The Atari Video Computer System (VCS), later called the Atari 2600 and commonly referred to simply as the “Atari”, was released in October of 1977. The VCS popularized the concept of cartridge-based games in lieu of dedicated game hardware like Pong, and as a household name truly brought the idea of home video gaming to the masses. The system was originally bundled with two joysticks, two paddle controllers, and the 2-player only tank warfare game, Combat. Instead of endless paddle game variations, the VCS made it possible to play arcade hits such as Space Invaders, Missile Defense, Frogger, and Asteroids, and was home to original titles like Pitfall!, Yar’s Revenge, and Adventure. The VCS was also the first system for which third party developers produced games, most notably by Activision and Imagic. The system suffered heavily during the video game crash of 1983 and essentially went into hibernation, but was re-released in 1986 as a cheaper alternative to the Nintendo NES and Sega Master System. The Atari VCS was officially discontinued at the beginning of 1992, giving it a life span of over 14 years.
Seaquest is yet another stellar arcade-style game from the folks at Activision. The game successfully combines elements of Defender and Choplifter and tosses it into the ocean. You pilot a submarine that rescues divers while fighting off huge fish, man-eating sharks, and enemy submarines. You have a limited supply of oxygen and a maximum capacity … Read more
Episode 17 – This week on the show I review Explosive Diarrhea, a homebrew game for the Atari 2600 released by Packrat Video Games and designed by Chris Reed. Take control of a family of rednecks with food poisoning, guiding them to the nearest outhouse! It’s as much a conversation piece as it is a … Read more
Lifting its name from the old “Keystone Kops” films of the silent film era, Keystone Kapers was a late release for the VCS, coming out right around the time of the great video games “crash”. Unfortunately this left it buried in a pile of shovelware, which is a real shame because the game is a … Read more
Episode 11 – This week on the show, Keystone Cops meets the Atari VCS, as I review Keystone Kapers for the Atari 2600. Easily one of the best games on the system, from one of the best development studios! The game was designed and programmed by Garry Kitchen and published by Activision.
The first time I played it, I really hated this game. It reminded me of one of those old-timey pinball machines that didn’t have flippers. You would put in a coin, it would dispense the ball, and your only interaction with the machine would be to pull the plunger. After that, gravity would take over. … Read more
This game makes the earlier Video Pinball for the VCS look downright awful. Midnight Magic’s colorful, high-resolution graphics and realistic ball physics make its predecessor look like something from the previous generation. The game features a single table with more plausible dimensions (long and narrow) and more realistic-looking round bumpers. The play field is still … Read more
Sometimes I don’t understand where designers came up with their game ideas back in the classic era. In Spider Fighter you are charged with protecting your fruit orchard from legions of spiders who steal your fruit, which you do by shooting at them with a “bug blaster”. The bugs attack in waves. Each wave begins … Read more
Similar in principle to slalom skiing, in Sky Jinks you race through a pylon course in a stunt plane, weaving left and right around pylons while avoiding trees and hot air balloons. The object of the game is to complete the course as quickly as possible. A stopwatch starts as soon as you take off, … Read more
The mother of all vertically-scrolling shoot-em-ups! In River Raid, you control a fighter jet flying at low altitude over a river, shooting tanker ships, helicopters, and other planes while keeping a close eye on your fuel level. Not only can your plane move from side to side, but you can also speed up and slow … Read more
In general, bowling is not a game that translates well into the world of video games. I would guess that most gamers could count the number of entertaining bowling games across all platforms on one hand. It is therefore surprising, especially considering the fact that most sports games on the Atari VCS are horrible, that … Read more
Activision is famous for the quality of their VCS titles, but this game is just awful. Oink! has been described as “breakout in reverse” because instead of removing blocks, you are replacing them. You play as each one of the Three Little Pigs, protecting your house against the invading wolf. The wolf blows your house … Read more
I would never suggest that it would be easy to create a golf game on the Atari 2600, but the system is definitely capable of a better offering than this. Golf isn’t a horrible game, but it could have been a lot better. The developer did an admirable job of trying to re-create the feeling … Read more