This would possibly not be essentially the most in-depth hands-on on the planet, however hopefully, we’ll have the ability to present a bit bit of data on every new recreation and assist you to decide whether or not they’ll be price your time or not. One factor we’ve got to say earlier than we go on, nevertheless, is that each addition right here comes with its personal digital instruction handbook; yet one more instance of Digital Eclipse’s unrivalled consideration to element.
So with out additional ado, let’s check out the video games included on this free replace…
Journey II (2005, Homebrew) – Atari 2600
The unique Journey is maybe one of the well-known and beloved video games on the Atari 2600, with its hidden easter egg serving as the principle inspiration behind the 2011 sci-fi novel ‘Prepared Participant One’.
This official sequel, designed by the late Curt Vendel and incorporating parts from the 5600 homebrew title by Ron Lloyd, is just about extra of the identical, which is okay by us. The world is bigger and extra intricate than the 1980 unique, but retains every thing that made it such a basic.
The one draw back right here is that there aren’t any recreation variations for this one, so it is technically a lesser recreation than the primary Journey in that sense, however nonetheless effectively price your time.
Aquaventure (1983, Prototype) – Atari 2600
Aquaventure is a recreation that sadly fell sufferer to the online game crash of ’83, left stranded as a accomplished undertaking earlier than being formally launched on cartridge in 2022. It is a recreation that thrives on its simplistic but addictive gameplay, requiring you to easily navigate to the underside of the ocean, retrieve the sunken treasure, and make your approach again up, all whereas defending your self from sea creatures and keeping track of your oxygen provide.
The visuals listed below are a deal with, with the ocean creatures particularly showcasing beautiful gradients of color. With excessive potential for replayability and score-chasing, this would possibly effectively be the perfect new recreation of the bunch.
Bowling (1979) – Atari 2600
Bowling was the final recreation designed by Larry Kaplan earlier than he went on to co-found a bit firm referred to as Activision. It is a surprisingly satisfying expertise that permits you to briefly steer the ball in your required route to attain these treasured strikes.
For those who’re not up for that, then sure recreation variations help you focus solely in your preliminary throw. Two gamers are additionally supported, so if you wish to replicate the times of taking part in Wii Bowling together with your mum, this would possibly simply scratch that itch.
Circus Atari (1980) – Atari 2600
For those who’re conversant in Breakout (which, when you’re even remotely into Atari, you ought to be), then you definitely’ll be proper at house with Circus Atari. It performs equally, requiring you to bounce a pair of clowns up within the air to pop a bunch of balloons. You may want to verify the clowns land on the proper facet of the teeter-totter, nevertheless, as failure to take action will trigger them to land on the ground with a hole thunk.
Comparatively simplistic in design, it nonetheless presents a bit extra variation when you’ve already mastered the distinctive Breakout and Tremendous Breakout. Touchscreen assist can also be included when you’re discovering the analogue stick or d-pad does not supply fairly sufficient accuracy.
Double Dunk (1989) – Atari 2600
A direct sequel to Basketball, Double Dunk represented a big leap in visuals and depth for the 2600, which is sensible given it was launched in 1989, a full 12 years after the console’s debut.
Going down in a single half of a basketball court docket, the sport options spectacular particulars like foul detection and play-calling, making this an incredible possibility for these extra conversant in the game. For newcomers, nevertheless, studying the ropes right here would possibly make for a irritating expertise.
Maze Craze (1980) – Atari 2600
Maze Craze, initially launched again in 1980, is one in every of a number of 2600 video games that require two gamers. It is a fairly simple expertise during which you merely navigate round a randomly-generated maze earlier than your opponent does so, but it surely manages to combine issues up fantastically with its recreation variations. Relying on simply how imply you wish to be, you’ll be able to select to cowl up a partial space of the maze or the complete factor, that means you and your opponent might want to guess the place to go. And so hilarity ensues.
It is even nonetheless obtained a bizarre visible glitch as you boot up the sport. If that is not authenticity, we’re unsure what’s.
Miniature Golf (1979) – Atari 2600
Who does not love a little bit of miniature golf? Effectively, the 2600 Minature Golf is a high quality, if a bit irritating, solution to expertise the basic household recreation. It encourages you to go a bit nuts together with your aiming because the limitations of the display screen imply you’ll be able to’t actually put a lot energy into your photographs. So aiming for the partitions and praying you do not run right into a transferring impediment is your greatest wager with this one.
MotoRodeo (1990) – Atari 2600
Developed by Atari founder Nolan Bushnell after he based developer Axlon, MotoRodeo is one other two-player recreation that splits the display screen and accumulates factors as you navigate your well past a mess of obstacles.
Its gameplay is remarkably partaking, permitting you to carry out flips as you fly up into the air earlier than brutally crushing one other automobile as you land. It is nice enjoyable when you’ve obtained a buddy to affix in, however equally worthwhile with the sport’s AI opponent.
Save Mary (1990, Prototype) – Atari 2600
Designed by Tod Frye, the creator behind the ill-fated SwordQuest collection, Save Mary is a curious, but extremely enjoyable title that remained unpublished till 2005 when it appeared on the Atari Flashback 2. It required gamers to avoid wasting a lady referred to as Mary (duh) trapped in a canyon that is slowly filling with water. You could use the crane to drop platforms right down to Mary and permit her to climb to security.
It is a gradual, methodical recreation, however an immensely satisfying one as soon as you determine the optimum solution to full every stage.
Like Double Dunk, Tremendous Soccer is one other title which may appear fairly daunting for newcomers to the game, but it surely’s nonetheless a formidable showcase of what the 2600 may do greater than a decade after its launch. The animations are remarkably easy, the visuals are pleasing sufficient, and there is sufficient depth right here to maintain lovers busy for an excellent whereas.
Return to Haunted Home (2005, Homebrew) – Atari 2600
Created by homebrew programmer Anthony Wong, Return to Haunted Home seems to be and performs like Journey and its sequel, changing the long-lasting pair of eyes from the unique Haunted Home with a easy dot. This is not to detract from the expertise, nevertheless, as you have nonetheless obtained three completely different ranges to deal with of various problem, every boasting devious ghosts and daunting passageways. A worthy sequel, definitely.
Warbirds (1991) – Atari Lynx
The one non-2600 recreation on the checklist, Warbirds is a recreation that, like Turbo Sub, makes wonderful use of the first-person perspective, squeezing out each final drop of energy from the standard handheld. It is a quaint title by at this time’s requirements, positive, but it surely’s additionally an undeniably enjoyable recreation. You’ll be able to customise your expertise to your coronary heart’s content material too, toggling invincibility, limitless ammo, and extra to your liking.
In order that’s yer lot. For a free replace (the primary of many, based on Atari), the video games added listed below are all effectively price taking part in, even when a pair would possibly show a bit daunting for newcomers. The dearth of any new content material within the interactive timeline is a minor concern, however we have been informed that future updates will certainly embody new behind-the-scenes interviews and movies to flesh out the expertise much more.
We won’t wait to see what else Atari and Digital Eclipse have in retailer, however for now, we’re off to play some extra Aquaventure.
Have you ever tried out the brand new replace for Atari 50 but? What do you make of the video games included? Tell us your ideas with a remark down under.
