Top 50 Atari 8-bit Games

[Vectorman0]

I don't have enough experience to start this off with a full preliminary list, so I will be adding games that are mentioned at least twice.

What needs to be added? Did someone already suggest your favorites? Second their suggestion. Did someone suggest a game you think is terrible? Let us know. Discuss!

Agent USA
Alley Cat
Alternate Reality
Archon
Boulder Dash
Bounty Bob Strikes Back
Donkey Kong
Dreadnaught Factor
Dropzone
International Karate
Jumpman
Jumpman Jr.
Karateka
Lode Runner
M.U.L.E.
Mercenary
Miner 2049er
Montezuma's Revenge
Mr. Robot and His Robot Factory
Pinball Construction Set
Racing Destruction Set
Seven Cities of Gold
Shamus
Star Fleet I
Star Raiders
Ultima
Zeppelin

I'm hoping this will turn into a full top 50 list.

[Sonicwolf]

M.U.L.E. That game is classic and one of the first multiplayer games. It is incredibly fun and engaging. Simple and complicated all at the same time. Too bad its so freaking rare.

[tom]

Universe (Omnitrend)
Donkey Kong
Star Fleet I (interstel)
Alley Cat
Ultima 3
Ultima 4
Solo Flight
Essex
Mindwheel
Wargame Constuction Kit
Wizards Crown
Fooblitzky
THGTTG
PCS
M.U.L.E.
The Halley Project (Mindscape)
Star Raiders

more later......

[boatofcar]

I've always thought that A8 arcade ports were the best of any pre-crash systems. You could probably fill a top 25 list with just those...except Space Invaders.

[Cantaloup]

Some suggestions off the top of my head, in no particular order:

Ultima 2
Archon 2
Bruce Lee
Karateka
Seven Cities of Gold
Return of Heracles
Rescue on Fractalus
Alternate Reality
Silent Service
Pastfinder
Montezuma's Revenge
Hacker
Racing Destruction Set
Blue Max

Seconding:

M.U.L.E.
Archon
Ultima 3 & 4
Star Raiders
Miner 2049er
Bounty Bob Strikes Back
Alley Cat
Star Fleet I
PCS (Pinball Construction Set)

[Sonicwolf]

Pitfall is a good one too. Classic fun.

[Vectorman0]

I added all games that were mentioned twice. Also, I second Montezuma's Revenge.

I think River Raid should be added.

[tom]

The Tail of Beta Lyrae
Kaiser
Star Wars Death Star Battle
Infiltrator
Trains (Spinnaker)
Gruds in Space (I love that game)
Snooper Troops (Spinnaker)
Loderunner
The Mask of the Sun
Dallas Quest
Ollie's Follies
Eastern Front (Atari)
221 B Baker Street
Mr Do!
The Eidolon
Ballblazer
Preppie 1 and 2

That game where you are a detective trying to capture all 'fuzzbombs' in the USA (Excellent game, forgot the title though)


Some good British stuff:
The Pawn, Guild of Thieves, Jinxter (Magnetic Scolls, Rainbird)
Draconus (Zeppelin Software)
Henry's House (Mastertronic)
Snowball, Return to Eden, The Worm in Paradise (Level 9)
International Karate (System 3)
Fighter Pilot, Tomahawk (Digital Integration)
Dropzone (US Gold)
Mercenary (Novagen)
Phantom (Tynesoft)
Mirax Force (Tynesoft)

more later.....

[AlanD]

Alternate Reality: The City

[chrisbid]

nobody mentions donkey kong?

[digitalpress]

One of my favorites (and the first game I think of when I hear "Atari 8-Bit") is Captain Beeble! I'd also like to see Mountain King and Into The Eagle's Nest on the list.

I'll also second Seven Cities of Gold, Racing Destruction Set and Karateka.


nobody mentions donkey kong?

It was mentioned in the second reply above!

I'll second that one too (or am I thirding it?).

[Cantaloup]

That game where you are a detective trying to capture all 'fuzzbombs' in the USA (Excellent game, forgot the title though)

Agent USA (http://classicgaming.gamespy.com/View.php?view=GameMuseum.Detail&id=33), and I'll second that one.

I'll also second these:

International Karate
Dropzone
Mercenary

[Vectorman0]

I updated the list again.

I will be trying out many of these games tonight.

I also know there are still many favorites that still haven't been mentioned. Lets keep them coming.

[tom]

of course there is Atari's own cart range for the A8, but I haven't played many of those, since I played them on VCS. But someone must know about the game play of these, eg Centipede, Missile Command, Asteroids etc...

[Bojay1997]

I am noticing that a good number of titles mentioned above are not Atari 8-bit exclusives, nor are they necessarily the best version of the games in question. While I would say without reservation that MULE was programmed first and best for the Atari 8-bits, games like Drop Zone, International Karate, Karateka, Silent Service, all the Ultimas, etc... were either originally released on other systems or had better versions in other 8-bit system libraries. It just seems like there are plenty of Atari exclusives or best versions (like the Lucasarts games for example) to fill a top 25 list without throwing in all the multi-platform stuff.

[Superman]

nobody mentions donkey kong?

Tom mentioned Donkey Kong. I will also give it another vote.

I will also give another vote to Pitfall.

[slapdash]

Rally Speedway
Dreadnaught Factor
Livewire [Tempest clone]
Shamus
Jumpman
Zeppelin

[GrandAmChandler]

GUMBALL!

Pole Position

Defender

[tom]

I am noticing that a good number of titles mentioned above are not Atari 8-bit exclusives, nor are they necessarily the best version of the games in question. While I would say without reservation that MULE was programmed first and best for the Atari 8-bits, games like Drop Zone, International Karate, Karateka, Silent Service, all the Ultimas, etc... were either originally released on other systems or had better versions in other 8-bit system libraries. It just seems like there are plenty of Atari exclusives or best versions (like the Lucasarts games for example) to fill a top 25 list without throwing in all the multi-platform stuff.

Of course, many games in the USA originated on the Apple ][ first (companies were formed to release titles on Apple ][, it spawned the industry (video: Triumph of the Nerds) that goes without saying (EG 1985):

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/thomasholzer/SWScan00023.jpg

but after the titles appeared on Apple ][, they were converted to other platforms eg C64, A8.


Dropzone is best (and first actually) on Atari 8-bit as mentioned by the programmer himself:
Archer McLean: The Atari (800) is the Porsche of home computers, and runs Dropzone 2.5 times faster than the C64 (UK Commodore magazine ZZAP!64 No 5 Sept 1985)


So we want a Top 25 (50) on A8, no matter if originated on A8 or other platform

.

[boatofcar]

I tried to come up with a top *10* list of exclusive A8 games about 5 years ago on AA. Here's that thread, if anyone's interested.

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=123421

[chuckwalla]

Definately add:

Defender
Blue Max
Pengo
Zone Ranger
Rescue on Fractalus

The best ports of the games on any home system

[Cantaloup]

Rally Speedway
Dreadnaught Factor
Livewire [Tempest clone]
Shamus
Jumpman
Zeppelin

I'll second Jumpman, and throw in Jumpman Jr. Dreadnaught Factor, Shamus, and Zeppelin were all good too.

A few more suggestions:

Summer Games
Rainbow Walker
Murder on the Zinderneuf
Realm of Impossibility
Castle Wolfenstein / Beyond Castle Wolfenstein
H.E.R.O.

[Vectorman0]

I updated the list. I am also nominating Yoomp!.

[j_factor]

How has nobody mentioned Pitfall II? The Atari 8-bit version was the definitive one by far.

[Nature Boy]

But someone must know about the game play of these, eg Centipede, Missile Command, Asteroids etc...

Centipede is okay - the 5200 version that got hacked and was made available to 8-bit owners is actually better.

Missile Command and Asteroids are definitely my favourite home versions.

Asteroids has four player simultaneous play (I *loved* this back when I was in highschool). It also lets you toggle your 'special power' between Hyperspace, Shield, Flip (immediately do a 180), or Nothing. All the asteroids are the same colour too, unlike the rainbow that was the VCS version.

My favourites include:
Asteroids
Berzerk
Blue Max
Boulder Dash
Bristles
Bruce Lee
Buried Bucks
Defender
Encounter!
Ghostbusters
Great American Cross-Country Road Race
H.E.R.O.
Journey to the Planets
Jumpman
Jumpman Junior
Kennedy Approach
The Last Starfighter
Lode Runner
M.U.L.E.
Master of the Lamps
Miner 2049er
Montezuma's Revenge
Mr. Robot and His Robot Factory
N.Y.C. The Big Apple
Nautilus
Necromancer
One on One
Pharoahs Curse
Pitfall 2
Preppie!
Rally Speedway
Realm of Impossibility
River Raid
Seafox
Serpentine
Seven Cities of Gold
Shamus
Shamus Case 2
Slime
Star League Baseball
Strip Poker ;)
Trivia Quest
Wavy Navy
Whistler's Brother
Zenji
Zeppelin
Zone Ranger

whew!


I am noticing that a good number of titles mentioned above are not Atari 8-bit exclusives, nor are they necessarily the best version of the games in question.

Which matters only if you're debating the merits of the 8-bit line compared to something else, not if you're simply compiling a list of the best games for the system itself :)

What you're looking for, as you mentioned, is a "best exclusive games list" - and I can't help you there. These are the games I go back and play constantly (I own a C64 these days but wouldn't touch the C64 versions even if they are considered 'better' - as I just want to play what I've been playing for 20 years, and not anything else).

[MachineGex]

Are all these carts or are some floppies/cassettes? If would be nice to know what format. Thanks.

[Vectorman0]

These are all a mix of formats.