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Atari 2600 Mega Mini Reviews: Part I |
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Atari 2600 Mega Mini Reviews: Part I
An Armchair Arcade Video Article
Author and Production Credit: Bill Loguidice
Musical Theme to Armchair Arcade: Matt Barton
Online Layout: Bill Loguidice
Special Thanks: Albert Yarusso and AtariAge for providing access to additional information and scans required for the article
Atari 2600 Mega Mini Reviews: Part I
Chopper Command (by Bob Whitehead, ©1982 Activision)
Defender (by Bob Polaro with Alan Murphy, ©1981 Atari, Inc.)
Fantastic Voyage (by David Lubar, ©1982 Sirius Software, Inc. and Fox Video Games, Inc.)
Space Cavern (by Dan Oliver, ©1981 Games by Apollo, Inc.)
Space Jockey (by Garry Kitchen, ©1982 Vidtec and U.S. Games)
Do a “Save Target As…” or similar to download the .WMV video file above to your local system
File size: 17.5MB
Running Time: 10:56 minutes
SUMMARY
Chopper Command
Advantages – Great presentation and control.
Disadvantages – High difficulty level. Not a great deal of variety.
Overall – Excellent (4 out of 5 stars) 
Defender
Advantages – Fun play mechanic, especially when rescuing humanoids.
Disadvantages – Poor presentation, mediocre control and some unusual play conversion decisions from the original arcade version.
Overall – Fair (2 1/2 out of 5 stars) 
Fantastic Voyage
Advantages – Simple, solid graphics and sound. Interesting setting and gameplay.
Disadvantages – Perhaps a little too simple in both presentation and play variety.
Overall – Good (3 out of 5 stars) 
Space Cavern
Advantages – Simple to play.
Disadvantages – Boring, repetitive, too easy, and a poor presentation with sound effects that seem lifted from other, better games.
Overall – Poor (1 1/2 out of 5 stars) 
Space Jockey
Advantages – Great graphics and customizable play variations.
Disadvantages – Repetitive, overlapping sound effects. Only single player.
Overall – Good (3 out of 5 stars)
Guide to Game Rankings:
 
>> List articles in this category
<< Back to articles front page
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This article has been rated:    9.2 - 5 votes
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number6
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06 Aug : 20:41
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Comments: 5
Registered: 16 Jan : 05:33
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I must say this was quite excellent. I would love to see more video game reviews like this in the future. Great job Bill and Matt.
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Buck Feris
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06 Aug : 23:49
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Comments: 12
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Number6, it is truly nice to see you again. Hope you enjoy the issue.
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davyK
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07 Aug : 10:56
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Comments: 76
Registered: 19 Jan : 07:40
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Excellent feature...both content and presentation-wise.
Hey Bill, how did you keep your face straight while typing away at your lap-top at the end ?
Nice to the different controllers beforehand too.
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davyK
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07 Aug : 11:01
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Comments: 76
Registered: 19 Jan : 07:40
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By the way... my 7800 controllers are different from the ones shown here - we got controller very similar to the the NES controller in the UK.
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Bill Loguidice
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07 Aug : 19:04
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Comments: 307
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Well, I learned a lot this first go round davyK. When/if I do something like this in the future I should be able to pull off a more professional presentation. I had fun though and I'm glad it's been seemingly well received despite its flaws.
The British 7800 systems had Asteroids built-in and NES-style gamepads. The NES-style gamepads are now available even here in the US through mail order, but the US systems never had a built-in game (ours came with a Pole Position II cartridge) and only came with a standard two button joystick. It's not all that good, so I'm looking forward to getting a hold of the gamepad versions at some point to see if they're an improvement.
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Rowdy Rob
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07 Aug : 23:05
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Comments: 21
Registered: 18 Jan : 12:02
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This video article was fascinating to watch, if nothing else, just to put a face (and voice) behind the words I see Bill Loguidice post on the site. Of course, there was plenty "else" to enjoy. The video review format is probably the best way to actually demonstrate a game, but it was an unexpected surprise to actually see AA make the leap beyond the written word, with cool custom theme music to top it off!
Chopper Command is in my top 5 favorite 2600 games, so it was cool to see it garnering some attention.
The reviews were informative, but probably the best part was seeing Bill "arrogantly" parading his numerous retro wares in our faces, as if saying "I have all these toys and YOU DON'T!"  It's surprising how many different ways there are to play 2600 games (adapters, emulations, controllers, etc.) as the "parade" demonstrated. Has any other console been "adapted" to such a degree?
Anyhow, this was a very cool "article," and I hope to see video articles as a regular feature of AA.
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Bill Loguidice
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07 Aug : 23:29
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Comments: 307
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That's a good question about any other console being adapted to such a degree. Not only do you have the various revisions of the Atari 2600 hardware; you have the Sears branded versions; the Coleco Gemini and other stand-alone clones; modules for systems like the ColecoVision, Intellivision and 5200; backwards compatibility through the 7800; tons of emulators (software and hardware like the Stelladapter); TV games (like the Jakks stuff); etc. Then of course there's the current huge following for the system with a non-stop stream of new games, mostly by talented hobby programmers. It really is a unique system, and will probably last for years to come, unlike even more "popular" systems like the NES and PS1, simply because of the relative ease it is to create new stuff for or around the unit.
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davyK
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08 Aug : 16:24
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Comments: 76
Registered: 19 Jan : 07:40
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You're being a bit hard on yourself Bill - I thought it was excellent overall and look forward to more.
And.....for once the UK gets a good deal! Asteroids on the 7800 is great - if a little tough. From what I've seen its probably one of the best titles for the system.
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Bill Loguidice
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08 Aug : 18:18
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Comments: 307
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Asteroids is definitely one of my favorites for the system. It also has a great version of Food Fight. Like most systems, there are at least a few gems!
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deshrill
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11 Aug : 22:33
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Comments: 72
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Have to say that I enjoyed this, Bill... Seeing the game being played, along with the classic Atari sound effects, really livens up a review!
It almost inspires me to try this out on my own for a brief Armchair Arcade segment-- the only problem would be trying to video capture something that wasn't emulation... I suppose I could try reviewing a few games from the Intellivision Lives! compilation for the PS-2 or something...
This sound like a decent idea?
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Bill Loguidice
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11 Aug : 23:24
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Comments: 307
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Let's go with your other article idea first (RPG vs.). We're genuinely excited about the possibilities. We'll worry about another video feature for Issue 6 or 7, since we already have one confirmed for Issue 5 from Buck, along with an audio article (from me). Look forward to working with you now and going forward...
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Mike_Vox
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12 Aug : 00:23
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Comments: 5
Registered: 20 Apr : 02:40
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You can't go wrong with video reviews of classic games. Your vast collection also makes a perfect backdrop. Alot of classic games are difficult to track down and experience first hand. Video reviews are the next best thing to see and hear the games and hardware you missed the first time around. Looking forward to the next one.
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Bill Loguidice
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12 Aug : 01:19
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Comments: 307
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I agree about the video reviews of classic games. Unless there is a VERY special case, any future video articles from me will always be direct captures from the REAL hardware just like this one. Some emulators are just about perfect, but there are variances enough in the majority where there IS a difference, no matter how minor. If/when I do future video articles, I'll try and tape from different angles, though it was hard enough getting decent lighting from the one I was at for this one. I really did this with very low quality equipment overall (especially the microphone I used for the non-live segments), except for the video camera, which is comparitively pretty good.
My audio article will be the same thing. I'm going to feature direct recording from the real hardware, though I'm going to use an external microphone to record both the unit sound (if any) AND the TV. It may or may not work well, but it's "better" than using almost-there emulation, which anyone can fire up themselves anyway.
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Matt Barton
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12 Aug : 08:22
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Comments: 169
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This is when it kind of sucks that we all live so far apart. I bet making the video articles would be much easier with someone to help with the camera and/or prompts, eh Bill?
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deshrill
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12 Aug : 09:37
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Comments: 72
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Maybe at the next Classic Gaming Expo some of us could get together and produce some video articles there...
Anyway, I'll get to work on the PC VS Console RPG article...
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Bill Loguidice
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12 Aug : 10:54
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Comments: 307
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Well, I could always get the wife to help with the camera and the cue cards (though it's a tight squeeze in the workshop with the camera/tripod setup). The real advantage to us all living closer together would be sharing of equipment I think. As it is now, if we don't each personally have something on hand, we have to make do, which kind of sucks. For instance, I'm sure you have wonderful microphones at your place, Matt, while I have poor quality "barely gets the job done" audio stuff. Also, you guys only have access to my collection through scans and photos, and vice versa.
We definitely all want to meet in person at some point, and CGE would be a good place to do so, but between the timing and the costs, it won't be easy...
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Matt Barton
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12 Aug : 11:45
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Comments: 169
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Yes, I've got a 6-channel powered mixer, shure mics, and plenty of stands and the like.
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allent
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15 Aug : 22:55
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Comments: 2
Registered: 31 Jan : 19:57
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Nice reviews but why is Space Cavern included? It really isn't a scrolling shooter like Defender and Chopper Command or the others. It would have been better to include Defender II (aka Stargate) since it is probably the best of the bunch. Every one of your complaints about Defender is addressed in Defender II and it was one of Atari's best home translations. Too bad it was released at the beginning of the end for Atari.
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Bill Loguidice
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16 Aug : 00:14
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Comments: 307
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Two reasons, allent. First, I was reviewing shooting games, period, of which, I feel they all certainly are. It just so happens that 4 of the 5 scroll in some fashion. Two, I don't have Defender II/Stargate, and I only review stuff I own, not stuff I play in emulation. I realize this limits my review universe to a degree, but I feel it's only fair as even the best emulation can't be as perfect as playing the real game on the real hardware.
Also, just to follow-up with Atari addressing the issues of Defender with the sequel, well, there's STILL the original game. Should we not still review and talk about the original Atari 2600 Pac-Man even though Atari corrected their initial mistake with Ms. Pac-Man? Of course we should. Same thing applies here. The history can't be undone...
With all that said, when I do Part II in the future, I'll definitely add some anecdotes and what-not about similar games/sequels. It's always a good idea to give a little more, especially here at Armchair Arcade.
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allent
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16 Aug : 03:02
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Comments: 2
Registered: 31 Jan : 19:57
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I didn't mean to criticize. I agree that only real hardware can truly replicate the feel of the original. Although for ease on the hands, I often prefer using Stella on an Xbox- my cutoff for "good enough" is if the emulator can do Pitfall 2 and the starfield in Cosmic Ark. I'm surprised you don't have a Cuttle Cart (1 or 2). You'd consider that using real hardware, wouldn't you?
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Bill Loguidice
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16 Aug : 10:17
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Comments: 307
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You or anyone else can criticize all you want. I was merely explaining the "why". And I didn't take it as criticism, believe me.
Well, there's only so many things I can afford at this present time, and a Cuttle Cart is not one of them (we have yet to get review copies of anything sent to us). And sure, I would consider that as "real" by my definition.
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ryuhayabusa
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28 Aug : 18:15
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Comments: 13
Registered: 18 Jan : 17:26
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Great review video, Bill. I wasn't expecting to see anything like this on Armchair Arcade, so it was a pleasant surprise. I would love to see more like this, across all the different platforms. Good work!
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