You can only pick 3. Desert Island Atari VCS/2600

[GrandAmChandler]

Desert Island VCS/2600! YOU are stranded on a desert island alone, with a console, power adapter, TV, and one standard controller. There is a crate with EVERY game imaginable inside. However you can only pick 3 cartridges. This includes homebrew games, but there are no multi-carts, compilation carts (Super Mario All-Stars, Mega Man Anthology, etc.) accessories, game enhancers, or anything else out of the ordinary present. You have 3 games to pick from for what may be the rest of your life. Which three do you choose?

Today's Desert Island is Atari VCS/2600. Pick 3 valid cartridges, and explain your reasoning for each one! Include pictures of cartridges, screenshots, or whatever else you would like to display! If this goes well, I may be doing these weekly. This thread will only be as good as you make it, so lets see some effort!

-GAC-

[RJ]

Crystal Castles
Enduro
Maze Craze

[GrandAmChandler]

GAC's Picks ;)

Pressure Cooker - I feel like this may be my favorite single player VCS game. I love it. However I feel it may make me very hungry for a burger.

http://www.digitpress.com/dpsightz/atari2600/pressurecooker.gif


Robot Tank - I love the weather simulation, and when you die it possibly is the best death screen on the VCS.

http://www.digitpress.com/dpsightz/atari2600/robottank.gif

Phoenix - Who doesn't love shooting a giant space ship at the end?

http://www.digitpress.com/dpsightz/atari2600/phoenix.gif

[Carey85]

Euchre (homebrew): I enjoy the game of Euchre immensely and this game cartridge would allow me to play it by myself whenever I wish... without a dumbass partner to step on all of my books.

Pressure Cooker: This game is very fun and would provide invaluable in the sense that it would provide job training in the event that I would ever be discovered.

Fishing Derby: This game would provide survival training as well as providing companionship in the form of a digital opponent and a shark. I've already named the shark Bitey and the opponent Ralph.

[Oobgarm]

http://www.atariage.com/2600/carts/c_DemonAttack_Picture_end.jpg
http://www.atariage.com/2600/carts/c_Megamania_end.jpg
http://www.atariage.com/2600/carts/c_YarsRevenge_Picture_end.jpg

[rpepper9]

Awesome idea, I don't Atari so I have no opinion on this one, so hopefully it will continue to systems I play.

Also, I assume there is electricity on the island too, you don't mention where all this would be plugged in!

[MachineGex]

Oh the turmoil! Only three games? Man that is rough!!!
I am would pick these these if I had someone to play with:
Warring Worms: The Worm (Re)Turns - This one is a must own for every Atari owner
Falldown - A fun and addictive two player homebrew
Mazecraze - This game never gets old

However, GAC says only one controller, so great two player games are worthless...
Here is my one player only list:
Missile Command
Midnight Magic
Toyshop Trouble

[k8track]

Had to think about this; I wanted to select games that had a lot of replay value.

The first game I would select is a Breakout-type game, so obviously I would pick Super Breakout. I can play Super Breakout (and other games of this sort) over and over and over again; it's very addictive. Here is a picture of Game 7, Progressive Breakout, pretty much the only one I play:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/k8track/Superbreakout.jpg

An alternate for this would be Circus Atari.

Secondly, I would pick a cerebral puzzle game that I could play against the computer to keep my mind sharp, something with a decent AI. Again, something I could play over and over again. Gonna have to go with my old favorite, 3-D Tic Tac Toe.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/k8track/3DTicTacToe.jpg

Finally, I would want some kind of action/arcade game that I could have fun playing for years to come. I'll go with Medieval Mayhem.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/k8track/MedievalMayhemjpeg.jpg

Alternates for this third choice could include Bump 'n' Jump, Turmoil, River Raid, or Wizard of Wor.

EDIT: Just now went back and saw the "one standard controller" proviso. My 1st and 3rd choices use the paddle controller, and the 2nd choice uses the joystick. What to eliminate? A Sophie's Choice to be sure. Damn you, GAC!

EDIT 2: I just realized that I could use a Sears Video Arcade II controller (or Gemni Controller) as my one controller, which combines both a joystick and paddle. Game on!

[TwinChargers]

California Games
Tapper
Yars' Revenge

No real big reason for theses choices other than they are a few of my favorite games.

[Kid Ice]

Demon Attack...still one of my favorite video games. On a good day I can "finish" it.

Jr. Pac Man...I'm going to need one super-challenging game to keep me busy.

Space Invaders...I wouldn't play it a lot, but I'd miss it too much not to bring it.

[Steve W]

You people disgust me. Nobody's mentioned Adventure yet? Ugh, it's like I don't even know you anymore.


My three:
Adventure. I can play this game over and over in one sitting and not get bored. Love this game.
Escape From The Mind Master (Starpath Supercharger required). Randomized puzzle piece placement and mini-games.
Solaris. Who knows, being stranded on an island for years might give me the time needed to finally finish this thing!


Very close runner-ups:
Pitfall II almost made it in, but it doesn't have the longevity to go on my list.
Secret Quest almost got on the list, but I don't think I could ever finish it, even given being stranded for decades.
Survival Island (Starpath Supercharger) is a nice long game with a lot of depth, but if I remember right it's not randomized, so once I'm done with it, the thrill is over.

[AB Positive]

I'm not a big VCS fan, but I'll go in on what I'd do here...

1) Space Invaders

It's just great. While not arcade-like it's certainly way closer than Atari's 8-bit computer offering...

2) Tunnel Runner

I have a thing for CBS games apparently, but Tunnel Runner's a favorite. How many 1st person action/adventure games are there on the VCS? :D

3) Mountain King

Another CBS game, but the above two have a lot of depth. This has quite the challenge to it, and when you get the hang of it racking up huge scores is always fun.

[PapaStu]

River Raid: Best. 2600 game. EVAR.
DragonFire: So I can get better than katchoo at it and when i get off the damn island I'll have something other than coconuts to talk about.
Pitfall: I sucked at the game when I was little, the island will give me the time to get better at it.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

Berzerk
Missile Command
Demon Attack

[chrisbid]

dragonfire
kaboom!
ms pac man

[buzz_n64]

Pitfall II- Best adventure game for the 2600 in my opinion.
Donkey Kong - Worst port, but still fun as hell.
Dig-Dug - Digging and blowing up monsters is great.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

Mega-Mania

Never gets old with "guided missles." Each successive wave is a different item moving in a different way. The sounds are also pleasing enough to not get on your nerves.

Demon Attack

Kind of the same as MegaMania. I don't think I've seen all the demons.

Centipede

What more is there to say about this game.

[understatement]

"H.E.R.O."

For the action/adventure.

"Video Chess"

For the strategy.

"Berzerk"

For an option to end it all.

[diskoboy]

-Pitfall II: Lost Caverns (I'd want this for the game and the music)
-Yar's Revenge
-Megamania

Runners up:
-Turmoil
-River Raid
-Ram It

[tom]

Just 3? Man might as well drown myself, but ok:

http://www.videogamecollectors.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=194847&g2_serialNumber=1
Well, you gotta have a woman on that island

http://www.videogamecollectors.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=194837&g2_serialNumber=2
Based on the Star Fleet game series, this strategy title keeps you occupied for years

http://www.videogamecollectors.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=312523&g2_serialNumber=2
I was gonna chose Amidar, but Snail against Squirrel is also a 'slow' paced game. Excellent time waster

[Lady Jaye]

This thread gets the seal of approval from the 12-year-old me, circa 1987.

Solaris -- such an underrated Atari 2600 game! Love it, one of my favorite games of all time (says she who wrote the review of the game for this very site). Shooting pink flying crabs was never so much fun!

http://www.videogamecritic.net/images/2600/solaris.png


Tutankham -- for the dungeon crawler fan in me, and for all the hours spent playing it in my youth.

http://www.videogamecritic.net/images/2600/tutankham.png


Keystone Kapers -- one of Activision's fun efforts (among many, as the choice was a hard one to make). Strangely enough, I didn't know this game until Activision Anthology came out.

http://www.retrogamer.net/users/394/thm1024/keystonekapers1983activision_17.png

[ssjlance]

Custer's Revenge - Hah! Not really.

Asteroids - Seriously, I can play this game forever.
Space Invaders - Does it need any explanation?
Yar's Revenge - Just a brilliant game.

[DDCecil]

Tough choice, but I'd have to go with these 3:

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/1543/picture067.png

I could play all 3 of them forever. Adventure and Solaris are obvious choices.

M*A*S*H may be a strange choice, but I love the Operating Room variation and I never tire of it.

Other games that almost made the cut:

Yar's Revenge
Q*Bert
Crystal Castles
Moon Patrol

[Night Driver]

Asteroids
Superman
Dragster

[Lady Jaye]

Of course! Moon Patrol! Duh! How could I forget that? I loved that game on the 2600 as a kid!

[TheDomesticInstitution]

M*A*S*H may be a strange choice, but I love the Operating Room variation and I never tire of it.

I found this for $1 at a thrift a few months ago, and picked it up because I hadn't seen it before. I wasn't expecting much, but I enjoyed it. Trying to get as many pieces out of the body in the allotted time can be nerve-wracking.

[8bitgamer]

Space Invaders
Phoenix
Jr. Pac-Man

[-hellvin-]

Damn this is tough but I narrowed it down to....

Demon Attack
Moon Patrol
Megamania

[Ryaan1234]

Mouse Trap
http://www.atariage.com/2600/screenshots/s_MouseTrap_1.png
I don't care if it's a Pac Man clone! It's one of my all time favorite 2600 games. I could play it for hours on end. I've always thought of this game as what the 2600 Pac-Man should've been, with a few added features.

Robot Tank
http://www.atariage.com/2600/screenshots/s_RobotTank_1.png
In my opinion, one of the most graphically advanced Atari 2600 games made. Not only that, but it's an awesome game! It's so fast-paced and exciting!

Journey Escape
http://www.atariage.com/2600/screenshots/s_JourneyEscape_3.png
A lot of people dislike this game, but I think it's great! It's really addictive and the opening tune can distract me for hours.

Joke entry:

Video Life
http://www.atariage.com/2600/screenshots/s_VideoLife_1.png
Video Life, by Commavid, is one of the rarest Atari games. Ever. Not only is the actual "game" endlessly fascinating, I can imagine that more than one crazy Atari collector would be looking for me to get ahold of the game. LOL

[Rickstilwell1]

I mainly love Atari 2600 for the shooters, so I'd bring

Space Invaders (I got that rhythm down!)
Galaxian (more interesting but just like Space Invaders)
Millipede (fast paced action and easy to get very far into)

these 3 are very addicting. 4th place for me would be Missile Command but I like constantly shooting more than aiming before shooting.

[neuropolitique]

Adventure
http://reparent.blog.uvm.edu/images/Atari%20Adventure.gif

Vanguard
http://www.tomheroes.com/images/RT-Vanguard.jpg

Berserk
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BDCqpuwRnf4/R7hnhJQXT8I/AAAAAAAACzs/qFbkkPTNCUo/s400/Berzerk+in+game.png

Mostly because these are the games I've played since the beginning.

[Lady Jaye]

Is it me, or does Vanguard look like a clone of Scramble?

[Steve W]

Is it me, or does that Vanguard screenshot look like the 5200 version?

[tom]

Is it me, or does Vanguard look like a clone of Scramble?

Vanguard: horizontal/vertical & shooting in four directions
Scramble: horizontal & shooting in two directions
So, simular...but really no.

Steve W: yes. here's 2600:
http://www.atariage.com/2600/screenshots/s_Vanguard_5.png

[neuropolitique]

oops!

[Lady Jaye]

Vanguard: horizontal/vertical & shooting in four directions
Scramble: horizontal & shooting in two directions
So, simular...but really no.

Ah ok, the 5200 screenshot looked quite a bit like Scramble...

[Pantechnicon]

The "one standard controller" rule is befuddling me somewhat, so I'm going to give two 2600 lists: One for a CX40 joystick and one for a pair of CX30 paddles (not that I'd need the second paddle, `cuz I'm all alone).

Joystick:
Missile Command -because that's one of my best games. Me love you long time.
Montezuma's Revenge - It's got a lot of depth and it would take a long time to find everything.
Video Chess - I've got nothing else going on, so I might as well improve my game against the AI.

Paddle:
Super Breakout - To know Breakout is to know the tao.
Circus Atari
Casino - Same reasoning as Video Chess.

[old_skoolin_jim]

Oooh, good picks, everybody!
I think I'd have to take:

Popeye
Jr. Pac-Man
Keystone Kapers

Runners-up?
Mario Bros.
Q*Bert
Dig Dug

But in my eyes, they're all winners!

[Sparkster]

Adventure - I could play level 3 over and over again, and never get bored (mostly because it can be a different game every time, and not necessarily winnable).

Human Cannonball - there is something strangely satisfying about making your sprite miss the target.

Maze Craze - Many different levels and variations keeps this one fresh.

[k8track]

The "one standard controller" rule is befuddling me somewhat, so I'm going to give two 2600 lists: One for a CX40 joystick and one for a pair of CX30 paddles (not that I'd need the second paddle, `cuz I'm all alone).
Psst... take a look at my post and you can use the same solution I came up with regarding the "one standard controller" rule. Or maybe you'd want to take the "Lost" Island approach and have parallel universes, one for joysticks and one for paddles.

[BHvrd]

Pitfall - Gotta stay shrap on a desert island if you don't wanna get bit by scorpions, gotta practice them jumping skills!

Frogger - I can study the habits of frogs so that I may catch some for eating.

Bermuda Triangle - This is a desert "island" after all. :D

[Pantechnicon]

Psst... take a look at my post and you can use the same solution I came up with regarding the "one standard controller" rule. Or maybe you'd want to take the "Lost" Island approach and have parallel universes, one for joysticks and one for paddles.

Jings, you're right. Coleco Gemini controller ftw. My appended single-reality list:

Missile Command
Video Chess
Super Breakout

[fergojisan]

My first pick would definitely be Adventure, as it is either 1 or 2 on my favorite games of all time on any system (alternating with NES Legend of Zelda). 2 and 3 are a little harder. I think Pitfall 2 would be one of them, as I love the mood of that game, and the music would be nice too, it would be very quiet otherwise. I'm going to have to go with Frankenstein's Monster for #3, I would love to be able to get farther in that game, and I will have lots of time to practice. Time enough at last! I hope I don't get any sand in the cartridge port though, that would suck.

[Sanriostar]

A mazer, a shooter, and a boarder:

Jr. Pac
Millipede
Chess

All hard games I'd have my time to master.

[JRodHacker]

I'd have to take these 3.
Gremlins
Donkey Kong
Space Invaders

Sorry, this is off subject....
I found several prototype 2600 games. I tried playing them on an emulator just to see how close they were to finishing, and was kinda surprised by what I found.
I'm sorry I don't have screenshots, but the window the games are played on is so small it wouldn't help much.


Planet of the Apes- Sometimes you can't shoot and the apes disappear. Shooting gets you out of the quicksand traps, so not being able to shoot is problematic. The character movement is similar to Raiders of the Lost Ark. After wandering around (cuz there was nothing to shoot) I noticed scenes that are similar to areas in the classic movie.
You have an amount of life, and extra lives. Sometimes I ended up dying, and was sent to a cage in the Apes' City. One area in the game was undiscribable. At first I thought maybe it was the remains of the crashed ship, but a second look told me that was a stretch.


Star Wars: Ewok Adventure- You basically just fly around as a glider droping rocks on troopers, bikes and walkers. Sometimes I managed to take control of a walker, but don't know how. It may have something to do with how high or low you fly, but the controls are difficult on a keyboard. I wish I could play some of these on a real 2600.
This one was the most fun, but again I had a glitch that wouldn't always let me shoot. This would have been great if they finished it. Also, if you crash, an ewok runs down to the starting point and gets into a new glider.


Garfield- All that happens is you jump from fence post to fense post, eating burgers that fly from the sides. You don't even have to jump, you get points just from touching them. You can duck, but the burgers fly past you...only to rebound and give you another chance. I don't know why you duck, but I assume there was meant to be an object thrown at you that you wanted to avoid.
You get 3 lives, but again the prototype seems to be hazard free. One thing that's ammusing is if you keep switching left and right, Garfield looks like he's tap dancing. Graphics are good, but that doesn't help a game where you can't lose.


Pepsi Invaders- S.I. clone where you shoot at the letters P. E. P. S. I. and the last coloum is still an alien. The flying sauser is now the pepsi icon. At first I thought it was a just a clone for advertising pepsi....BUT then I noticed it meantioned COKE!
Yeah...COKE was spelled out at the top/left of the screen and the score was at the top/right. I guess either it's a Coke ad saying Pepsi is evil, or somebody was trying to advertise for both companies! I was this close to having an AVGN moment. lol


This isn't the full list, but they are the best of the ones I tried out.

[Arkhan]

Berzerk
Demon Attack
Defender

if we coulda picked the keypad, Id have definitely put star raiders on the list.

http://llamabutchers.mu.nu/berzerk.png

[Sosage]

I'd have to take a paddle and go with:

Kaboom!
I've put the most 2600 miles on this cart. I'm not good, but damn is it fun.

At that point...so difficult. I'd hack the controller with coconut technology laying around the island so I could play Haunted House and Cosmic Ark. Yeah...I'd probably go nuts after three weeks.