When I was younger, one of our favorite backyard activities was playing lawn darts, also known as Jarts.  Like horseshoes, and the tilted badminton net, Jarts was one of those games that got dragged out every year for family picnics and other gatherings.  The game was pretty simple, and resembled a variation of horseshoes.  You had two plastic rings which were spaced about 10 feet or so apart.  Standing at one of the two rings, each player had three darts (a metal tip with plastic fins).  Players took turns lobbing the large lawn darts toward the plastic rings, scoring one point for each dart they could stick in the ground inside of the ring.  Like many things from my childhood, this game has long since been declared unsafe for future generations, and can no longer be found in stores.  Fortunately, however, my sons will not have to grow up without knowing this beloved game, thanks to Concrete Software and their latest offering for the Pocket PC, 3D Lawn Darts. 

Installation and Registration:  Like many games, 3D Lawn Darts offers a free trial version of the game.  Just download the demo file and load it onto your device via Activesync.  You will be able to play the first scene (backyard) until one player scores 12 points.  All of the different darts and features are available in the demo.  Once you purchase the full version of the game, you will be provided with a link to download the full version of the game. 

Overview and Gameplay: As I mentioned, yes, this is essentially the game you remember from your childhood.  Your job is to lob 3 small, sharp lawn darts toward the target during each round of play.  Hit one in the outer ring to score a point, nail the inner yellow bullseye to score 2 points.  The first one to score 21 points wins.

Watch out for the wind, because, with each throw, the wind can shift, affecting where you will need to aim and how hard you will need to throw.  The wind is a critical component of the game, which can significantly affect where your darts land and even who wins each game.

Game Variations: There are two variations on the standard game included in 3D Lawn Darts.  The first is crown, which is essentially a closest to the pin competition.  The first player throws a yellow dart, which becomes the pin.  On each throw after that, your goal is to lob a dart as close to the pin as possible.  Whoever lands the closest dart to the pin wins the round and scores one point for each dart which is closer to the pin than any of your opponent’s darts. 

In tournament mode, you play a series of standard or crown games.  Each game follows the same rules as the standalone game (the first to score 21 points wins), however, instead of winning after only one game, you must win a series of games in order to win the match.

Tutorial: There is a nice tutorial which walks you through the basics each time you start a new game.  It will remind you how to score, how to win, and keep you informed as the game progresses.  This is a great touch for a novice who is just learning the game.  For more advanced players, the tutorials can easily be turned off via the options menu.

Camera Mode: Camera mode is the feature which drags 3D Lawn Darts from the confines of the ordinary, mundane game and twists it into something extraordinary.  Camera Mode uses motion sensing technology to track the motions of your device through the camera.  It senses whether you have moved your device forward, to the left, or to the right, and coordinates your motions with the action on the screen. 

Camera Mode took is a little touchy, and it took some practice to be able to control it well.  Once you get accustomed to the motion, however, it is simply amazing.  A flick of your wrist sends a lawn dart hurtling toward the bullseye.  To see how this works in real life, check out the YouTube video posted by WMExperts. 

If this is all just a little too much for you, don’t worry, you can always use the standard controls, which allow you to use the touch screen or D-Pad to set the angle of your throw, and the slider to set the power.

Multiplayer: In addition to using your camera to control the action, you can also use multiplayer mode to play head to head competition against another live person.  One nice thing about 3D Lawn Darts is that you do not need to share a device in order to play multiplayer action (although this option is available).  Additionally, the game offers the unique feature of connecting two devices together via BlueTooth.  Once tethered, you can play head to head between the two devices. 

Characters: At the beginning of each game, you will have the opportunity to select one of four characters: Sally Soccermom, Merv the Martian, Elco the Octopus, or Ranger Rick.  These characters will react both to good shots or bad shots (as well as grumping when your opponent throws a good shot.)  Unfortunately, these underutilized characters do nothing more than react to the action on the screen.  It would have been nice to have some variation between the characters.  Giving the characters skills and individual characteristics would have added a whole new dimension to the game.  Additionally, each character could have had one or more special dart which could only be used by that character.  Instead, the four characters are reduced to nothing more than a spectator role in the game, and really provide little to further the action on the screen.

Locations: In addition to selecting your character, you must also choose from one of four locations in which to play: Backyard, Forest, Ocean, and the Moon.  When you begin, only the Backyard will be unlocked.  To access each of the other three locations, simply win a game at the previous location.  The locations will become increasingly more difficult, by moving the target further back and increasing the speed and direction of the wind.  Otherwise, however, there is little to distinguish the locations from one another.  It would have been  nice, for each location to exhibit more properties of that location.  For example, the forest could have blocked the sun, making it difficult to see; the Ocean could have exhibited propertied of water, rocking the raft from which you are throwing, and moving the waterbound target.  Of course, the Moon could pose obvious difficulties as you play in zero gravity.  I would love to see, in future versions, more attention paid to making each location a unique environment.

Darts: One of my favorite features of the game was the darts themselves.  In addition to a standard lawn darts dart (of which you have an unlimited supply), there are also six special darts:

• Torcher will burn any nearby darts
• Nucleart will destroy all darts which have already been thrown (including itself)
• Bomber destroys darts within its blast radius (including itself)
• Lasdart is a laser guided dart
• Magneto will pull nearby darts toward it
• Splitter divides in mid-flight into three darts

At the beginning of the game, you will have one of each of the six special darts.  Each time a dart scores points, however, you will earn additional special darts.  I absolutely loved the strategic element these darts added to the game.  I only wish there had been more special darts with which to play. 

Graphics: The 3D graphics in this game are simply stunning.  As you prepare to throw the dart, you will view the screen from the perspective of your character.  Toss it and a tracking camera follows your dart to its ultimate location.  Unfortunately, this tracking camera did not apply to your opponent’s throws, making it difficult at times to see where their throws landed.  One other thing I would have liked was an interactive background.  It would be remarkable if the background moved in accordance with shifting conditions (ie: the wind).   Overall, however, I found the graphics to be extremely suitable for the game.

Saving: I was disappointed that there was no real save option in this game.  A game of lawn darts can take a significant period of time, particularly if you choose to play in tournament mode.  I frequently found myself shutting down in the middle of a game with no option to save.  In tournament mode, when you start the game again, it will give you the option of continuing, but not in standard mode.  This game would be significantly improved by the addition of a simple save option.

Conclusion: I loved lawn darts when we used to play it in the backyard, and I still love it today on my PocketPC.  This game offers a simple, yet engaging interface which approximates the original as closely as you can without adding the pain of receiving a sharp, pointed dart in your foot.  I thought the graphics were superb, although I would have liked more individuality from the characters and more interaction with the backgrounds.  Most importantly, however, the camera mode option was simply amazing.  I hope more games pick up on this idea, because it really takes the game to an entirely different level.  So, even though the original lawn darts has been banned from neighborhood barbecues across the United States, your Pocket PC allows you to relive all of the nostalgic childhood fun this game offered, without any of the searing pain or blood. 

Vital Statistics:

Name: 3D Lawn Darts

Version: 1.0

Platform: WM6 

Also Available:  WM5, WM2003SE, Smartphone

Developer: Concrete Software.

Price:          $19.99

Available From: Concrete Software

                            JAMM Store

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