favorite Atari arcade game of the 80's

[Gandhara]

Warlords!!

followed closely by Millipede, Paperboy and Peter Pack Rat!!

[sparf]

Warlords!!

followed closely by Millipede, Paperboy and Peter Pack Rat!!

Centipede! also Warlords. :)

[homerhomer]

Here's five that I think are awesome.

1. Black Tiger
2. Ikari Warriors
3. After Burner
4. R-type
5. Rastan

[Serious]

720, I Robot, and Firefox were the Atari arcade games I probably enjoyed the most when I was a kid, but these days I'd say Centipede and Tempest are the best.

[Neb6]

I have to pick one? Are you KIDDING me?

Too many good ones to choose from...

Well, if I were to select just one, I'd go for

TRON (1982).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tron_(video_game)

I hate to think how many coins I dropped into that machine. Oh well, I definitely had fun.

[Lady Jaye]

Good thing that the thread title specifies ATARI, because you'd never guess it looking at some of the game titles in the replies...

I know someone who'd answer Toobin' and Klax for sure, but for me, it's kinda tough. I'd say Tempest. To be frank, there are many more personal favorites over at Williams than at Atari.

[Neb6]

Good thing that the thread title specifies ATARI, because you'd never guess it looking at some of the game titles in the replies...

I know someone who'd answer Toobin' and Klax for sure, but for me, it's kinda tough. I'd say Tempest. To be frank, there are many more personal favorites over at Williams than at Atari.

Well said. I see I'm one of the people who read the title too fast.

Hence, allow me to mend my ways and pick some ATARI arcade favorites:

1. Major Havoc <-- If I had to pick one, this would be it.
2. Gravitar
3. Space Duel
4. Gauntlet
5. Marble Madness


There! :)

[fergojisan]

I would have to pick Tempest, with Major Havoc and Marble Madness in a very close second.

[dgdgagdae]

Played the hell out of Cyberball in high school. That's the arcade game about which I have the best memories, for sure. Atari (which it is) or otherwise.

[8-Bit Archeology]

The four player Gauntlet was the best in my opinion. It brought so much to the table. And I like having character options and screaming at my friend over the game to get the damn ghost spawner. Ah good times. A buddy of mine still has one of these beauties. I try and buy every port of this game just an epic classic in my book.

[Tron 2.0]

Gauntlet II
Paperboy
720
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Centipede
Missile Command

[FrankSerpico]

Gauntlet Legends. I have much respect for the classics but that one would have to be my favorite

[Detonator]

Check my signature. :D

Also... Xevious (Namco/Atari), Asteroids Deluxe and Quantum are awesome... I've played all to death. Major Havoc is pretty interesting too.

[Nikademus1969]

There are so many, just about all their early 80's titles win this list just by default. But I also liked a few of their late 80's games as well like Hard Drivin' and STUN Runner.Oh....and XYBOTS!

[Gamevet]

This one is tough for me. I have so many favorites from Atari's arcade days.

1- Centipede: I'd really like to have a trackball to play this game the way it was meant to be played.
2- Asteroids: Simple, yet perfect in design.
3-Missile Command: The beginning of the end dawns upon you, when you realize you've ran out of missiles, as the enemy's final assault is falling from the sky.
4-Road Blaster: It was one of my favorites on the Atari Lynx and just an all-around great racing game.
5-Battle Zone: There was nothing like it in the arcades, back in the day.

[Tanooki]

Sticking to Atari as you asked (some posts I see haven't) I put the most quarters into Gauntlet and Gauntlet II, about even depending what I came across.

[jammajup]

Battle Zone is my favourite followed byLunar Lander ,Gauntlet II and Paperboy.
To be honest I prefer Warlords on the A2600 and was disappointed when I eventually saw the arcade version.

[ihavethatpma]

Asteroids is probably my favorite arcade game, it's so simple yet so entertaining for me. Star Wars comes in second place with Tempest as a close third.

* I guess Asteroids was a 1979 game, but fuck it.

[Brian Deuel]

Tempest, bar none. I remember reading about the game in the newspaper back in '81, in an article about the Atari-sponsored Centipede Tournament, and had to play it. Two days later, I walked into the Someplace Else Arcade in Grand Rapids and there it stood. It's been my favorite game ever since.

Space Duel and Battlezone rank quite highly as well...

[TripppsK]

For me it's Missile Command.

[wizardofwor1975]

Asteroids is probably my favorite arcade game, it's so simple yet so entertaining for me. Star Wars comes in second place with Tempest as a close third.

* I guess Asteroids was a 1979 game, but fuck it.

Agreed. A lot of people are surprised to find out that Asteroids was Atari's best selling coin-op game of all time with 70,000 units released. Centipede was Atari's no 2 best seller but I was always more partial to Battlezone & Star Wars. I know the topic was 80s Atari games but I've got to mention Tank. I remember the 1st time I saw it in the arcade. It was the cocktail cabinet and it rocked. I liked the Atari 2600 port Combat as well.

[T2KFreeker]

Well, gotta' got with Tempest as the number one. Amazing stuff. I adore the game. Star Wars was so much fun too. Gauntlet is a syncher too. That game took up so much of my time.

[celerystalker]

Centipede. I bought my wife a cabaret model cabinet this year. It's my only trackball cabinet I really love.

[Oldskool]

While I REALLY enjoy Tempest - I actually prefer ATARI games from the late 1980's. Games like Paperboy, Marble Madness, etc etc..

but..

My favorite ATARI game of the 1980's:

HARD DRIVIN' -- I actually learned how to drive a stick shift playing this game!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s99ETAXHyVQ

A CLOSE SECOND PLACE WOULD BE:

S.T.U.N. RUNNER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlgpj6fZQ4U

[Crazy Climber]

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is hands down my absolute favorite Atari cab. It's amazing out of the hundreds of these things I have owned I still have never had one....

[MachineGex]

1. GRAVITAR
2. Asteroids
3. Missile Command
4, Tempest

[Detonator]

1. GRAVITAR
2. Asteroids
3. Missile Command
4, Tempest

Excellent, excellent list. :D

Mine is:

1. Gravitar
2. Xevious
3. Star Wars
4. Battle Zone

[nemocat]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0a-ziKmxw4

[Alexander]

I'm inclined to say Gauntlet. Cool multiplayer.