This will not be essentially the most in-depth hands-on on the planet, however hopefully, we’ll have the ability to present a bit of bit of knowledge on every new recreation and show you how to decide whether or not they will 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…
Adventure II (2005, Homebrew) – Atari 2600
The authentic Adventure is probably 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 ‘Ready Player 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 authentic, but retains all the things that made it such a traditional.
The solely draw back right here is that there are not any recreation variations for this one, so it is technically a lesser recreation than the primary Adventure in that sense, however nonetheless nicely 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 venture earlier than being formally launched on cartridge in 2022. It’s 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 method again up, all whereas defending your self from sea creatures and keeping track of your oxygen provide.
The visuals listed here are a deal with, with the ocean creatures particularly showcasing beautiful gradients of color. With excessive potential for replayability and score-chasing, this may nicely be the most effective 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 of firm referred to as Activision. It’s a surprisingly satisfying expertise that allows you to briefly steer the ball in your required course to attain these valuable strikes.
If you are not up for that, then sure recreation variations can help you focus solely in your preliminary throw. Two gamers are additionally supported, so if you wish to replicate the times of enjoying Wii Bowling along with your mum, this may simply scratch that itch.
Circus Atari (1980) – Atari 2600
If you are conversant in Breakout (which, if you happen to’re even remotely into Atari, try 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’ll want to ensure the clowns land on the correct aspect of the teeter-totter, nevertheless, as failure to take action will trigger them to land on the ground with a hole thunk.
Relatively simplistic in design, it nonetheless presents a bit extra variation if you happen to’ve already mastered the distinctive Breakout and Super Breakout. Touchscreen help can also be included if you happen to’re discovering the analogue stick or d-pad would not provide 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 smart given it was launched in 1989, a full 12 years after the console’s debut.
Taking place in a single half of a basketball court docket, the sport options spectacular particulars like foul detection and play-calling, making this a terrific choice for these extra conversant in the game. For newcomers, nevertheless, studying the ropes right here may make for a irritating expertise.
Maze Craze (1980) – Atari 2600
Maze Craze, initially launched again in 1980, is certainly one of a number of 2600 video games that require two gamers. It’s a fairly easy expertise during which you merely navigate round a randomly-generated maze earlier than your opponent does so, however it manages to combine issues up fantastically with its recreation variations. Depending on simply how imply you wish to be, you possibly can select to cowl up a partial space of the maze or your complete factor, which means you and your opponent might want to guess the place to go. And so hilarity ensues.
It’s 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 would not love a little bit of miniature golf? Well, the 2600 Minature Golf is a positive, if a bit of irritating, option to expertise the traditional household recreation. It encourages you to go a bit nuts along with your aiming for the reason that limitations of the display imply you possibly can’t actually put a lot energy into your photographs. So aiming for the partitions and praying you do not run right into a shifting 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 and accumulates factors as you navigate your well past a mess of obstacles.
Its gameplay is remarkably participating, permitting you to carry out flips as you fly up into the air earlier than brutally crushing one other car as you land. It’s nice enjoyable if you happen to’ve obtained a pal 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 sequence, 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 save lots of a lady referred to as Mary (duh) trapped in a canyon that is slowly filling with water. You want to make use of the crane to drop platforms all the way down to Mary and permit her to climb to security.
It’s a gradual, methodical recreation, however an immensely satisfying one as soon as you determine the optimum option to full every stage.
Like Double Dunk, Super Football is one other title that may appear fairly daunting for newcomers to the game, however it’s nonetheless a powerful showcase of what the 2600 might 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 whereas.
Return to Haunted House (2005, Homebrew) – Atari 2600
Created by homebrew programmer Anthony Wong, Return to Haunted House appears to be like and performs like Adventure and its sequel, changing the long-lasting pair of eyes from the unique Haunted House with a easy dot. This is not to detract from the expertise, nevertheless, as you’ve got nonetheless obtained three completely different ranges to deal with of various problem, every boasting devious ghosts and daunting passageways. A worthy sequel, for sure.
Warbirds (1991) – Atari Lynx
The solely non-2600 recreation on the listing, Warbirds is a recreation that, like Turbo Sub, makes glorious use of the first-person perspective, squeezing out each final drop of energy from the common-or-garden handheld. It’s a quaint title by right this moment’s requirements, certain, however it’s additionally an undeniably enjoyable recreation. You can customise your expertise to your coronary heart’s content material too, toggling invincibility, limitless ammo, and extra to your liking.
So that is yer lot. For a free replace (the primary of many, in keeping with Atari), the video games added listed here are all nicely price enjoying, even when a pair may show a bit daunting for newcomers. The lack 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 cannot 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 tried out the brand new replace for Atari 50 but? What do you make of the video games included? Let us know your ideas with a remark down beneath.
