Bump 'N' Jump
You just had to love a game whose entire philosophy on life was summed
up in its three-syllable title: Bump 'n Jump. That's all there
was to it. Bump cars and jump over obstacles. Smash things. Don't get
smashed. Nothing but primal, destructive fun from beginning to end. Us
like. Us like big good.
 
Oh, sure, there was a bit more to Bump 'n Jump than bumping and
jumping: there was moving side to side, accelerating and decelerating.
But really, all of that was only a means to an end, and that end was
bumping and jumping. Stuck in the bottom part of a
vertically-scrolling highway, your job was to maneuver your car down
the twisty, nasty road. When other cars got in your way (and it
wouldn't be any fun if they didn't), you simply bumped them into the
side of the road, where they burst into a flaming explosion on
contact. Coooool.
Unfortunately, the other guys were just as keen on bumping you. Some
cars bumped easily; others were bulkier and harder to move. And then
there were the dump trucks, dropping their loads right in the middle
of the highway to try to force you into a crash.
But incontinent dump trucks were often the least of your concerns: at
certain points on the road, the pavement would just stop. That's
right, stop. No bridges, no ferries, and very little warning - just a
flashing yellow exclamation mark at the top of your screen. At times
like these, your car's handiest feature came into play: its absolutely
killer vertical leap. Once your speed crossed 100, your little red
wonder could catch some serious air, leaping over gaps and other
obstacles. Even better, if you landed on another car, you'd smash him
- smash him good!
The course was broken up into seasons, each harder than the last. The
bumping and jumping got fast and furious, and only a quick wrist and
good timing separated you from the exploding masses.
Bump 'n Jump took its three-syllable premise and hit the ground
running. The game was a favorite of demolition derby wannabes
everywhere, proving that simple pleasures are often the best ones.
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