Joust
1982 · Platform / Action · Arcade
Overview
Joust is a 1982 action game developed and published by Williams Electronics for arcades. Players assume the role of knights armed with lances and mounted on large birds. They progress through levels, which consist of a single screen filled with floating platforms, by defeating enemy knights riding buzzards and other opponents.
Deep Dive
Joust is a 1982 action game developed and published by Williams Electronics for arcades. Players assume the role of knights armed with lances and mounted on large birds. They progress through levels, which consist of a single screen filled with floating platforms, by defeating enemy knights riding buzzards and other opponents.
Developer Story
Joust was designed by John Newcomer at Williams Electronics in 1982. The concept of a knight riding an ostrich and jousting against buzzard-mounted enemies was entirely original. The physics — flapping to gain altitude, collisions decided by height — required genuine skill to master. Joust also featured a co-operative two-player mode where the second player rode a stork, but friendly fire was always enabled.
Did You Know?
- The physics system required players to flap the button to gain altitude — whoever was higher in a collision won, creating a genuinely skill-based mechanic.
- Joust's two-player mode was co-operative but friendly fire was always on — accidental kills were common, and deliberate betrayal was possible.
- The Buzzard Riders regenerated as faster pterodactyls if their eggs weren't collected quickly — time pressure was constant.
- A pterodactyl could occasionally appear and was indestructible, forcing players to avoid rather than fight it.
- Joust was ported to the NES and Atari 2600, with both versions being notable for faithfully capturing the original's feel.
