The Lost Vikings is a type of puzzle-platform video game that was created by the company formerly known as Silicon & Synapse, which is now known as Blizzard Entertainment. The game was published by Interplay and was first made available for the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom in 1993.
I almost forgot that I have played this underrated gem during the mid-1990s. Playing it again surprised me on how good it was.
The Story
The Lost Vikings is a game about three Viking characters named Erik, Balog, and Olaf who find themselves lost in different times and space. Each character has their own goals, with Erik wanting to escape, Balog wanting to fight, and Olaf wanting to eat. In order to return home, they must work together to solve puzzles and go past obstacles.
The Graphics and Sound
While it doesn't set any new graphical benchmarks for SNES games, its graphics are still good enough. The game uses the wide range of colors available on the SNES, creating visually appealing and vibrant stages. Players can notice the attention to detail in the Vikings' facial expressions, clothing, and weapons, adding life to their characters.
The music can be the debatable part of it. The soundtrack changes periodically to match the different environments, and it can be repetitive over time. However, many players find the music to be okay and enjoyable, with a catchy beat that can make you tap your feet along. On the other hand, some may find the music to be too over-the-top and may prefer playing with the volume turned off to avoid the repetitiveness. Ultimately, personal preference will determine how one thinks of the game's soundtrack.
The Gameplay
You take control of three characters: Erik, Baelog, and Olaf. Each character needs to be controlled individually, which adds a creative aspect to the gameplay. For example, there are situations where you need to press down a switch to open a field, but it's positioned in a way that Baelog can not both stand on the switch and shoot an arrow at the same time. In such cases, you'll need to bring Erik or Olaf to stand on the switch while Baelog operates the switch.
This unique and original gameplay mechanic is truly captivating and contributes to the game's addictive gameplay. It requires you to think and coordinate the actions of three characters, making the gameplay all that more engaging.
The gameplay makes replay value okay. The environments are entertaining, and the overall experience is filled with fun. One great feature is the ability to replay your favorite levels at any time using the passwords. This eliminates the need to progress through the game to reach specific levels again. It is worth noting that the game does not have traditional memory slots for saving progress. Instead, players are required to save their progress using passwords, which need to be inputted when resuming the game.
Gaming through an emulator is easier as you can use the emulator's save state feature when skipping levels.
My Verdict
Despite being Somewhat underrated, it would be difficult to find a video game that matches the nice entertainment and humor of The Lost Vikings. As you progress through the game, the difficulty goes up significantly, adding an extra layer of amusement. Due to the game's increasing challenge, it becomes highly engrossing and challenging to put down once you start playing.
Play it on the great Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a damn good emulator.
Let's keep on gaming in the free world!
