Joust 2: Survival of the Fittest

Williams Electronics

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Video games
Headquarters	United States
Products	Joust 2: Survival of the Fittest

Joust 2: Survival of the Fittest is an arcade video game created by Williams Electronics and launched in 1986 as a follow-up to the successful 1982 title Joust. Retaining the action genre set within a fantastical aerial combat environment, players once again assume control of a knight mounted on a flying ostrich, engaging adversaries who ride buzzards. The fundamental gameplay rule persists: the competitor positioned higher during a clash emerges victorious.

This sequel introduces upgraded graphics, improved sound effects, and more intricate gameplay features such as eggs that hatch into mutant buzzards after falling into lava, the capability to transform into a flying horse, additional enemy varieties, and a button that produces random effects upon activation. Rather than the original’s continuous evolving screen, Joust 2 presents separate levels, each with distinct themes and gameplay differences.

Under the direction of John Newcomer, Williams designed Joust 2 to be compatible with a conversion kit aimed at arcade operators, allowing existing cabinets to be modified. The sequel adopted a vertical screen orientation in line with prevailing arcade trends at the time, contrasting with the horizontal display of its predecessor.

Although it introduced several enhancements, Joust 2 arrived after the peak period of arcade popularity and did not achieve the same critical acclaim or commercial success as the original. It was never ported to home consoles but later featured in arcade collections beginning in 1997.

Gameplay

In Joust 2, players engage in two-dimensional aerial combat controlling a yellow knight atop a flying ostrich using a two-way joystick and a button. The joystick governs lateral movement while pressing the button causes wing flaps—multiple presses adjust ascent, hovering, or descent. The goal is to eliminate enemy knights riding buzzards through progressively challenging waves.

Combat involves colliding with foes: if the player’s lance is positioned above the opponent’s during impact, the enemy is defeated; if both are at equal height, they bounce apart. A new feature allows players to transform their mount into a pegasus, which enhances ground attacks but reduces maneuverability in flight. The game supports two-player modes for cooperative wave progression or competitive play.

Other gameplay elements include eggs that fall into lava and hatch into larger Shadow Lords riding scorpion-tail buzzards, Crystal Bats emerging from embedded crystals, and a Gold Egg that triggers random events requiring quick player responses. Voice synthesis is integrated for key moments such as coin insertion, game start, low life alerts, and continue prompts—adding to player immersion.

Development

Joust 2 was produced by Williams Electronics under designer John Newcomer’s leadership. It utilized enhanced monaural audio and raster graphics displayed on a 19-inch color CRT monitor. Consistent with other Williams arcade games, it was programmed in assembly language. Following a downturn in the video game market, Williams’ gaming division had contracted. The company aimed to market an arcade conversion kit designed for vertically oriented monitors gaining popularity in arcades. Management believed developing a sequel would increase interest in this kit and opted for continuing Joust rather than creating another Robotron: 2084. Technological progress enabled Newcomer to introduce new characters, improved audiovisuals, and refined gameplay mechanics. To establish enemy progression, the team added the Knight Lord antagonist. Level designs were influenced by M. C. Escher’s artwork, who was Newcomer's preferred artist. A transformation button was incorporated to diversify gameplay and enhance balance.

Reception

Williams produced roughly 1,000 units of Joust 2, a significantly lower quantity compared to the original title. Industry analysts Brett Alan Weiss (Allgame) and Mike Bevan (Retro Gamer) attributed the underwhelming sales figures to the video game market downturn experienced in the mid-1980s. Presently, arcade cabinets of Joust 2 have become scarce collector's items. Weiss observed that despite Joust 2 featuring enhanced graphical detail, it failed to match the popularity and enjoyment level of its predecessor.

Reflecting on the design choices, Newcomer expressed regret over the decision to use a vertical screen setup, indicating that gameplay benefits more from horizontal displays or screens that support multi-directional scrolling. This vertical orientation also posed challenges for adapting the game to home platforms.

Legacy

Unlike its widely ported predecessor, Joust 2 was mainly accessible through emulation in various compilation releases. In 1997, it appeared in Arcade's Greatest Hits: The Midway Collection 2, with IGN emphasizing its inclusion as a significant highlight due to the game's uncommon nature. The title was also included in the multi-platform collections Midway Arcade Treasures (2003) and Midway Arcade Origins (2012). Both Joust installments, alongside other Midway arcade classics, were featured in an add-on for Lego Dimensions. The development team at Traveller's Tales opted to maintain the original versions of these games rather than designing Lego-themed remakes, although Lego renditions of Joust characters appear outside of the emulated gameplay segments.