If you were an 80's child born anytime after 75 and had a father who worked in the computer industry (or appreciated technology) you're sure to have had a computer running DOS 1.0, and as a kid, certainly your first dream was to be able to play games on the computer. If you've truly been a part of the generation I've described Janitor Joe was probably a game you played right next to Math Blaster and Mavis Beacon teaches typing, except with Janitor Joe you didn't have to 'learn' anything except how to dodge robots shooting at you!
Janitor Joe is a game that is simply built and played, but even after 20+ years have passed, the game can still provide me with hours upon hours of enjoyment.
I remember, as a kid, finding the 'secret room' accidentally, and never being able to beat the last couple levels, and even to this day the levels challenge me, albeit, in a different manner.
Simple controls, just four buttons, allow you to guide the brave Janitor, aptly named Joe (what a great American name!) who's decided to take on the role of 'hero' and brave a Space station taken over by robots of course, as we ARE in the future and EVERYTHING is run by robots in the future! Joe manages to jump around platforms dodging robots, all the while calmly knowing his duty is simply to save the lives of the thousands sure to be destroyed if he doesn't save the
space station.
A little known fact about Joe is that he is a fantastic jumper. It's not made as obvious as the fact that he is a janitor, but yet, Joe is a fantastic jumper, proving, once and for all, that white men, certainly CAN jump. (How's that for the 80s/90s movie reference?) Although I'm not here to make any claims into the validity of any Janitor's ability to jump or not, I'll say that if Joe is even remotely as average as his name often implies, Janitors are quite the skilled jumpers.
The 'lowdown', if you will, is as such. If you're a kid that grew up with a computer that ONLY ran dos you did one of a few things. Programmed a graphical volcano to erupt with your dad AND play a TON of Janitor Joe. My recommendation is if you'd like to take a trip down memory lane with a game that is sure not to disappoint, CHECK OUT JANITOR JOE!
