Lucky Luke

Lucky Luke’s first level is deceptively easy. It serves to teach the player how to do basic things like walking through doors, walking up ladders, and shooting things without giving you too much trouble. It isn’t until after this that the difficulty starts cranking up and you start needing to get more precise with your jumping and shooting abilities. I wouldn’t call it ‘unfair’ (maybe aside from the minecart level), but it definitely gets brutal during some levels. Most of these levels aren’t linear either, despite what the 2D side-scroller design might lead you to believe. Some levels are disorienting, often requiring you to try and memorize which paths and which doors lead where. On top of that, you will need some platforming skills as you make tight jumps on moving platforms while using Luke’s stiff controls. The gun isn’t too fun to use either, though it comes in handy when enemies are constantly popping out of crates and behind walls.

Generally, I find the pranky level tricks to be funny, such as bonus pickups that will fly through walls and over gaps as you try to chase them. You have to be paying close attention often, as crap will tend to fall from the ceiling or hit you from the background. I love the style of the visuals and music as well. Luke hallucinating in the ‘tornado’ level will cause the whole level to wobble around and change colors. The music is very relaxing as well, which you’re going to need in order to tolerate getting through some of this! I wouldn’t say I enjoyed playing this, but it’s an admirable PS1 game, at least.