Not So Classic Games: Juggernaut (PS1)

Juggernaut, a psychological horror adventure game that I consider one of the best games I played with my PS1. It suffers a bit from some very dated graphics, but its deliberately slow pace and constantly frightening atmosphere will draw in those looking for a big change of pace. I wasn’t expecting too much of this games since I heard from a few people that this game was pretty lame. But after establishing some quality time into this one, I came to the conclusion that some reviewers seem to be forgetting that the games that they play are not just for them, but for fans of that particular genre or for people looking to expand their gaming horizons! Let’s go on with the review now!

The Plot
The game begins as you arrive at your girlfriend’s house after receiving a phone call from a strange man. You get there, only to find out that the man who called is a priest, and your girlfriend is possessed! You find out that an ‘evil force’ has entered her body and the only way to save her is to enter her soul and cleanse all the evil forces that are there!  And before you know it, the priest is sending you off on your journey (by plunging a knife into a bible?!), and you arrive on a beach, with a bloody-red sun in the sky. And that’s only the first four or five minutes of the game!

The Gameplay
Juggernaut’s gameplay is purely point and click, which is a really major turn-off for those who don’t like games like Riven or Myst, but the disturbing storyline is a big draw. As you make your way into the game, you will notice that the sound design is quite excellent. It has some of the strangest sounds and music that will ever come from your TV. The backgrounds, while static screens, have an unusual life to them, and the puzzles were some of the most logical I’ve ever played. Games like Resident Evil and the like usually have the kind of puzzles that are way too abstract in the context of their respective storylines. The puzzles in this game feel just right. After solving the first sequence of puzzles, you end up in a creepy mansion, but without your body! You find yourself only able to pass through tiny holes in the walls until you find a suitable body. Searching for a new shell then becomes the object of the game and the mission to destroy each part of the evil that is inhabiting your sweetie.

My Final Words
It’s just not possible to go into more detail on the story without giving it away- except to say that there’s a very long journey ahead of you, if ever you decide to take it. From solving cool puzzles and finding and creating necessary items, there are more than enough to keep any gamer with an open mind busy. The cinematics move things forward and things get weirder as the game progresses, and that was just enough to keep me playing! This isn’t just the type of game where you blow away lots of stuff or shoot laser beams from your fingertips — but as I mentioned before, if you are looking for a different type of challenge (and you still own a PS1), then Juggernaut is something I would highly recommend!

Screenshots:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.