Atari 8-bit Computer Games that You MUST PLAY
Vložit
- čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
- I have really enjoyed exploring the library of the Atari 8 bit computer line and I am here to share some must play games that you may know about. I am aware there are other recommendations that are more known about, so in the comments below what do you recommend?.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▼▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
🔴Subscribe and help me get to my next goal of 135,000!
//czcams.com/users/johnhancockretro?sub_...
🔴Purchase my published homebrew games here
swlovinist.itch.io/
🔴M E R C H A N D I S E!
the-immortal-john-hancock.pri...
🔴 F A C E B O O K: bit.ly/2P5dObr
🔴 X(Formally Twitter): / swlovinist
🔴 P A T R E O N: / swlovinist
🔴 I N S T A G R A M: bit.ly/2FwjxV9
🔴T I K T O K: / immortaljh
🔴Binge watch some of my playlists below:
🔴Evercade Playlist
bit.ly/EvercadeVids
🔴Bad Video Games:
bit.ly/3iM8cDW
🔴Homebrew & Aftermarket Games
bit.ly/homebrewafter
🔴Ranking Videos:
bit.ly/3nL5Yol
🔴Switch videos:
bit.ly/2MH9Cl9
🔴Xbox videos:
bit.ly/3wHKMDS
🔴PlayStation videos
bit.ly/3HoTgFZ
🔴Arcade Related Videos:
bit.ly/arcadevids
🔴Affiliate links below:
🔴Switch OLED
amzn.to/3Hrq8OC
🔴Xbox Series S
amzn.to/3OdCXhE
🔴Evercade VS
amzn.to/47Yzmhw
🔴First Time Oculus Quest 2 users can get $30 in store credit!
www.oculus.com/referrals/link...
🔴Cool NES themed mouse here
amzn.to/3sFCs6O
🔴Tonor TC30 microphone
amzn.to/35AWtUq
🔴Sony Alpha a6100 Camera
amzn.to/3HdqEyT - Hry
I still have my Atari 400 upgraded with 64k bank select! It still works. My dad got it for me in 1977-78. I'm going to be 57 this month and it's one of my most cherished possessions. I still have my C-64 and Amiga 500 that also still work fine. Those were the days man. Temple of Aphshi Trilogy, and a free Saturday to do nothing were some good times.
Yes they were built like tanks! If anyone has not experienced the hardware first hand it is quite impressive in comparison to what is made today. Hell, it was impressive at the time.
If it wasn't for the Atari 400 I wouldn't be in IT. Poke and peek at addresses in the ANTIC chip. Too awesome!
I agree with you - those were the days. I miss the excitement and wonder around computers.
I fell in love with the Atari 800 when I was 9 years old. It wasn't until I was 13 years old that I could finally get a computer, that computer was the C64 as it was considerably cheaper. Don't get me wrong I love the C64 but my 9 year old self will always want an Atari 800. Now I'm 53 I might just be able to afford one.
I think I found my long lost twin! lol
I had a C-64, but playing Star League Baseball at my friend's house on 800xl is a good memory. Even though he beat me every time. 😢lol
Atari 800 was the original platform for one of the best games ever made: M.U.L.E.
The C-64 was solid though… better audio.
Atari 800 was the original platform for one of the best games ever made: M.U.L.E.
The C-64 was solid though… better audio.
I worked at Synapse. I wrote Lode Runner's Rescue too. These new games look a bit better than many of the games of the day did. Programmers have learned a few more tricks than we knew back then and have better tools than we had, though by say 1985 people who used to work for Synapse had built tools like an assembler and remote debugger than ran on a PC even if the program ran on a Commodore 64 (not sure if we made an Atari version of that).
The 8 bit line was a great base for inventing tricks, in the first games people basically used the baseline 4 colors per line single colored sprites, over the time they implemented software sprites did raster line timing to use all colors on screen in a sane manne etc... In a sense it was way less limiting than the C64, because it did give a way bigger set of tools users could work with instead of just giving them a fixed although big corset they basically could not break out!
You could literally see how the games got more impressive every year. Jay Miner did a great job with this system (and an even better job with the Amiga a few years later)
More on the graphics side, but same games also did a great job with sound, there is a huge difference for instance in early games and late games, the best sound probably had alternate reality, which was second to none what the 2 guys doing the game and sound did!
(same goes for the graphics in this game)
@@werpu12 my Atari 800 game had software sprites back in 1984. I do remember a friend of mine back then showing off a demo that changed colors of sprites ACROSS the screen by kerneling the processor (timing it along with the raster).
And we all knew about using raster inturupts.
We did some of the same on the Commodore 64, but it turns out that early versions of the 64 hardware would very occasionally randomly crash if you did things like change the graphics mode part way down the screen (my game did that).
I found out about then when someone at Synapse gave me a bad job reference.
Now THAT'S bad testing. Don't give the programmer a bug report, just give him a bad job reference later.
The Atari 800 XL was my first ever computer of any kind. Lot of nostalgia there.
Same, and in the 1990s I was increasingly sure I had been like the only person in the world who had one given how virtually impossible it was to find people online reminiscing about them, haha. I would occasionally order boxed Atari games from EBay to keep myself steeped in nostalgia
Must haves: Dropzone, Archon, Rescue on Fractalus, The Eidolon, Mercenary, Elektra Glide, Pharaohs Curse, Pole Position, Star Raiders, Star Raiders II, Montezuma's Revenge.
Nice picks! I'm currently planning a similar Atari 8-bit hidden gems video ahead of the 400 mini, and I vow NO DUPLICATION of your picks. 😂
Look forward to your video.
IT is a great video. @@johnhancockretro
Fort Apocalypse!!! one of my favorite games of all time honestly. Played this one back when it was new, and still jump into this one to this day. One of those games that takes a little effort but is worth it. I can beat this one no problem but i remember it taking some getting used to in the beginning. Pretty much all the synapse games were decent.
Fort Apocalypse is a gem, I still play & love this game today
I’m so stoked for the 400 Mini. The 800 would’ve been even better 😊. This is a take my money situation.
Great picks, John! I have to say I was surprised to not see "Star Raiders" in your list. It's an absolute "must play". A masterpiece of hardware-pushing gameplay! Really excited to see so many people excited for Atari 8-bit home computers!
I mention other lesser known titles.
The theory is that this Mini does not have an active keyboard, so -- no Star Raiders. I agree -- no SR, no deal.
@@MJFisher76 That's why
@@MJFisher76 you can use a keyboard with it, problem solved.
Yes, that was one i played a lot on my uncles 400.
Basically everything by Synapse is great. The Atari was the home system for their games, so in most cases the Atari version is the best (I think maybe the C64 Survivor is slightly better). Same with Lucasfilm/arts games like Rescue on Fractalus, The Eidolon, and Koronis Rift. They run more smoothly on the Atari. Spelunker, Cavelord, and Twilight World are games I quite like - they're all variations on the "you're in a cavern, explore and collect stuff" subgenre. Preppie, a cool Frogger ripoff in which you're retrieving golf balls. The Jumpman games. Juice is a fun Q-Bert takeoff. Jetboot Jack. The Miner 2049er games. Montezuma's Revenge. A lot of the classic EA games, from the "album sleeve" era had great Atari versions. I go on too long. It's a really big library with a lot of variety and people are still adding to it.
Great recommendations
Was that, like, the in-house brand? Like Amsoft was for the CPC?
It’s like you picked from my childhood. LOVED all these games. Also my first RPG with Ultima III, and later IV…as well as Stealth, The Last Starfighter, Quasimodo, Alley Cat, Ghostbusters…so many great memories.
One of their games cropped up in the conversation recently in the UK.
OK, I lied. It was just me.
Mel Brooks was in a recently released film on Amazon Prime called The Automat, which prompted the question in the UK 'What's an automat? I've never heard of that.'
There was an automat to visit in Synapse's New York City (N.Y.C.), a game I actually owned.
@@Jammet No
Encounter was one of my favorite games on the Atari 8-bit. Kind of like Battlezone..but super fast movement and gameplay.
Paul Woakes also did Mercenary - an absolute classic.
I never really figured out how to play that ... or maybe just wasn't good at it. LOL
Oh! Don't forget about Space Harrier Converted for the Atari 8-Bit by Chris Hutt! That game is amazing! Totally recommended!
Thanks for the recommendation
I couldn’t agree more. Space Harrier is the most impressive thing I’ve played on my 800xl!
I got a 600XL a few weeks ago and upgraded the ram to 64k. I'm finding so many weird and cool games for it that it's starting to become my favorite 8-bit computer.
Great call on Fort Apocalypse. One of the first long games I played all the way through. Same with Blue Max. Didn’t know about Zeppelin- I’ll have to try that out.
Only other one I could think of is ROBB. I never played it on Atari but I will.
I completely forgot about Blue Max…. My brother and I had a paper route and save up for the Atari 400… loved the games and it also taught me Basic. Preordered with another controller.
Everyone has the 2600 growing up, but I was lucky. I had near arcade quality games at home in 1982 with the Atari 400. Parker bros games were all outstanding.
It's great that the Atari computer line is at last getting some nostalgia love rather than the Atari consoles. Back in the day a friend had an Atari 400, another had the 800, I later picked up a 130XE and loved playing Blue Max on it, so a great choice there...Thanks to Ebay I now have an Atari 800, so ahead of it's time those machines. Some great arcade ports, Miner 2049er, Caverns of Mars, Bristles, Boulderdash and Mountain King bring back a lot of memories for me.
The 8 bit computer line was the best system Atari ever had (well at least on top with the ST line), there were so many great classics really well implemented, I never understood why the underpowered 2600 line constantly got all the love while the way better 8 bit line was completely neglected, I am glad this is changing now! It is really sad that the technically similar 5200 failed so hard, the games still look better on this system than on the 7800 for whatever reason! (not getting it entirely, but it must be the intense colors)
@@werpu12 The 2600 "got all the love" because it sold a fuckton of systems for the time... it's where the money was.
@@JustMe99999 Yes indeed, the problem simply was that the games were better on the 8 bit system and the STs, way better. There were I dont know how many rehashes of the 2600 until finally we saw something else. The problem also was the rehashes had mostly the same games again and again just different form factors usually. They were milking the cow until nobody bought it anymore before moving to the newer systems!
I am excited about the upcoming Atari 400 mini. I have played most of the games you recommended. I also recommend Necromancer, Hero, and many Lucasarts games.
Almost recommended some Lucasarts games but went a little lesser known here.
Necromancer is amazing.
Dandy, and Gauntlet (side scroller) were the best
Had an 800XL my dad acquired in the mid 1980s. Let's just say my Dad had a good friend, as we had access to games and midi on floppy disks. DK was great!
My 1st computer that my dad bought for me back in '79. Loved it. Still have my 130XE, unfortunately my Atari 400 was lost in time
I got the Atari XEGS for Xmas '87. My parents got it for me instead of the NES which was sold out everywhere. Didn't want it because I felt at the time that there weren't a lot of games for it that I really wanted to play or own. Turned out that I had a classmate that had a bunch of carts for the 800. I borrowed a couple just to see if they would work on the XEGS, I had no idea. They did, and my friend said he was moving on to the NES and I could have all of his Atari 800 carts. I still have them today.
Fantastic picks, sir -- agree heartily with all of them, though I'd never seen that version of Tempest before! I was blown away by that version of Bosconian when I first tried it -- near arcade-perfect. And I adore Synapse Software's output from back in the day -- Blue Max, Fort Apocalypse and Zeppelin are all top-notch. I recommend also looking at Alley Cat (which is pretty famous for its PC version, but I believe originated on Atari), Shamus and Quasimodo from Synapse -- they're all personal favourites.
Glad you enjoyed it
I typed in 'Livewire' from an Analog magazine back in the day. The screens spelt out L-I-V-E-W-I-R-E.
From the review it looks Tempest spells out a word: something -L-O. I'll find out when I get the 400Mini.
Alley Cat was weird and amazing.
@@Jincman Especially the little jingles when you completed a sub-game: they really made the 4-channel pokey purr!
I recently inherited a 130xe from a co-worker, and I had never heard of Atari’s computer line before then. I totally fell in love with the pick up and play nature of the games. It’s now become one of my go to gaming machines-endless hours of fun.
I love Survivor from Synapse. A bit like Bosconian. It comes into its own when you have four player: pilot, propulsion engineer and two gunners. You really have to talk to one another to get anywhere.
I hope that's on the carousel. The 400mini has 4 ports at the front.
This is awesome vid... Still learning with the Atari 800, so really thankyou introducing me to them.
The 800XL was one of the systems I used to own that got lost when I moved out of my parents house, I still have tape copies of Blue Max, Fort Apocalypse, and Draconus in the loft. I've often thought of getting another 800XL. Hopefully they bring out an 800XL Maxi... One can only hope!
Really loving the Atari videos! Reminds me of all the games I used to play on my 800 and forgot. Lately I have revisited “Shamus”. What a great game.
Shamus was amazing. Never forget the night I completed it.
@@Jincman For me it was completing Miner 2049er
When I was a little kid, I fell in love with Donkey Kong. The arcade I went to (Gold Rush in Flagstaff AZ) had two of them placed at the entrance of the arcade. When I saw the Atari 800 version, I couldn’t believe my eyes! I wanted that so bad! But a few things held me back… mostly money.
Synapse had some of the best games! Always bought their games no questions asked, back in the day.
Thanks for featuring such cool games - certainly a console and line I've never gotten into, so it's fun to see some of the library on display in videos like this.
Great list. I look forward to playing all of them on the 400 - especially Bosconian. One of my favourites too.
I’ve never played games from this computer but I’m excited to check them out
Hey thanks bro for giving the HIGHLY underrated A8-bit some love. Always enjoy your channel. Thanks for the hard work and looking forward to your content in the new year!
While growing up in the eighties, our household was very Atari based, with an 800 and 800XL, and my own 65XE with all of the trimmings ;) (1050 floppy drive, 300 baud modem, etc..) that I received in grade 7. The games that I played the most were, Star Raiders, Fort Apocalypse, Great American Cross Country Road Race, Blue Max, Joust, Karate Champ, Karateka, Donkey Kong, Pole Position, etc.. Such a fantastic system and I have many warm memories.
It’s great to see a video on the Atari 8-bit. I could go on raving about this great computer for hours. As always, I’ll strongly recommend MULE, Seven Cities of Gold and Ballblazer, just for starters. Donkey Kong is also excellent, and as we can see, the indie/homebrew scene has kept Atari alive all these years. Thank God for the diehard Atarians in Poland.
Oh, and have you seen Space Harrier? Holy buckets, that was an achievement. But I believe that required the 1MB RAM expansion, so it’s probably only playable via emulator for most fans.
SOme of these games take me back. Thanks for the video, John.
I adore Fort Apocalypse and Zeppelin. There are so many great Atari 400/800 games!
Starting with the less mainstream ones that I can't get enough of are Rainbow Walker, Necromancer, Flip & Flop, O’Riley’s Mine, Pharaoh's Curse, Mountain King, and one of my top favorite maze games is: Serpentine. One must-play unreleased arcade game that started on the Atari 400/800 computers before being ported to arcades is Blaster!
Very nice list, did not start out at all like I was expecting it. Great list indeed!
Glad you enjoyed!
Very insightful. That donkey kong port looks fire.
I was fortunate enough to be able to pre-order the Atari 400 plug and play. Love the video! There were a ton of games on this list I knew nothing about. I was a commodore vic20/c64 kid. Hopefully you can cover other 8-bit Atari computers and their games. I know nothing about the Atari computer side of games. Great video as always!
Zeppelin was an incredible game. I only played it on the C64, but it was amazing.
There were so many great games on the Atari 8 bit computers, the best thing is the system aged way better than the more popular c64 despite coming out 4 years earlier. Thanks to Jay Miner who designed a "kick ass" system way ahead of its time, the reason why the games aged better were the better color palette, sure the c64 could do 16 colors on screen and had better sprite handling, but the ataris could only 4 colors per scanline but could use all 256 colors on screen which gave the came a more colorful look if used right.
Both systems were great though, both had their own strengths and weaknesses (c64 sid was unsurpassed in that generation also its sprite handling was better)
Fun fact is that the logical successor to the atari 8 bits, the amiga landed at commodore while the ST line more or less was the logical successor to the c64 and that was Ataris 16 bit lineup!
I also can recommend murder on the Zinderneuv, literally anything coming out from Lucasarts (Ballblazer, Koronis Rift, Rescue on Fractalus etc...), and the definitive game for the system Alternate Reality 1+2 which are basically a showcase on what the system can do! Also the Zaxxon version of the atari 8 bit line is probably the best version of all 8 bit systems, the c64 had more detailed graphics but the ataris got the speed correct and it felt like the arcade (although it skimped on decorative details). Add on top the definitive version of attack of the mutant camels (the system simply lends to Jeff Minters style of games, by allowing heavy rotoskoping effects of intense colors)
I am glad that more people now get to know the system, the most underrated 8 bit system ever with probably not the biggest but probably the best or second best lineup of all 8 bit computers!
Also fun fact, the Atari 8 bits were literally the only 8 bit system which did not get Impossible Mission, the 7800 got a port but that one was awful!
Also many games on the 5200 were basically ports from the 8 bit line, given the same base architecture, but the lineup was not as big (about 5% of the games released for the 8 bit computers)
@@werpu12I always preferred POKEY to SID. POKEY was certainly better for sound effects, and for music it had four channels, as opposed to Said having three. I generally preferred the POKEY sound overall.
This was my most anticipated reaction video to The 400 Mini news. Preordered it too 😊. Can't wait for the release and Immortal review.
As a rookie to Atari, thanks a lot for the game recommendations 😀
Glad you enjoyed it.
I've owned just about every common 8 bit computer ever made with the exception of Atari. I always wanted one, but never did get one. I've bid a few times on online auctions but never won. I played Zeppelin a lot on my C64, and Bosconian a bit after "discovering" it on a Plug and Play game I got a few years ago. My wife had a 130xe growing up, and thought it was still in her parent's attic, but alas it was not.
If I can get a 400 mini for a non-scalper price I might get one, but otherwise will stick to the emulators I already have at my disposal.
As usual, thanks for the video!
The games on the 8 bits despite having bigger sprites than the C64 simply aged better, the color palette makes up for some deficits, I almost barely can stand c64 games nowadays due to the same brownish greyish color in every game (the sid sound makes up for it) while I love to fire up the same Atari versions due to being often way more pleasent to the eye. Funnily when I was a kid it was the total opposite, probably grass is always greener on the other side effect! I probably never saw enough C64 games to notice the permanent color repetition those games had!
Defender, Star Raiders, Fort Apocalypse, pac man (better than the Arcade in my opinion) .. many others. If you haven't played FA, GAH! GET IT! ! ! ! !
I absolutely loved my Atari 800. Back in 1980 Star Raiders sold me on Atari rather than Apple and I *NEVER* regretted it!
Here in Chile Atari was king in the gaming department in the 80s, before the Nes arrived.
With the Atari 400 mini , this video come handy, thanks John !
Growing up put a lot of time into Buried Buck$ and Rally Speedway loved how you could create tracks and I saved them to tape.
The classic of course like Alley Cat and my all time fav Whistlers Brother and DROL
Still got my 130XE and your right so many over looked games in this system. I started with 600XL
Another strange title but good titles I have on tape is Carnival Massacre and Up Up and Away
I’ve just started to do some gameplay videos of some of my all times favs (little plug)
Nice choices. The Bosconian homebrew looks amazing.
Great recommendations, I need to play that Zeppelin game, I knew nothing about it until now! Also, I would kindly suggest the Robbo games from Poland, they are quite popular on the A8 platform. Thanks for the video!
You r list is solid. I would add Beef drop, excellent burger time port and RGB.
Yeah I am getting this mini to get a nostalgia I never felt before, because that's rare. Literally an unknown 8 bit computer, to me. It's like day one. I know nothing. It'll be a marvel.
Well done video sir. Blue Max was my favorite growing up. Must play for sure. As I collect for the console Super Zaxxon is another outstanding game .
Good choice!
Mind blowing stuff😁
Seeing these games shows how amazing these systems were.. this is late 70's tech!
Been looking forward to your recommendations since the announcement.
FOUR player MULE for the WIN!!!
Best party game ever. I have never had so many screaming friends in any other game. Atari downfall was cutting it to TWO joysticks for the XL/XE line. Stupid mistake.
My first computer was my Atari 65XE back in the mid 80's. I still have it and have acquired a 400,800 and XEGS since. I learned very very basic programming from it. I have other 8 but computers, they are cool.
I have an Atari 400 with the cassette reader but no cassette games to go with it 😔. Got a few good cartridge games at least including donkey Kong and pac man. Still missing the Atari basic cart as well. It's a fun little computer anyways, love the keyboard. Would like to get my hands on a 800 though.
Spelunker was one of my favorites
Blueprint, Necromancer, Dropzone ... and so on.
Dropzone was amazing.
Thanks so much John. Blue Max was great! I forgot about Fort Apocalypse and Zeppelin, reason I watch. See games lost to my memory. C-64 guy but played them on 800 first.
I loved the Atari 8-bit, so many fond memories. Good choices here, ten must play games that quickly spring to mind for me would be: 'Alternate Reality: The City' (and it's sequel 'The Dungeon'), 'Elektraglide', 'Mercenary' (and its follow-up 'The Second City'), 'Rescue On Fractulus', 'Bounty Bob Strikes Back', 'Montezuma's Revenge', 'Zybex', 'Jetboot Jack', 'Kareteka', 'The Lone Raider'. All fabulous games, some ported to / from other platforms, but the Atari 8-bit versions were usually always the best.
Oh got to throw in the magnificent 'Gyruss' in there too.
Yeah that one is excellent.
John Hancock back in action even though you’ve been with Atari as of late I know deep down you’re the Master of Sega
Why not be both haha.
I kept my 800xl since the late 80's. In the early my rf connector failed and I couldn't find the power brick. In 2020 I brought a power and monitor connectors . Once it started working I played carts. A few months later I brought a sdsio drive. I still playing now. I love galaxian.
Some very cool games showcased here !
Glad you like them!
My favorite was Star Raiders, and an IBM game that required a floppy disc to load the compiler, Archon, a chess/fighting game.
Does it have a USB port for a keyboard?
My whole family competed for Centipede high scores (mom won), and all but mom competed for Missile Command (me). We had a 400, and dad went cheap on the touchpad keyboard, so no desire to code Basic for me, but when they took us to play cards with their friends, the younger couple had a 800XL with all the extras.
I'll be playing Shamus non-stop as soon as the A400 arrives. It's available for several platforms, but was born on the Atari 8-bit platforms and the Atari version is the best.
The cart version on the PCjr was pretty good too.
Boulderdash! Especially because there have been hundreds of community made levels for it.
I hope they announce the Atari 5200 Mini. That's an under appreciated console no thanks to the bad controller, but the games on it are great! There are some amazing arcade ports on the 5200. Centipede, Moon Patrol, Berzerk, Robotron 2084 and Missile Command to name a few. It would also give Atari a chance to redeem themselves by actually making the controller work well.
Great list, proof that you really do know your stuff.
I appreciate that!
That version of Donkey Kong might be my favorite version to play on any platform! 🔥
My uncle had a 400 and he had this really cool game that was like that Zepplin game and helicopter game but it was submarines instead.
It had all these amazing detail of underwater caverns ya could enter and ya had to destroy force field generators and/or walls and knock out enemy power plants and weapon installations,but there were surface ships dropping depth charges and torpedos and enemy subs patrolling.
Ya had your own home base also ala Capt.Nemo where ya could repair or refuel your sub i think.
There was another aspect to it underlying your actions,like some other mission ongoing ya had to accomplish but i cant remember exactly.
It was one of my favorite games as the physics of it was very "realistic" it gave you the feeling of actual underwater motion because the sub had momentum and ya had to be careful when you lessened forward speed or to stop, the sub kept moving like it had actual mass. Same for moving up and down.
Maybe im recalling it wrong, or embellishing it in my nostalgic mind. Lol
Anyone know what it was called? Ive been trying to find it again for emulation onto another device, like maybe the GSP.
Epyx had many good games on this platform. Jumpman, Jumpman Junior, and Pitstop were all great.
I also really enjoyed the Atari 800 versions of Karateka and Boulder Dash. And no list is complete without 1st party titles like Robotron 2084 and Star Raiders.
I wonder if this is what I recall seeing at Target when I was a kid?
Man I had one of those back in the day. I worked all summer to buy a disk drive for like $400.
The real classics are : River Raid, Monty (Montezuma's revenge), International Karate, Boulder Dash, Robbo (veeeery cool Polish game, check it out), Panthera. All Zeppelin games : Draconus, Ninja Commando and Zybex are the best. My favorite is Dan Strikes Back. Also, Ninja game was very popular in Eastern Europe. But version we've got here was Atari 65XE and 130, sometimes Atari XEGS - some weird game console variant with a lightgun and "Bug Hunt" cartridge. 800s were seldom, but they were here
My first PC, was an Atari 400. I just bougth this Mini, and also have the real 400, 800, 800xl, 7800, 2600, 5200 and 130XE in my collection. Atari was so under rated vs C64 etc
I really liked Nebulus. IMO, the best joystick for the Atari 8-bit PCs was the microswitch-based, bat-handled Wico Command Control Joystick.
One game that should get an honorable mention is gauntlet. It was like an indie game of the time, but it was very ahead of his time. If you can find this one that is an awesome game not to be confused with the gauntlet arcade game. This was a space game that you had a ship that had a lot of different weapons and strategy was involved
czcams.com/video/u8NYqpKHRvM/video.htmlsi=1Toga0PR2tP2r3ka
Fort Apocalypse is legendary and had so much in it for the time.
Lots of good recommendations here. I didn't see Sirius Software mentioned though so I'm going to throw that one out there. Sirius published a lot of Apple II stuff back in the day and ported most to the Atari 8-bits and C64. I was an Atari man and games like Space Eggs, Bandits, Sneakers, Repton, Wavy Navy, and who can forget Wayout. Check 'em out for some Sirius 8-bit fun. :)
I really enjoyed my time with my first very own Atari XE at my 6, but not enough. I was mad when 6 years later my mom gift it to an employ of the family business because I had a modern 486 PC.
Did you check the aftermarket port of the Prince of Persia for an Atari? If not - just do it. Another one to check is Crownland - a very colorful and really impressive platformer. Or a newer one, Albert. If you like Atari Blast!, you must have a look at The Last Squadron. If you're into FPS type of games, you must check the Atari Doom (ADoom) port (not completly finished yet but playable and almost done), that's been also recently created. Flob, Adam Is Me, ... many more magnifficent productions appeared, especially during recent years.
I covered Flob and yes it’s amazing
I've inserted a lot of coins in 'Donkey Kong' arcade cabinets at fairs, luna parks and arcade playrooms, never really teach to play well that game... 😉🤔
Yoomp is an awesome game, it can also be found on the Atari 50 Anniversary Celebration.
Very nice
Gauntletak is an under-rated gem. I think it should have been the pack-in for the XEGS.
My picks would be Moon Patrol ( I love this game), B.C Quest for Tires is another good one. the Atari computer version of E.T. is rather interesting, haven't played it much but it is a lot more in depth than the 2600 version.
The Atari 400 Mini is cute, but like all the mini computers coming out are only legal emulators and roms. I have my original 1200XL, that got me through college in the 1980s. It's been "fixed" and upgraded but is still my favorite. I also picked up a 130XE, a few years ago, heap, just for fun.
what ever hapoend to his museum , did he open it
BRUCE LEE was my favorite Atari 400 game.
Yep, called now Lee on the 400 mini
If you pressed 'L' on the keyboard, it made the Atari joystick function lefhandedly.
Incidentally, no Datasoft games in your review?
@@johnhancockretro
I only played these at store displays. I had an Apple II. Everyone I knew back then had Apple or C64…
Yoomp! was included on Atari 50, right?
I think so
I want one so bad man. I’m actually looking to buy a 5200 or 7800. I’m just so discouraged about the controller situation regarding the 5200. Is there really no affordable solution? Those custom controllers cost more than the system.
Thanks for the recommendations. I haven't ever played an Atari computer game before. I do know the Atari computers are very capable gaming machines. Pretty amazing they were released way back in 79. I've heard the Atari 400 Mini will also play 5200 roms. Anyone know if the controller has extra buttons for these games?
Will they do an Atari 400 Maxi? That would be sweet! The design of the 400 is pretty iconic.
The 8b its were roughly 2-3 years ahead of their time, if they would have brought out the 5200 console like originally planned around 79 instead of riding the 2600 to the death atari would have dominated the consoles way longer and probably Nintend would never have gotten a foothold, by the time N would have come to the market a still for atari working jay miner would have had the amiga hardware as console ready! That was the original plan until Bushnell was ousted by Warner!
It would be helpful if you provided links to the various games you profile. I can't find any sign of Tempest Elite (For example).
It’s not available but in the video I mention that Atarimania having a previous version as well as most games found there. Donkey Kong arcade found on Atariage.
Blue Max is one of the best Atari games
Yes it is.
Don't forget there was Blue Max 2001 which was pretty cool too (don't know if it was mentioned in the comments) :)
Yeah I liked the original more but 2001 is still good.