Battlezone 2000

Three arcade classics in one, from tank duels through boat racing to Formula cars. The Lynx offering around Battlezone 2000 represents a trio of conversions that together show how varied arcade entertainment could be and how well the Atari Lynx managed to handle it.

The flagship is Battlezone 2000 itself, a modernized version of the legendary vector tank shooter from 1980. You take a seat in a tank, look around a desolate battlefield and eliminate enemy vehicles from a first-person view. The original Battlezone was one of the first truly 3D experiences in arcades and its wireframe graphics went down in history; the Lynx variant dusts off this iconic concept for a new era.

The second piece is Hydra, races of armed fast boats where it's about a combination of speed and combat on the water's surface. The adrenaline here springs from drifting between obstacles while simultaneously fending off rivals, so it's not a purely racing experience but brisk action with a hearty dose of aggression.

The trio is rounded off by Checkered Flag, Formula racing that surprised on the Lynx with unexpectedly brisk and satisfying controls. The sense of speed and cornering managed to conjure real tension on a handheld of that time, and for fans of racing games it was a welcome piece for the collection.

Together this offering demonstrates the breadth of what the Lynx could handle, from historical vector action through water skirmishing to pure racing. For fans of arcade action and racing it's a varied package that reminds us Atari's portable console wasn't afraid to reach for the most diverse genres and faces of the arcade heritage.

Why play: For a varied trio of arcade classics from vector tank duels to brisk racing, a showcase of the Lynx console's genre breadth.