{"id":1823,"date":"2010-11-06T13:50:24","date_gmt":"2010-11-06T20:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mathpirate.net\/log\/?p=1823"},"modified":"2010-11-06T13:50:24","modified_gmt":"2010-11-06T20:50:24","slug":"games-25-43-and-another-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mathpirate.net\/log\/2010\/11\/06\/games-25-43-and-another-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Games #25-43 and Another System"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I hooked up the Atari 7800.\u00c2\u00a0 The 7800 was originally to be released in 1984, but the Great Crash caused Atari to shelve the release plans until 1986, when the NES had revived the home console market.\u00c2\u00a0 The 7800 was backward compatible with the 2600, so it has a huge library of games that can be played on it.\u00c2\u00a0 Unfortunately, it also has some of the most uncomfortable joysticks ever made.\u00c2\u00a0 Fortunately, I have a pair of European Atari gamepads designed for the 7800.<\/p>\n

Anyway, I had a couple of technical difficulties yesterday, one of them involving the screenshot program.\u00c2\u00a0 I decided it would be faster to play a bunch of games, then come back later and deal with the screenshots and writing about the games.\u00c2\u00a0 Unfortunately, the screenshot program took a picture of part of the title screen of the first game, then quit.\u00c2\u00a0 So, almost 20 games later, no screenshots.\u00c2\u00a0 Yay.\u00c2\u00a0 Instead, here’s the carts or boxes and a quick rundown of each:<\/p>\n

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#25: Snafu – Intellivision.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 Snafu is like Surround on the 2600, or like the Light Cycles from Tron.\u00c2\u00a0 It has a few variations, including a mode with four opponents.\u00c2\u00a0 It also has some of the best music on the system.\u00c2\u00a0 ((Well, okay, some of the only<\/em> music on the system…))<\/p>\n

#26:\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Tron Deadly Discs\u00c2\u00a0– Atari 2600.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 This version is easier to control than the Intellivision version, and it seems to be clearer about how much health is remaining.\u00c2\u00a0 Unfortunately, it loses out on the ability to fire in any direction at any time, and I think this one is missing the Recognizer boss.<\/p>\n

#27:\u00c2\u00a0 Deadly Discs of Tron – Intellivision.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 This version is harder to control than the Intellivision verison, and it seems to be less clear about how much health is remaining.\u00c2\u00a0 Fortunately, it has the ability to fire in any direction at any time, and this one has a Recognizer boss.<\/p>\n

#28: Midnight Mutants – Atari 7800.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 This game is one of the most complex games on the system.\u00c2\u00a0 It really shows that the 7800 was capable of competing with the NES, had Atari gotten its act together earlier.\u00c2\u00a0 If it had come out in 1986, it could have been a game changer.\u00c2\u00a0 Instead, it came out in 1990, so it was game over.\u00c2\u00a0 This game is the closest the 7800 has to a Zelda style game, with exploration and items, plus, it’s got Grampa Munster.\u00c2\u00a0 How can you go wrong with Grampa Munster?<\/p>\n

#29: Tower Toppler – Atari 7800.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 Tower Toppler is known by many names.\u00c2\u00a0 Tower Toppler, Castelian, Nebulus…\u00c2\u00a0 All involve a space frog trying to climb and destroy a series of towers.\u00c2\u00a0 Most of the enemies in the game don’t kill you, they just knock you down to a lower level on the tower.\u00c2\u00a0 You only die if you fall off the bottom of the tower or if you run out of time.\u00c2\u00a0 And you will run out of time often.\u00c2\u00a0 This game also features a convincing 3D effect as the tower rotates behind your space frog.<\/p>\n

#30: Scrapyard Dog – Atari 7800.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 Scrapyard Dog is the only side-scrolling platformer on the system.\u00c2\u00a0 The only one.\u00c2\u00a0 Think about how many there were on the NES at the same time.\u00c2\u00a0 The game itself is pretty decent, with lots of jumping and secrets to find.\u00c2\u00a0 I keep meaning to dedicate some time to playing this game.\u00c2\u00a0 Now that I have the game room all set up, I might just have to do that.<\/p>\n

#31: Donkey Kong – Atari 7800.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 The game is Donkey Kong.\u00c2\u00a0 The music is a horrifying mess.\u00c2\u00a0 This game is an indication of why the Atari 7800 failed.\u00c2\u00a0 Most of the launch games for the system were the same old games that people had on the 2600.\u00c2\u00a0 They were five year old arcade games that no one was playing anymore.\u00c2\u00a0 No one wanted to spend $200 for the ability to play games that they didn’t actually want to play, when there was this other system that had a completely new style of game, where getting a high score was no longer the main objective.<\/p>\n

#32: Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine – Sega Genesis.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 Ever play Kirby’s Avalanche?\u00c2\u00a0 Same game, but set in the Sonic universe.\u00c2\u00a0 And by same game, I mean that the gameplay is\u00c2\u00a0IDENTICAL.\u00c2\u00a0 Even the graphics for the blobs that drop down is the same.\u00c2\u00a0 If you haven’t played it, this game is sort of like Dr. Mario, where groups of two colored blocks fall from the top and\u00c2\u00a0you try to set up blocks of the same color.\u00c2\u00a0 Four or more of the same color touching each other will cause the group to disappear, and you get bonuses for setting up large cascades.<\/p>\n

#33: Dashin’ Desperadoes – Sega Genesis.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 This game is a split-screen footrace between two cowboys who want to get the girl.\u00c2\u00a0 That sadistic, mean-spirited tease has these two cowboys running across half the world, watching them kick, punch,\u00c2\u00a0sabotage, and\u00c2\u00a0throw bombs at each other, just on the promise of a kiss.\u00c2\u00a0 This game, like OutRunners, seems like it requires two players to be any fun.\u00c2\u00a0 The CPU character in the single player game visibly cheats:\u00c2\u00a0 If you get too far ahead, he snaps to within two feet of you and immediately throws a bomb to knock you off your feet.<\/p>\n

#34: Space Spartans – Intellivision.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 Star Raiders with speech synthesis.\u00c2\u00a0 If you like Star Raiders, you’ll like this.\u00c2\u00a0 If you like speech synthesis, you’ll be impressed, but you probably won’t have any idea how to play, so the only speech synthesis you hear will be the computer telling you that all systems have been completly destroyed and that you’re about to be killed by the alien horde.<\/p>\n

#35: Pinball – Intellivision.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 Whoa.\u00c2\u00a0 This looks like a real pinball table.\u00c2\u00a0 This acts like a real pinball table.\u00c2\u00a0 Multiple flippers, bonus tunnels, bumpers, curved surfaces, it’s all there. \u00c2\u00a0It’s like the people who wrote this game actually played pinball at some point in their lives, unlike the people who wrote Video Pinball for the 2600.\u00c2\u00a0 Plus, this game has cute puppies.\u00c2\u00a0 Any game with cute puppies gets bonus points.<\/p>\n

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#36: Hero – Atari 2600.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 A very complex multi-level adventure for the 2600.\u00c2\u00a0 Your goal is to take your copter-pack into dangerous mines and rescue trapped miners, while avoiding spiders and bats and exploding TNT.\u00c2\u00a0 I feel\u00c2\u00a0should like this game more than I do.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Some of the deaths felt very cheap, like dropping into a new room directly on top of a spider that kills you instantly.<\/p>\n

#37: Astroblast\u00c2\u00a0– Atari 2600.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 This is the 2600 version of Astrosmash.\u00c2\u00a0 Since you use a joystick instead of the thumb-mangling Inty controller, I should like this game more, but I don’t.\u00c2\u00a0 The speed’s all wrong and the game just doesn’t feel right.<\/p>\n

#38: Sentinel\u00c2\u00a0– Atari 2600.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 I believe this is the only light-gun game on the 2600.\u00c2\u00a0 It came out in the late 80’s, so the sound and graphics are top notch for the system.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s a multi-stage horizontally scrolling shooter, where it’s your goal to defend the planet Neptune ((Or it’s a giant beach ball…\u00c2\u00a0 I’m not sure…)) from attacking alien forces.\u00c2\u00a0 At the end of each stage, there’s a boss robot to defeat.\u00c2\u00a0 I can easily say that it’s the best light gun game on the 2600.\u00c2\u00a0 Don’t confuse this with The Sentinel, the 3D game about robots that eat trees.<\/p>\n

#39: Shove It!\u00c2\u00a0– Sega Genesis.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 Sokoban.\u00c2\u00a0 A testament to stupid warehouse design.\u00c2\u00a0 Anyone who’s tried to clean their garage or pack things up for a move has played this game in real life.\u00c2\u00a0 It is a good version of Sokoban, but still, you’re just pushing boxes around.\u00c2\u00a0 Some day, I’m going to force myself to finish this game…\u00c2\u00a0 ((BTW, the password for level 2 is MARINA))<\/p>\n

#40: Barnyard Blaster – Atari 7800.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 This game forces you to shoot chickens and cute fluffy bunnies.\u00c2\u00a0 What kind of horrifying game is this?\u00c2\u00a0 The game\u00c2\u00a0is a light gun game with several screens of farm themed shooting.\u00c2\u00a0 Bottles\u00c2\u00a0on the\u00c2\u00a0fence, watermelons in the yard, owls in the\u00c2\u00a0barn, etc.\u00c2\u00a0 Somehow, this game is more morally abhorrent to me than\u00c2\u00a0GTA is.\u00c2\u00a0 “You shot Gramps!\u00c2\u00a0 No bonus!”<\/p>\n

#41: SubTerrania\u00c2\u00a0– Sega Genesis.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 This game is similar to Thrust, Gravitar, or\u00c2\u00a0Solar Jetman, only with a greater emphasis on combat and higher gravity.\u00c2\u00a0 I died within about 20 second when a giant robot punched me.<\/p>\n

#42: Trouble Shooter\u00c2\u00a0– Sega Genesis.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 Horizontally scrolling SHMUP featuring two teenage girls in with jet packs who are excited about going to the mall to fight evil, because the cute shoes might still be on sale.<\/p>\n

#43: Rocket Knight Adventures – Sega Genesis.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 Back in the nineties, pretty much every animal had a platformer.\u00c2\u00a0 There were hedgehogs and geckos and bats and bandicoots.\u00c2\u00a0 Rocket Knight Adventures has a possum.\u00c2\u00a0 A possum in a rocket-powered suit of armor with a boomerang.\u00c2\u00a0 The graphics are bright and detailed, but the controls will often have you rocketing around out of control in a direction you didn’t want to go.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I hooked up the Atari 7800.\u00c2\u00a0 The 7800 was originally to be released in 1984, but the Great Crash caused Atari to shelve the release plans until 1986, when the NES had revived the home console market.\u00c2\u00a0 The 7800 was backward compatible with the 2600, so it has a huge library of games that can […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[172],"tags":[238],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mathpirate.net\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1823"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mathpirate.net\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mathpirate.net\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mathpirate.net\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mathpirate.net\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1823"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mathpirate.net\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1824,"href":"https:\/\/mathpirate.net\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1823\/revisions\/1824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mathpirate.net\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mathpirate.net\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mathpirate.net\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}