[typing]
[typing]

Chances are if you owned or used a Windows computer in the mid-'90s,
Chances are if you owned or used a Windows computer in the mid-'90s,

this right here looks might familiar.
this right here looks might familiar.

It's Chip's Challenge,
It's Chip's Challenge,

the game with the little guy that says "bummer" when you mess up.
the game with the little guy that says "bummer" when you mess up.

[male voice] "Bummer."
[male voice] "Bummer."

But Chip's Challenge had its start years before the Windows Entertainment Pack was even a thing.
But Chip's Challenge had its start years before the Windows Entertainment Pack was even a thing.

In fact, it started out as a game for the Atari Lynx handheld game console.
In fact, it started out as a game for the Atari Lynx handheld game console.

Developed by Chuck Sommerville for Epyx and published by Atari in 1989.
Developed by Chuck Sommerville for Epyx and published by Atari in 1989.

We'll get back to the Windows game soon,
We'll get back to the Windows game soon,

but for now, this is the game as it appeared on the Lynx.
but for now, this is the game as it appeared on the Lynx.

In case you're not familiar with the Lynx,
In case you're not familiar with the Lynx,

it was a very technically capable, but ultimately failed, handheld from Atari.
it was a very technically capable, but ultimately failed, handheld from Atari.

It was able to pull off all sorts of hardware trickery,
It was able to pull off all sorts of hardware trickery,

like hardware sprite scaling and drawing filled polygons.
like hardware sprite scaling and drawing filled polygons.

But Chip's Challenge doesn't make much use of that,
But Chip's Challenge doesn't make much use of that,

since, as you can see, it's a pretty straight-forward top-down puzzle game.
since, as you can see, it's a pretty straight-forward top-down puzzle game.

You control a nerdy kid named Chip McCallahan,
You control a nerdy kid named Chip McCallahan,

who happens to have a thing for a girl in his science lab
who happens to have a thing for a girl in his science lab

known as Melinda the Mental Marvel.
known as Melinda the Mental Marvel.

He'd do anything to join her Bit Busters club.
He'd do anything to join her Bit Busters club.

And, no, I don't think that's a euphemism, but don't quote me on it.
And, no, I don't think that's a euphemism, but don't quote me on it.

In order to do so, Chip has to crunch his pretzels and navigate Melinda's clubhouse,
In order to do so, Chip has to crunch his pretzels and navigate Melinda's clubhouse,

which is a series of 144-plus puzzles of continually increasing difficulty.
which is a series of 144-plus puzzles of continually increasing difficulty.

The original Lynx version here may look pretty chunky as far as the low-res graphics go,
The original Lynx version here may look pretty chunky as far as the low-res graphics go,

but it controls fantastically and is nothing short of addictive.
but it controls fantastically and is nothing short of addictive.

The music is pretty cool, too, in that 8-bit chiptune kind of way,
The music is pretty cool, too, in that 8-bit chiptune kind of way,

and it fits right in with the computery theme.
and it fits right in with the computery theme.

But as good as the game was,
But as good as the game was,

the Lynx didn't exactly have a huge install base
the Lynx didn't exactly have a huge install base

and the game deserved a larger audience.
and the game deserved a larger audience.

So it wasn't long before it appeared on other systems like the Commodore Amiga and the PC.
So it wasn't long before it appeared on other systems like the Commodore Amiga and the PC.

But holy crap, is the box boring!
But holy crap, is the box boring!

Boring.
Boring.

Boring!
Boring!

Even these portraits are boring.
Even these portraits are boring.

Is that supposed to be Melinda and Chip?
Is that supposed to be Melinda and Chip?

This looks more like a badly-edited stock photo
This looks more like a badly-edited stock photo

and a portrait from some poor janitor's company ID card.
and a portrait from some poor janitor's company ID card.

Inside the box, you get the game on either a 3½-inch or 5¼-inch floppy disk,
Inside the box, you get the game on either a 3½-inch or 5¼-inch floppy disk,

a copy-protection wheel that's pitch black so as to protect being copied
a copy-protection wheel that's pitch black so as to protect being copied

and reminds the legit purchaser that "piracy is theft,"
and reminds the legit purchaser that "piracy is theft,"

and the instruction manual,
and the instruction manual,

which covers the installation, basics of gameplay,
which covers the installation, basics of gameplay,

items and obstacles and not much else,
items and obstacles and not much else,

because, hey, it's a puzzle game and not puzzling enough to need a giant manual.
because, hey, it's a puzzle game and not puzzling enough to need a giant manual.

The home computer versions of the game were more or less the exact same thing as the Lynx version,
The home computer versions of the game were more or less the exact same thing as the Lynx version,

just with some different music and color palettes.
just with some different music and color palettes.

Like this DOS version I'm showing here seems to have given Chip a bit more melanin,
Like this DOS version I'm showing here seems to have given Chip a bit more melanin,

but otherwise, the game is practically the same as before and I'd highly recommend these versions.
but otherwise, the game is practically the same as before and I'd highly recommend these versions.

It's not until Windows Entertainment Pack 4 from 1992 that things changed very much.
It's not until Windows Entertainment Pack 4 from 1992 that things changed very much.

Also included in the Best of Windows Entertainment Pack that I've previously reviewed,
Also included in the Best of Windows Entertainment Pack that I've previously reviewed,

the Chip's Challenge game here is a completely rewritten version by Tony Krueger
the Chip's Challenge game here is a completely rewritten version by Tony Krueger

under license from Epyx.
under license from Epyx.

The most obvious change is the graphics that have been completely redone,
The most obvious change is the graphics that have been completely redone,

which now has Chip looking less like a high school nerd
which now has Chip looking less like a high school nerd

and more like a an elementary school ambiguous nerd.
and more like a an elementary school ambiguous nerd.

But there's also a new MIDI soundtrack, some memorable sound effects,
But there's also a new MIDI soundtrack, some memorable sound effects,

and the game's logic has been slightly tweaked.
and the game's logic has been slightly tweaked.

So, now that we're at the version most people remember, let's get to the gameplay.
So, now that we're at the version most people remember, let's get to the gameplay.

And, that is, well...
And, that is, well...

it's Sokoban.
it's Sokoban.

And if you don't know what that is, it's Chip's Challenge, except not,
And if you don't know what that is, it's Chip's Challenge, except not,

because Chip's Challenge get's way more involved than Sokoban before long.
because Chip's Challenge get's way more involved than Sokoban before long.

This is a tile-based game, where every level is a room with locked doors and computer chips,
This is a tile-based game, where every level is a room with locked doors and computer chips,

and it's your goal to collect the required keys and number of chips before exiting the level.
and it's your goal to collect the required keys and number of chips before exiting the level.

While it's simple to wrap your head around the tile-based puzzles,
While it's simple to wrap your head around the tile-based puzzles,

the enemies and hazards will have to be avoided in real time,
the enemies and hazards will have to be avoided in real time,

so a bit of keyboard dexterity is required.
so a bit of keyboard dexterity is required.

Although, you CAN play the game with a mouse,
Although, you CAN play the game with a mouse,

but that makes approximately less than zero sense to me.
but that makes approximately less than zero sense to me.

Talk about clunky.
Talk about clunky.

Anyway, there are 144 main levels in this one, too,
Anyway, there are 144 main levels in this one, too,

as well as the extra four levels from the original game
as well as the extra four levels from the original game

and one extra level in this Microsoft version.
and one extra level in this Microsoft version.

The first eight levels are introductory levels,
The first eight levels are introductory levels,

easing you into the game's various foils and puzzle elements.
easing you into the game's various foils and puzzle elements.

But once you get past those, the training wheels are off
But once you get past those, the training wheels are off

and the game does not let up.
and the game does not let up.

Thankfully, it has a password system that allows you to pick up where you left off at any time.
Thankfully, it has a password system that allows you to pick up where you left off at any time.

So if you you lose all your lives,
So if you you lose all your lives,

or want to continue bashing your head against the keyboard later, you can do that.
or want to continue bashing your head against the keyboard later, you can do that.

It also means that you can skip around the levels at your leisure,
It also means that you can skip around the levels at your leisure,

which is super handy for lazy game reviewers capturing footage.
which is super handy for lazy game reviewers capturing footage.

But the satisfaction in a game like this lies not in the hopping around of levels,
But the satisfaction in a game like this lies not in the hopping around of levels,

like a rabbit that's just injected speed into both its eyeballs,
like a rabbit that's just injected speed into both its eyeballs,

but in spending countless minutes trying to figure out a puzzle
but in spending countless minutes trying to figure out a puzzle

and then finally having the lightbulb go off.
and then finally having the lightbulb go off.

It may have a childlike look and feel to it in this version especially,
It may have a childlike look and feel to it in this version especially,

but the game is absolutely no slouch in the
but the game is absolutely no slouch in the

"holy crap, I hate this game but I can't stop playing" style of puzzles.
"holy crap, I hate this game but I can't stop playing" style of puzzles.

Fire, water, ice, teleporters,
Fire, water, ice, teleporters,

invisible walls, bombs, bugs, fireballs,
invisible walls, bombs, bugs, fireballs,

student loans, Q
student loans, Q

and all sorts of things are out to ruin your day in this game.
and all sorts of things are out to ruin your day in this game.

And while the goal is just to make it through the freakin' things,
And while the goal is just to make it through the freakin' things,

you do have a timer that determines your score based on how quickly you solve them,
you do have a timer that determines your score based on how quickly you solve them,

just in case you didn't already have enough anxiety.
just in case you didn't already have enough anxiety.

Though really, this is one of those games that I find strangely comforting to play.
Though really, this is one of those games that I find strangely comforting to play.

Most of the puzzles rely on logic to complete, not necessarily reflexes,
Most of the puzzles rely on logic to complete, not necessarily reflexes,

which is good because the movement along tiles isn't the smoothest thing I've ever controlled.
which is good because the movement along tiles isn't the smoothest thing I've ever controlled.

I can just zone out and just solve logic puzzles all day some days,
I can just zone out and just solve logic puzzles all day some days,

and this is one of those games that lets me do that,
and this is one of those games that lets me do that,

and keeps me interested because there are just so many levels.
and keeps me interested because there are just so many levels.

When it does move away from navigational logic
When it does move away from navigational logic

and starts to rely on mazes filed with instakill enemies, that gets annoying,
and starts to rely on mazes filed with instakill enemies, that gets annoying,

though it's something that can be overcome by furiously hitting Control-R.
though it's something that can be overcome by furiously hitting Control-R.

Still, I wish there were less of those.
Still, I wish there were less of those.

About the only other thing that could improve the game for me is some kind of level editor.
About the only other thing that could improve the game for me is some kind of level editor.

And I mean even Sokaban had that,
And I mean even Sokaban had that,

so why it wasn't included in at least this Windows version is beyond me.
so why it wasn't included in at least this Windows version is beyond me.

But as it is, Chip's Challenge remains one of the most memorable
But as it is, Chip's Challenge remains one of the most memorable

and enjoyable games from the Microsoft Entertainment Packs for good reason.
and enjoyable games from the Microsoft Entertainment Packs for good reason.

It's a puzzle game that isn't a bummer -- ha ha!
It's a puzzle game that isn't a bummer -- ha ha!

Along with SkiFree, JezzBall, Rodent's Revenge and Tetris,
Along with SkiFree, JezzBall, Rodent's Revenge and Tetris,

I spent countless hours playing the crap out of this game as a kid.
I spent countless hours playing the crap out of this game as a kid.

Sucks that the game tends to be a pain to get running on modern operating systems,
Sucks that the game tends to be a pain to get running on modern operating systems,

being that it's a Windows 16-bit executable,
being that it's a Windows 16-bit executable,

but if you're resourceful, you can figure it out.
but if you're resourceful, you can figure it out.

And there's always the other home versions that feature the exact same puzzles
And there's always the other home versions that feature the exact same puzzles

that are a bit easier to play through an emulator.
that are a bit easier to play through an emulator.

But, yeah, whether you're wanting to play it for nostalgia,
But, yeah, whether you're wanting to play it for nostalgia,

or just because you want a fun puzzle game with tons of puzzling content,
or just because you want a fun puzzle game with tons of puzzling content,

Chip's Challenge hasn't really aged
Chip's Challenge hasn't really aged

and is well worth tracking down.
and is well worth tracking down.

[MIDI music]
[MIDI music]

Want more reviews of games worth tracking down, as well as some that clearly aren't?
Want more reviews of games worth tracking down, as well as some that clearly aren't?

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Click these handy video links and watch some more.

Man, isn't living in the future great?
Man, isn't living in the future great?

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And as always, thanks for watching.
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