punishing hesitancy.

The tension ramps up further if you linger: a menacing pterodactyl swoops in after a brief delay, its swift movements and immunity to your strikes forcing you to focus on evasion. The combination of enemy types and the timer-based threat creates a dynamic experience that feels both familiar to Joust veterans and fresh to newcomers.

Graphics

Built for the Motorola 6847 graphics chip, Buzzard Bait leans into the CoCo and Dragon’s limited palette with three selectable color schemes. Whether you prefer the classic system green and black, a warm “buff” mode reminiscent of old CRT monitors, or a stark black-and-white display, the game offers surprising visual clarity in each option.

Sprites are cleanly drawn, with each ostrich and rider easily distinguishable even in the busiest moments. The dungeon backdrop is simple but effective, featuring crenelated platforms and bubbling lava pits that serve as a constant visual reminder of the stakes. Animations are smooth, and enemy movements are well telegraphed, giving you a fair shot to react.

Though Buzzard Bait doesn’t push the envelope compared to modern titles, it makes smart use of its hardware constraints. The lava trolls glow menacingly against dark floors, and the pterodactyl’s sudden swoop cuts a stark silhouette across the screen. The result is an aesthetic that feels both retro and thoughtfully designed.

Story

At its heart, Buzzard Bait is a simple tale of knightly competition in a subterranean tournament. You assume the role of a brave champion, pitted against rival riders in a medieval dungeon setting. Each level represents a new bracket in this bizarre ostrich joust, where only victory secures your place on the next platform.

While there’s no dialogue or cutscenes, the premise is carried by imaginative details: the eggs left behind by defeated foes, the glowing eyes of lurking lava trolls, and the sudden alarm when the pterodactyl arrives. These small touches give the game a sense of world-building without overcomplicating the action.

The lack of an overarching narrative arc leaves room for player imagination, invoking nostalgia for arcade-style storytelling where each screen tells a self-contained episode. As you progress, the difficulty spikes and your own legend as Buzzard Bait’s champion grows—if only in your own mind.

Overall Experience

Buzzard Bait is a faithful homage to Joust that stands on its own merits. Its tight controls, varied enemy roster, and escalating challenges make it a compelling pick for retro gaming enthusiasts. The choice of color schemes is a thoughtful nod to hardware limitations, ensuring the game looks good on any display.

For newcomers, Buzzard Bait offers a snapshot of early-’80s arcade design: straightforward objectives, instant restarts, and a constant push to improve your high score. Veterans of the genre will appreciate the faithful replication of Joust mechanics combined with unique twists like lava trolls and the timed pterodactyl threat.

Whether you’re building a classic gaming collection on the CoCo, Dragon, or an emulator, Buzzard Bait delivers a satisfying blend of nostalgia and challenge. It may not reinvent the wheel, but it polishes the Joust formula into a gleaming gem that’s well worth your quarters—or your digital credits.

Retro Replay Score

null/10