Some of my favorite Atari 2600 arcade ports are Nintendo games such as Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr, and Mario Bros. They’re obviously really downgraded, but the core gameplay remains intact (and very fun).
If you’re looking for something wild, try some of the later 2600 arcade ports such as Double Dragon, Kung Fu Master, or Rampage. They’re insanely ambitious for the system, but usually borderline unplayable.
Console of the Month (July 2022) - Atari 2600
- prfsnl_gmr
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Re: Console of the Month (July 2022) - Atari 2600
I think my favorite aspect of the 2600 is some of the crazy peripherals. Coleco made something called the Kid Vid which is basically an advanced-function cassette tape recorder and the games use the remote function to go to various time/track codes on the tape to play musical/vocal interludes at key points in the game. It's probably one of the earlier instances of multimedia.
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- BoneSnapDeez
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Re: Console of the Month (July 2022) - Atari 2600
Even the sheer number of controllers was staggering. I wish more games had been compatible with the Booster Grip (Omega Race controller). It's pretty slick.
The best peripheral was the Supercharger. The cassette games are awesome.
The best peripheral was the Supercharger. The cassette games are awesome.
Re: Console of the Month (July 2022) - Atari 2600
I've never owned a 2600 but it is the system on which I was exposed to video games, so it does have a place in my heart. I remember being at a daycare place where I could play Pac-Man and Donkey Kong on it. Pac-Man may not be a good version of the game, but as a small child figuring out that "eating dots makes the score go up; eating the big ones lets you eat the ghosts" felt significant. Donkey Kong I liked too but I don't think I ever beat the first level; my brain just wasn't developed enough for those games.
I don't see myself ever buying a 2600 but if I happen upon one that's dirt cheap or get gifted one, there are a few games I'd like for it. Hero and Pitfall being the two titles I think of as being fun to play. I can see myself wanting to track down Halloween and Texas Chainsaw Massacre because I'm a horror fan. Chase the Chuck Wagon has always amused me for being a goofy concept for a game. Adventure seems so historically significant that I'd want to play it. But I really don't see myself wanting to spend a lot of time playing games on 2600: it's always been just a bit too primitive for my taste.
I don't see myself ever buying a 2600 but if I happen upon one that's dirt cheap or get gifted one, there are a few games I'd like for it. Hero and Pitfall being the two titles I think of as being fun to play. I can see myself wanting to track down Halloween and Texas Chainsaw Massacre because I'm a horror fan. Chase the Chuck Wagon has always amused me for being a goofy concept for a game. Adventure seems so historically significant that I'd want to play it. But I really don't see myself wanting to spend a lot of time playing games on 2600: it's always been just a bit too primitive for my taste.
- BoneSnapDeez
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Re: Console of the Month (July 2022) - Atari 2600
I find it a bit sad that the 2600 gets so little love from classic game enthusiasts compared to post-crash consoles. Even if it is a little more archaic, there is a ton of charm here.
I've often mentioned my fondness for HERO, which I think is best on the 2600 compared to "brighter" versions on later consoles. It, River Raid, Pitfall, and a few others might have better graphics on the 5200, ColecoVision or Commodore 64, but there is something undeniably classic about the 2600 ports. Not all, of course. Some, like Defender, are better literally anywhere else! But Defender II holds up. And my general rule of thumb is that if it came out on the 7800, it's better there.
2600 games are also very versatile. You can play them on the 7800 or the ColecoVision (if you have the adapter). And the simple joysticks hold up much better than the number pads of the later consoles.
But what really keeps the system alive is that it still gets fantastic ports from dedicated programmers. You can buy many of them on AtariAge. Some of the ones I've played that I've enjoyed include. Blinky Goes Up, Galactopus, Juno First, Lead, and Wall Jump Ninja. Someone even recently got a good looking Galaga to play on it. Just good, classic fun.
I've often mentioned my fondness for HERO, which I think is best on the 2600 compared to "brighter" versions on later consoles. It, River Raid, Pitfall, and a few others might have better graphics on the 5200, ColecoVision or Commodore 64, but there is something undeniably classic about the 2600 ports. Not all, of course. Some, like Defender, are better literally anywhere else! But Defender II holds up. And my general rule of thumb is that if it came out on the 7800, it's better there.
2600 games are also very versatile. You can play them on the 7800 or the ColecoVision (if you have the adapter). And the simple joysticks hold up much better than the number pads of the later consoles.
But what really keeps the system alive is that it still gets fantastic ports from dedicated programmers. You can buy many of them on AtariAge. Some of the ones I've played that I've enjoyed include. Blinky Goes Up, Galactopus, Juno First, Lead, and Wall Jump Ninja. Someone even recently got a good looking Galaga to play on it. Just good, classic fun.
Re: Console of the Month (July 2022) - Atari 2600
Hey Atari 2600 fans, do any of you have a copy of Space Shuttle with the overlays? I am genuinely curious, how well does it play? Do you consider it a successful reconfiguration of the 2600 switches?