Publisher: TNT (1989)
Reviewed: 2004/4/27
Reviewed: 2004/4/27
Last modified 2008/7/1. Screen shots courtesy of Atari Age, Atari 2600 Landfill.
The overriding criteria is how fun the game is to play, although control, graphics, and sound are also taken into account. |
This late-arriving 2600 title boasts some respectable visuals and top-notch music, but it's not very easy to play. BMX Airmaster includes three different bike events: half-pipe, quarter-pipe, and a ramp jump. In the half-pipe you ride from side to side, flying into the air and performing stunt combinations. The instructions don't explain how to perform the stunts, but they don't take long to figure out. The controls are not especially intuitive, but with some practice you can pull off an impressive string of mid-air tricks. Still, no matter how fancy your stunts are, they don't count for jack unless you manage to land your bike safely - and that's not easy. After 90 seconds of half-pipe, you move on to the quarter-pipe. This plays just like the half-pipe, except you only get three jump attempts. Short and lame, quarter-pipe has "filler" written all over it. The final challenge, the ramp jump, is definitely the most exciting. Set on an ocean pier, you fly off one ramp and execute tricks before landing on a second ramp. It's a shame you're not actually jumping over anything - that would have been far more exciting. BMX Airmaster's graphics are clean and attractive. Your rider peddles his bike convincingly, and when he reaches a certain altitude, a second screen with clouds shows him in mid-air. The graphics are minimal, but the mountain and island backdrops are a nice touch. I also have to give BMX credit for its terrific music. Its edgy, grinding tunes are quite appropriate for a sport of this "extreme" nature. BMX Airmaster takes time to learn, but if you can make it past the learning curve, you might have a good time with it. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.
This so-called "adult" game is only good for a few laughs. If you didn't know any better, you would probably just pass it off as another lame Breakout clone. Only after you read the instruction manual do you realize that odd looking thing is supposed to be a guy, and those jagged shapes are ladies. By bouncing the guy off the side of the screen, you can touch the ladies and make them disappear! The hilarious instructions attempt to convince you that through the "superb color graphics" and "realistic sound", you are acting out some kind of fantasy situation. I'm sorry, but playing Bachelor Party is a far cry from having a Playmate on your lap. And what kind of bachelor party only has one guy? This is just silly. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Prior to reviewing this game, I had not played Backgammon since my childhood. But after skimming through the manual and watching the computer play, I was able to pick up on this fairly easily. Backgammon is a simple board game that involves moving pieces from one side of the board to the other. The board is nicely rendered on the screen, and you can easily see what's going on as the pieces are being moved. The paddle control is fast and convenient. I like how the game moves along quickly, unlike other Atari board game adaptations like Video Chess. Eight play variations let you compete against the computer or another person. I'm skeptical about the computer opponent however, since I was able to defeat it on the first try, and there's only one difficulty level. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Bank Heist may look like another generic maze game, but it's actually quite interesting. For one thing, it accurately depicts what it was like to be a gangster in the 1930s. Man, things sure were a lot blockier back then. As you cruise around a maze in a vintage automobile, you pull off bank robberies by running over white pillar symbols. Three cop cars are in hot pursuit, but they can be eliminated by dropping dynamite sticks behind your car. Since the dynamite takes a second or two to detonate, careful timing is required. As you eliminate cops, new banks appear, and after you've robbed nine, you can exit the maze and receive a free tank of gas for your troubles. The graphics aren't much to look at, with the exception of those nifty old-time cars with the spinning wheels. Bank Heist is more involved than your typical maze game and takes a few plays to get the hang of it. But once you do it's quite satisfying, especially in the later stages where the action becomes fast and furious. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.
When I first played Barnstorming in 1982, it seemed rather pointless, and in 2004 my opinion hasn't changed much. Flying a biplane up over windmills and down through barns, the object is to complete a "course" in the shortest time. It's a quiet game, and guiding your plane up and down is almost a relaxing experience. White birds in the sky can slow you down, but in general Barnstorming requires little technique or strategy. Back in the day this game could get by on its clean, attractive graphics. Your yellow plane features a spinning propeller and a blowing scarf, and the windmills certainly look detailed. Heck, the barns even have weather vanes! The first few variations are set courses you can memorize, but there's also a random course. Barnstorming is yet another good-looking Activision title, but its humdrum gameplay might just put you to sleep. There's never been another game like this - and let's hope it stays that way! © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.
This well-intended but poorly executed cartridge was probably meant to compete with other video game systems that offered (or promised to offer) keyboards and computer capabilities. Basic Programming allows you to write programs up to 63 characters in size. In other words, you really can't program anything useful. Oh sure, you can print your name or move a block across the screen, but that's about it. It's really just a tool to teach the basic concepts of programming. You have to flip between various screens to view your variables, stack, program, and output. Unfortunately, the keypad controllers are ill-suited for letter entry, and you have to press crazy combinations of keys on both controllers just to enter simple commands. It's a tedious process and definitely not worth the effort - especially since your work can't be saved when you're done. Basic Programming might have been a good learning tool in the late 70's, but today it's pretty worthless. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.
This primitive game is best known for its hilarious graphics depicting a square ball and players with one stationary leg and one blinking leg. Despite its sorry appearance however, the potential for fun does exist. Basketball is a one-on-one free-for-all where you race up and down the court, trying to steal the ball before your opponent can get off a shot. Its rules and controls may be minimal, but you can always use your imagination. I like to execute this killer zigzag move (AKA my "cross-over dribble") against my buddy Steve. One time I thought I broke his player's ankle, until I realized that it always blinks like that! In retaliation, Steve would perform his patented "alley-oop", which involves passing the ball to himself. Basketball's frantic pace and absurd gameplay will make you laugh, and even the computer opponent provides a worthy challenge. This game was notably featured in the movie "Airplane", where air traffic controllers could be seen playing it. So before you write this one off, give it a try. There's something to be said for simplicity (and silliness) in sports video games. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.
This amazing first-person tank game looks and plays flawlessly. In fact, this Atari 2600 edition is arguably more playable than its 3D arcade cousin! The action is fierce. Enemy tanks turn on you quickly, and the "super tanks" are fast and elusive. Flying fighters approach in zigzag patterns, forcing you to shoot or be shot. The slow red flying saucers don't present a threat, but being worth 5000 points, they're a constant distraction. Like the UFOs in Space Invaders, you just can't resist taking a shot at them. Although this version of Battlezone offers no vector graphics or barriers to hide behind, the game is still played in a 3D space. If a tank fires on you from the side and you back up in time, you can actually see his missile whiz by your windshield! It's even possible for enemy tanks to unintentionally shoot each other! A useful circular scanner at the top of the screen indicates the position of your enemies. Graphically, you couldn't ask for much more. Your moving treads are visible on the bottom of the screen, and the mountainous backgrounds are plain but colorful. Your enemies are blocky but well defined and easy to identify. The action is fast and smooth, and the controls are dead-on. In terms of challenge, few 2600 games match Battlezone's intensity level, and it will give your wrist a serious workout. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.
Like a flat version of Tempest, this challenging space shooter puts you in control of a cannon on a 3D grid. Granted, the vertically lines look more like trails of dots, but work with me here! Your main weapon has limited range (pretty weak), but you also have a limited supply of torpedoes that can reach the very top of the screen. It's a good idea to save some of these for the mother ship, which slowly crawls across the top at the end of each wave. Beamrider's graphics are clean and attractive, and enemy ships scale nicely over the grid. To complete each stage, you'll need to shoot 15 white saucers, and I like how the number of remaining targets is displayed in the corner of the screen. You'll need to keep an eye out for missiles fired by the saucers, as well as indestructible objects like asteroids. Beamrider's gameplay is solid and the stages gradually increase in intensity. There are two difficulty levels, and the harder one is no joke. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.
Beany Bopper tries to be wacky and zany, but is mostly just dumb. You control a purple eyeball moving freely around a rectangular playing field. Your enemies, the "Beanies", are mean faces with propellers that bounce around the field. You can shoot a Beany to disable it, and then touch it for points. Points can also be scored by touching falling objects like planes, parachutes, and oranges. Beany Bopper's sound effects seem very familiar, probably because they've been recycled from other Atari 2600 games. Responsive controls and smooth, flicker-free animation are the game's strengths, but repetitive action is its Achilles heel. The first few levels are entirely too easy, and your wrist will get tired from constantly moving from side to side. If you can endure the early levels, the challenge kicks in at around 30K, and the manual even mentions a "surprise" at 100K. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.
From the outset, Bermuda Triangle appears to be a fun shooter in the same vein as Seaquest (Activision, 1983). Its colorful graphics include the best looking sub I've ever seen in a 2600 game. The object is to collect relics from the ocean floor and return them to a research ship patroling the water surface. As the screen scrolls, you'll need to avoid mines, UFOs, squid, sharks, and enemy vessels. Your sub moves swiftly and shoots rapidly, but despite the fast action, Bermuda Triangle is lacking in terms of fun. For one thing, it's entirely too easy. When you collide with most obstacles, they just rattle you a bit. The real danger are laser beams that appear at random and are impossible to avoid. Why these unfair devices even exist is a mystery on par with the actual Bermuda Triangle. They seem to serve no purpose except to make the game artificially harder. I have a few other gripes as well. While returning items to the surface should net you 600 points, your score doesn't register immediately, which is disconcerting. I also hate how you can lose points by taking a hit while transporting an item to the surface. All in all, Bermuda Triangle doesn't play nearly as good as it looks. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.
This has got to be one of the most underrated Atari 2600 cartridges of all time! This fast-action shooter puts you in control a fugitive with no neck who must escape mazes full of armed robots. Each robot has a single rotating eye that conveys a menacing appearance despite the low-resolution graphics. A few concessions have been made from the arcade version, but nothing major. Specifically, the mazes are simpler and the robots cannot fire diagonally. Although these may alter the gameplay slightly, they don't diminish the fun or addictiveness. Despite what the title would suggest, patience and strategy are required to do well in this game. By tactically positioning yourself, you can dupe robots into running into walls or even shooting each other. But if you stick around too long, Evil Otto, the invincible bouncing head, will chase you out. Otto may look silly, but he keeps the game moving and creates a sense of urgency. Always a challenge, Berzerk stands the test of time. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
If you've only played Berzerk on the 2600, you may be unaware that the real gimmick behind the original arcade game was its awesome voice synthesis. Its robotic voice would utter such witticisms as "Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!", "Humanoid must not escape", and my personal favorite, "Chicken, fight like a robot!" Now you can experience the same voice-equipped arcade action on your Atari 2600 thanks to this voice-enhanced cartridge. The voice plays between screens, and while hard to discern at first, hardcore Berzerk fans will savor these classic lines. In terms of gameplay, this is the exact same 2600 Berzerk you've always loved. It might not be a big step up, but the voice addition makes this the definitive version of a great shooter. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.
The original Atari 2600 Pac-Man was a real dog, so it's nice to see a version that's faithful to the arcade, even if it is 20 years late. "A Better Pac-Man" is appropriately named. It's essentially a hack of Ms. Pac-Man, one of the best Atari 2600 carts ever made. The graphics are sharp and well-defined, and the control is dead-on. Like the arcade original, there's only a single maze and fruit bonuses appear in the center. It certainly lives up to its name, but A Better Pac-Man is not as good as it could have been. Instead of a "waca-waca" sound effect, Pac-Man makes a harsh, fuzzy sound when he eats that's not particularly pleasing to the ear. Otherwise, this is a terrific game. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
This archaic cartridge allows up to three players to simultaneously bet against a computer-controlled dealer. Big deal huh? Blackjack wisely uses the paddle controllers, and lets you choose between two sets of rules. The cards themselves look awfully plain and don't even have suits! The sound effects are just as sparse, limited to some card shuffling, beeps, and occasional buzzes. Is Blackjack for the 2600 outdated? Definitely. Is it fun? Hell yeah! I actually played this game for much longer than I had intended. Why? Well, the game of Blackjack doesn't require fancy graphics, and this version is fast and easy to control. Sure you can have sharper versions on your PC, but who wants to hunch over a keyboard and mouse to enjoy a card game? There's something to be said for sitting back and relaxing with a paddle controller. Once you blow through a few hands you can really get into a groove. The game starts you off with $200, and it's fun to see how high you can go. The game's realistic too, in that eventually you always lose all of your money. Expert card players may be disappointed however that you can't double-down or split pairs. Blackjack was discontinued after Atari released their four-player Casino game, which also contain Blackjack. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.
No, your eyes do not deceive you! Yes, a Blair Witch game has been created for the Atari 2600, although it's really just a hack of Atari's Haunted House (1981). I happen to be a huge fan of the movie, making this is a neat game to own. The gameplay is exactly the same as Haunted House, but the graphics have been "updated" Blair Witch style. You are now pursued by moving handprints, the ghost of Rustin Parr, and even the Blair Witch herself! The scepter is now shaped like a totem, and instead of finding pieces of an urn, you must assemble parts of a camera. The font used to display the numbers at the bottom of the screen has also been modified to good effect. Tim Snider did a great job matching up a classic game with this scary film. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.
A few years back, Blueprint won me over with its flashy graphics and sophisticated gameplay. Of course, in those days I was young and easily impressed. Older and wiser now, I can scrutinize the game with a more critical eye. Your goal is to save your girl from what appears to be a fat red fish running on its tail. First you must construct a cannon by collecting parts which are scattered in a maze of houses. The beginning of each stage offers a brief glimpse of where the parts are hidden, so pay attention! Personally, I found this whole "memorization" aspect a real pain. If you can't remember where the parts are, the game becomes an exercise in trial-and-error. Should you enter a house that does not contain a part, you end up with a bomb in your hand that must quickly be disposed of. A red creature pursues you around the maze, but the fire button provides a handy turbo boost to help you escape. Once the cannon is fully assembled, a second screen appears. Here the villain can be seen closing in on your girlfriend on the top of the screen, and a well-timed shot is required to take him out. Then it's off to the next, more difficult round with more pieces and a shorter timer. Blueprint has impressive graphics, with multi-colored objects all over the place. The nonstop music, on the other hand, is pretty awful. All things considered, Blueprint has nice visuals and ample originality, but its headache-inducing gameplay makes it hard to recommend. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.
Here's a fast-paced Q*bert clone that's very rare. In Boing, you bounce a bubble over a grid of squares, attempting to turn them all the same color. The control is outstanding; you can bounce around very quickly and the game won't let you fall of the edge. Your adversaries assume the form of pins and "bubble busters", but these can be neutralized by making them collide with each other. It's interesting to note how you can only die when your bubble is situated on a square, and not in the act of jumping. I'm not sure whether this is a feature or a bug, but players will want to take advantage of it. Boing's graphics are simple but smoothly animated. The game is easy and fun, and the challenge ramps nicely. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
It would be easy to dismiss this oldie off-hand, considering its primitive graphics and simplistic gameplay, but Bowling is a respectable little game. You control a multicolored bowler with an oversized head who flashes and jumps for joy after converting a strike or spare. The pins are simple black squares, which frankly look pretty awful. Bowling offers three types of control: straight ball, curve, and steerable. The straight variations are pointless, but the curve and steerable modes are fun. In the curve variations, you throw the ball straight but can initiate the curve at any time. The steerable variations let you freely guide the ball left and right as it rolls down the lane. You'd expect this degree of control to guarantee a strike or spare every time, but the game has a random element that results in some unpredictable pin setups. Pins can also knock into each other, making it possible to nail tough shots including splits. The on-screen scoring feature is nifty, and the two-player contests can be quite competitive, so grab a friend and give it a go. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.
People tend to love or hate Boxing, but I think it captures the spirit of the sport perfectly. Its relentless, non-stop action and constant button-pounding can really make you work up a sweat! Boxing's minimal graphics feature an overhead view of a boxing ring with two goofy-looking boxers, one black and one white. Each bout is two minutes long, and you can face off against a friend or the CPU. It's very satisfying to watch your opponent's head fly back after a hard hit to the face. Despite the simple controls, there is subtle strategy involved. You can keep your distance with jabs, or go in for the kill with a ferocious combination. Close bouts are especially fun, and the intensity builds as those last few seconds tick down. Will the boxer who's ahead remain aggressive, or try to run out the clock? One thing's for sure - this game can make your thumb very sore. Back in the early 80's, I used a piece of construction paper to cover the scores during the matches to create a sense of uncertainty. One of my friends named this clever invention "the Boxing Buddy", and I've still been known to use it on occasion. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
Brain Games is one of several Atari cartridges designed for use with the 12-button keypad controllers. And let me tell you, it's a sad bunch. The illustration on Brain Games shows a wizard casting a magical spell. It must be a "sleep" spell, because this game made me want to take a nap! Most variations require you to repeat a growing sequence of keys or numbers (like that annoying Simon hand-held game). Let's face it, that may have been fun in the 1970's, but... check that - it wasn't even that fun back then! Other variations challenge you to find the symbol "that doesn't belong". This reminds me of those cognitive learning tests given to first graders - not my idea of a good time! Finally, there's a variation that lets you play "music" with your keypad. This makes your Casio keyboard look like a grand piano! Forget this! © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
See Breakout for a full review. This is the same game released by Sears under a strange name. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
With the exception of Pong, it doesn't get much more basic than Breakout. Using a paddle controller, you repeatedly defect a ball against a wall of colored bricks, chipping away until they're all gone. The strategy is always the same - create an opening on the far left or right side (or middle if you're feeling adventurous) so the ball becomes trapped in the hollow top area. When this occurs, it tends to bounce around like crazy, doing most of your work for you. Consequentally your ball moves faster and your paddle experiences shrinkage. To be honest, the "normal" Breakout game is pretty "blah". You have little control over the ball. You can direct it left or right but you're at the mercy of random angles. The steerable variations, on the other hand, don't have this problem. It feels a little funky at first, but ultimately it provides just the right degree of control. Another interesting variation is "break-thru", where the ball penetrates the entire wall, taking out dozens of bricks at a time. It's a nice change of pace, but it sort of defeats the purpose of the game, doesn't it? There are also timed variations that challenge you to clear the wall as fast as possible, but for some reason the timer doesn't stop until you've used all five of your balls, even if you only needed one to clear the wall! There are also "catch" and "invisible" variations, but I didn't like these at all. In terms of graphics, there's not much to talk about, but the soft musical tones are easy on the ears. Breakout will accommodate up to four players, but only for alternating turns. Even with its archaic gameplay, this oldie offers enough challenge and variety to keep you occupied for a while. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.
This sloppily-programmed space shooter is of the same mold as Moonsweeper and Solaris. Gameplay involves flying through posts on a planet surface while blasting saucers that appear over the horizon. After passing a certain number of posts, a separate space stage is presented where you shoot down saucers and a mothership. There are serious problems with Buck Roger's graphics and gameplay. This is a meant to be a 3D game with objects that loom larger as you approach, but the transition is not smooth at all. Objects tend to jump around and flicker unpredictably, and your erratic missiles seem to have a life of their own. The collision detection is also extremely poor, so it's not uncommon to see a missile pass clean through a ship (including your own). Buck Rogers may have been respectable had Sega worked out the kinks, but this has rush job written all over it. On top of it all, there's only one difficulty level, which I found to be very easy. I thought this game would never end!! © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Bugs
Do I dislike bugs? Yes. Do I wish to inflict bodily harm upon them? Absolutely. Needless to say, I expected a shooter called "Bugs" to be a dream come true. So why am I shooting freakin' lizards!? Lizards have never done anything to me, and I'm not about to start shooting them now. The title is clearly misleading, and the game itself is pretty lousy. Before each stage you travel through some kind of inter-dimensional tunnel, but those blinking colors look more like a bad acid trip. Once the action begins, your paddle-controlled crosshairs provide pinpoint side-to-side movement as you aim at centipedes (and lizards!) slowly creeping toward the top of the screen. You also have to contend with a pesky gismo called a "Phylax" which moves across the screen, zeroing in on your crosshairs. That thing can only be destroyed by "leading" your shots, and it's the one really difficult element in the game. Unlike every other game for the 2600, the "A" difficulty switch setting is easy, and "B" is hard. Bugs is a pretty sorry-looking game, but its steep challenge might just keep you coming back for more. Even scoring a measly 100 points would be an achievement worth bragging about if the game was any good. © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.
Completed and released for the Philly Classic 2002 show, this old prototype is surprisingly well constructed. Not only does it feature cartoon-like animation and harmonized music, but its gameplay is unique as well. Bugs Bunny is introduced with a sharp title screen along with a fine rendition of the Looney Tunes theme. In the game Bugs attempts to steal carrots on three platforms as Elmer fires at you from above. You select one platform at a time, causing Elmer's dog to dig you up and expose you to the gunfire. To escape, you must quickly dive into another hole that randomly appears on the same platform. While on the top level, it's also possible to steal Elmer's bullets for 100 bonus points. Beware: Just because you took his bullets doesn't mean Elmer doesn't still have one left in his shotgun! The characters are large, multi-colored and flicker-free. While definitely simplistic, Bug Bunny's gameplay requires precision timing. In later stages, Elmer starts firing like a madman, and it's satisfying to duck into a hole as a bullet whizzes by your tail. A two-player option allows a second player to assume the role of Elmer. I doubt Bugs Bunny would have been a hit back in the day, but it's certainly good enough to attract the attention of modern-day 2600 fans. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.
Bump N Jump lets you placate that natural urge to run other cars off the road and smash them into oblivion. Or maybe I just need counseling. It's not hard to destroy the wimpy sports cars, but those heavy-duty tractors are hard to budge, and dump trucks won't hesitate to unload on you! The "skull" cars don't resemble cars at all, but they're your most aggressive opponents. Pressing the fire button causes your car to soar through the air, avoiding huge breaks in the road. The roads often end without much warning, so stay alert. You can also use this jumping ability to destroy other cars by landing on them. Bump N Jump is fun and addictive. The graphics are only fair, but the animation is silky smooth. Just be sure to turn that "happy" background music off. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
Here's a good-looking pinball game with round bumpers, drop targets, multipliers, rollovers, and ball kickers. Let's face it, round bumpers are something we don't take for granted in an Atari 2600 game! The table is fairly detailed and there are plenty of targets to keep you busy. One unique aspect of Bumper Bash is its unusual control scheme, which uses both paddle buttons to activate the flippers (the knobs are not used). This makes the game feel more like real pinball, but rules out any kind of nudge control. Bumper Bash is tough because the flippers are small and there's a significant gap between them. It also doesn't help that one of rollers is poorly positioned directly over the hole. The physics is fair for the most part, but sometimes the ball appears to "stick" to a flipper instead of caroming off it. In terms of fun, I'd have to say Bumper Bash falls somewhere between Video Pinball and Midnight Magic. Not bad but not the best. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.
This has got to be the most unpleasant version of Burgertime I've ever played. I think I hate it. It's slowly paced, the controls stink, and the graphics are truly appalling. In case you've never played this classic platform/ladder game, you control a stocky little chef pursued by eggs, hot dogs, and cheese. Your job is to assemble burgers by walking across the ingredients, causing them to drop to the bottom of the screen. In fairness, this version does have all the basic elements of the arcade game, including multiple screens, pepper, bonus items, and the music. But playing this game made me nauseous. Your chef moves like a snail, and it's hard to navigate the ladders. This graphics have a raw, unfinished look. The eggs and cheese are nothing but flickering squares, and tossing pepper on them causes the whole game to pause momentarily. Yes, the original arcade game was a little on the slow side, but this one is particularly laborious. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.
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