Joust 2: Survival of the Fittest

Joust 2: Survival of the Fittest
Advertisement flyer for Joust 2
Developer(s)	Williams Electronics
Publisher(s)	Williams Electronics
Designer(s)	John Newcomer
Programmer(s)	Joe Hellensen Kristina Donofrio Warren Davis
Artist(s)	John Newcomer Jack Haeger Tim Elliott (cabinet)
Composer(s)	Chris Granner
Platform(s)	Arcade
Release	December 1986
Genre(s)	Action
Mode(s)	1-2 player simultaneous
Cabinet	Upright
Arcade system	Williams Rev. 2 CPU: M6809 (@ 1 MHz) Sound CPU: M6808 (@ 1 MHz), M6809 (@ 2 MHz) Sound Chips: Yamaha YM2151 FM, MC1408 DAC, Harris HC55536 CVSD
Display	Raster resolution: 240 x 276 (Vertical) Palette Colors: 1024

Joust 2: Survival of the Fittest is an arcade game developed by Williams Electronics and released in 1986. It is a sequel to Williams' 1982 game Joust. Like its predecessor, Joust 2 is a 2D aerial combat game with platforms to land on. The player uses a button and joystick to control a knight riding a flying ostrich. The object is to progress through levels by defeating groups of enemy knights riding buzzards. Joust 2 features improved audio-visuals and new features such as mutant buzzards created by eggs falling into lava, the ability to transform from an ostrich to a flying horse, and differently themed levels. Waves no longer seamlessly flow into each other; the gameplay is divided into separate screens with transitions between them.

John Newcomer led development again, which began to create a kit allowing arcade owners to convert an existing cabinet into another game. The original Joust used a horizontal monitor, but Williams chose a vertically oriented screen for the kit as a result of the design's popularity at the time.

Released during the waning days of the golden age of arcade games, Joust 2 did not achieve the success that Joust reached. The game was not ported to contemporary home systems, but was later released as part of arcade game compilations.

Joust 2 is a 2D combat game taking place in the air and on landing platforms, like its predecessor. The player controls a yellow knight riding a flying ostrich and navigates the game world with a two-way joystick and a button. The joystick controls the horizontal direction that the knight travels, while pressing the button makes the ostrich flap its wings. The rate at which the player repeatedly presses the button causes the ostrich to fly upward, hover, or slowly descend. The objective is to defeat groups of enemy knights riding buzzards that populate each level, referred to as a wave. Upon completing a wave, a more challenging one will begin.

Players navigate the knight to collide with enemies. The elevation of an enemy in relation to the player's knight determines the outcome of the collision. If the protagonist is higher than the enemy, the villain is defeated and vice versa. A collision of equal elevations results in the two knights bouncing off each other.Joust 2 introduced a transformation ability that morphs the player's bird into a pegasus, which provides better offensive capabilities while on ground but poor flight capabilities. A second player can join the game. The two players can either cooperatively complete the waves or attack each other while competitively defeating enemies.