Finding my uncle's old Atari is a big part of what got me into retro gaming, so I'm always happy to talk about a system that I think goes underdiscussed in retro spaces. There are definitely some games that have aged less gracefully than others, but theres also a lot of fun to be had with the system.
RIVER RAID
First up is my #1 favorite Atari game. The systems are pretty simple, shoot obstacles and don't run out of fuel but the game keeps throwing enough in your way to give a feeling of danger. The sounds are perfect and I still play this game a few times a month.
Yar's Revenge
Break through the bad guys shell and blow them to hell. Another game with a great feeling of danger, and I love firing off the larger beam when you get one. Look up a guide if you've never played this one, it can be a bit obtuse to a first time player.
Stampede
The first Atari game I ever played, and I still play from time to time. It may look simple, but having to decide when to dodge, when to bump a horse, and when to lasso makes for a fun gameplay loop. If you enjoy Tapper you might enjoy this game.
Frog Pond
This one is best with a buddy - you each compete to see who can eat the most flies. Suprisingly competitive, the alignment/aiming is skillful and there arent enough flies to go around.
Human Cannonball!
Yeeting this little dude across the sky is so fun whether he makes it or not. Missing this game is what inspired me to make this post. Its way more fun than the simple graphics would imply.
HALL OF SHAME
There are a lot of arcade ports on the Atari, some good like Missile Command, and some not so good. Which takes me to the worst game of the system
Pac-Man
If you love this game I'm sorry but its terrible. All the dots are squares, pac is hard to control, and the sound is subpar. I think its worse than ET with or without the fan patch. I can't imagine a huge pacman fan plugging this in and being anything but disapointed.
So those are my faves. What Atari games do you like/dislike? Have you played the system or never bothered? Is Atari Pacman your favorite game of all time? Let me know!
I have such a weird love for Pac-Man and ET. I know they're complete trash (ET way more so than Pac-Man), but I just can't help but love them. If someone asked me what the best 2600 games are, I would probably rattle off Yar's Revenge, Pitfall, Kaboom, etc. But if someone asked me what my favorite 2600 games are, ET and Pac-Man would totally be on the list.
I'm surprised! I wasn't around when these games were new so I really have no idea on what was considered good at the time. I just had a random mix of games and judged them on my personal tastes.
Oh, they're not good at all! I grew up with a secondhand 2600 and a box full of Atari games, many of which were actually worth talking about. But for whatever reason I really gravitated towards ET, Pac-Man, Centipede (a legit good game), and Ms Pac-Man (also a good game). Pac-Man is not a great arcade port by any stretch but at least you have a rough idea of how to play it. ET is just straight-up impenetrable if you don't have the manual (which I didn't) but I still liked controlling ET and wandering around trying to find the pieces of the telephone. Those pits, though? Still completely bogus, I've got no rose-colored glasses for those things.