''Jumpman Junior'' is a

platform game A platformer (also called a platform game, and sometimes a jump 'n' run game) is a subgenre of action game in which the core objective is to move the player character between points in an environment. Platform games are characterized by levels wi ...

written by Randy Glover and published by

Epyx Epyx, Inc. was a video game developer and video game publisher active in the late 1970s and 1980s. The company was founded in 1978 as Automated Simulations by Jim Connelley and Jon Freeman, publishing a series of tactical combat games. The Epyx ...

in 1983 for the

Atari 8-bit computers The Atari 8-bit computers, formally launched as the Atari Home Computer System, are a series of home computers introduced by Atari, Inc., in 1979 with the Atari 400 and Atari 800. The architecture is designed around the 8-bit MOS Technology 650 ...

and

Commodore 64 The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International (first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, January 7–10, 1982, in Las Vegas). It has been listed in ...

. In 1984, a port was released for

ColecoVision ColecoVision is a second-generation home video-game console developed by Coleco and launched in North America in August 1982. It was released a year later in Europe by CBS Electronics as the CBS ColecoVision. The console offered a closer expe ...

in Australia, France, Germany, Italy and the UK. It is a follow-up to '' Jumpman'' (1983). While ''Jumpman'' has 30 levels, ''Jumpman Junior'' has 12–all of which are different from the previous game. The game was reduced in scope so it could be released in cartridge form.

Gameplay

''Jumpman Junior'' has the same gameplay as '' Jumpman'' but with new levels. The goal is to disarm the bombs before they explode. To reach the bombs the player must navigate up platforms, ladders, and ropes by jumping and climbing. Each level has a different theme and different obstacles. There are 12 levels and 8 game speeds.

Reception

Antic Alphanumeric Television Interface Controller (ANTIC) is an LSI ASIC dedicated to generating 2D computer graphics to be shown on a television screen or computer display. Under the direction of Jay Miner, the chip was designed in 1977–1978 b ...

'' liked the "excellent" graphics, and faulted it only for the way it started over from the beginning after losing a life. ''

Electronic Games ''Electronic Games'' was the first dedicated video game magazine published in the United States and ran from October 15, 1981, to 1997 under different titles. It was co-founded by Bill Kunkel, Joyce Worley, and Arnie Katz. History The h ...

'' started its review by calling the original ''Jumpman'' "a genuine classic" with levels that were "a coherently-written collection of some of the most interesting play mechanics ever devised." They conclude that the new version is "so good—the playfields are reminiscent of the original, but are all new—that even veteran Jumpmen should check it out." ''

InfoWorld ''InfoWorld'' (''IW'') is an American information technology media business. Founded in 1978, it began as a monthly magazine. In 2007, it transitioned to a Web-only publication. Its parent company is International Data Group, and its sister pu ...

's Essential Guide to Atari Computers'' cited it as a standout among Epyx's arcade games. ''

Computer and Video Games ''Computer and Video Games'' (also known as ''CVG'', ''Computer & Video Games'', ''C&VG'', ''Computer + Video Games'', or ''C+VG'') is a British-based video game magazine, published in its original form between 1981 and 2004. Its offshoot web ...

'' rated the ColecoVision version 89% in 1989.

Legacy

In 2004, ''Jumpman Junior'' was re-released on the

C64 Direct-to-TV The C64 Direct-to-TV, called C64DTV for short, is a single-chip implementation of the Commodore 64 computer, contained in a joystick (modeled after the mid-1980s Competition Pro joystick), with 30 built-in games. The design is similar to the At ...

References

1983 video games Atari 8-bit computer games ColecoVision games Commodore 64 games Platformers Single-player video games Video games about bomb disposal Video games about terrorism Video games developed in the United States {{platform-videogame-stub