Atari 5200 vs....

[Aswald]

The Atari 7800 or 5200?

Ever since 1997/1998 I've had both consoles, and if I was asked to choose, I'd have a hard time.

While the crummy controllers count against it, the 5200 has a number of good games on it you won't find on the 7800: Qix, Defender, the splendid Berzerk (it talks!), Pengo, SUPER Pac-Man!*, Star Raiders...

As for Robotron: 2084 and Ms. Pac-Man, Millipede and Centipede, as well as a game or two, quite frankly, the improvements in the 7800 versions aren't really worth worrying about.


On the other hand, Joust** and Xevious, as well as Dig Dug**, really are better on the 7800, and it does have an RPG: Midnight Mutants (although this does not match CV Lord of the Dungeon).

And would Food Fight, had it been made for the 5200, have been less than the 7800 version?

What do YOU think?


* I plan on purchasing this for myself. With Opcode's incredible Pac-Man Collection for the CV, I'll have SU-PERB versions of all four of the original "series."

** Had CV Joust and Dig Dug been completed and released, I never would've gotten a 7800. I've seen "true photos" of those two games; no screenshot can do them justice.

[ubersaurus]

I'm preferential for the 7800. Robotron's speed made it the best version of the game, and the 2 player modes of Asteroids and Centipede cannot be discounted once you've tried them

Commando, Rampage, Ikari Warriors, Xenophobe, Food Fight, all great games. Ballblazer's 7800 version throws the 5200 one out to pasture. Really if a game is on both systems the 7800 one tends to be better, it always seemed to me. Scrapyard Dog was pretty sweet as well. Never tried Midnight Mutants personally, but I've heard good things.

Super Pac-man never came out, and is pretty hard to get a repro ever since AA's reproductions of it got shut down. I may as well bring Klax into the argument as an awesome puzzle game for 7800 if you'll mention SPM.

[Aswald]

I'm wondering, is Klax actually available for the 7800, on cartridge, complete? If so, how does it hold up against the excellent NES version?

There's no question that the 5200 had better sound, though.

[NE146]

5200. Purely for me for nostalgic purposes. 5200 was the first 'next-gen' system I got after the 2600 and I'll stick to my guns by it! :D

My first 7800 on the other hand... was gotten.. last year :embarrassed:

[MegaDrive20XX]

7800, I never wasn't really into Atari, because by the time I barely remember playing 2600 when I was 4 or 5...

After my parents sold it, we got the Commodore 64 and that's all I knew up until 1987 when I got the SMS...

Yet last year I finally got to see what the 7800 was really like, and I must say, it's one of the nicest Atari systems, even though it's library is not as large as the 2600, it pretty much kicks 5200 down the road

[Aswald]

Huuuhh, but the CV beats them both! especially with Newcoleco and Opcode games. Just compare Ms. Pac man on the CV and 7800.

Couldn't resist that one!

[MegaDrive20XX]

CV always will look better imho, but I kept thinking this was about 5200 Vs. 7800

Yet, Coleco always will have the upper advantage

[ubersaurus]

I'm wondering, is Klax actually available for the 7800, on cartridge, complete? If so, how does it hold up against the excellent NES version?

There's no question that the 5200 had better sound, though.

Oh yeah, ResQsoft was selling Klax repros not too long ago..I think they may still have some copies.

I've never actually played the NES one outside of some emulation. If memory serves, it doesn't have the NES's digitized voice, and the graphics aren't as sharp, but it has some bonus, extra hard levels if you get to the end of the game. It plays like Klax, it still looks like Klax, and since the 7800 is lacking in puzzle games, it's the best one on the platform.

[NE146]

Yet, Coleco always will have the upper advantage

ehh that's debatable. And of course that was the big "console war" of that time. i.e. 5200 vs. Colecovision".
http://photobucket.com/albums/v48/b2stoys/th_cvsa1.jpghttp://photobucket.com/albums/v48/b2stoys/th_cvsa2.jpg

And like the other wars, Genesis vs. SNES vs. TG16, or SMS vs. NES, whatever.. there is really no clear winner. Personally, I say 5200 (although of course I love Colecovision as well). Recent opcode arcade ports don't count :)

[MegaDrive20XX]

Without a doubt, that is true...no true answer, only opinions :)

[NeoZeedeater]

The 7800 wins if we're taking backwards compatibility into consideration but I'm not doing that so I voted 5200. It has more games that I want to play. The 7800 doesn't offer much for me although I love the Asteroids port.

[bargora]

My first 7800 on the other hand... was gotten.. last year :embarrassed:
Aha! For years I've seen you talking about just being a gamer pack-rat and just having all of the systems from "back in the day". Busted!! NE146 is "exposed" as a collector. LOL


Ballblazer's 7800 version throws the 5200 one out to pasture.
I'm going to have to sit down and compare the two side-by-side now, because honestly, I hadn't ever noticed a difference. But then, I'd never played both of them within a week of each other, either. What are the differences I should be looking for?

[Dr. Morbis]

I like the 7800 because the games made for it are actually 7800 games. The problem with the 5200 is that many many many of it's titles are just rehashes of 2600 games that were lazily 'ported up', or sequels to 2600 games that didn't add much.

The standard controls for both systems suck, so that's not really an issue. Although, it would have been nice if the 5200 were compatible with a paddle controller so that I could truly compare 5200 Kaboom to the 2600 version.

[NE146]

My first 7800 on the other hand... was gotten.. last year :embarrassed:
Aha! For years I've seen you talking about just being a gamer pack-rat and just having all of the systems from "back in the day". Busted!! NE146 is "exposed" as a collector. LOL

LOL Doh! Busted :P

Well actually I've always stated that I'm PRIMARILY a packrat.. but I've never denied (and always been 100% open to) picking up things.. as I come across them. I often talk about my scores (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7152&&start=22) here and there too :) You won't catch me forking out mad cash for a crappy rare game though. THAT I leave to the collectors 8-)

As for the 7800.. it was just a system I passed by. I saw them in the stores, I saw the ads for them... but let's face the fact: Nintendo ruled the word at that time. So to the 7800 I said "peh" and concentrated on SMS and NES. Then I had the chance to pick up a large lot last year.. and knowing I had missed the boat, I jumped on it like biyotch :D

[NoahsMyBro]

My preference for the 5200 is well-known around here; obviously I chose the 5200 for this poll.

Concerning Ballblazer - it's been awhile since I played either version, but I recall liking the 5200 version much more than the 7800 version. I don't remember why, though. Maybe the 5200 version used the analog capability of the sticks? So that the harder you push the stick, the faster your rotofoil goes? Maybe it just has far better sound?

[RangerG]

The 7800 may have better specs., but the 5200 has so much more uniqueness and nostalgia. The 5200 represented the high-end next generation Atari console when Atari was king. It was the powerhouse that battled the equally impressive Colecovision for two strong years (1982-1984). The huge size, sleek design, big colorful carts and manuals all contribute to its glory! The 7800's cheap black and white manuals, carts without dust covers, and labels that are too often colorless scream "We are losing money and are third place to NES and SMS". Like many greats, the 5200 died an early death and now we must carry the memory on . . . .

[vulcanjedi]

Hmm

The 5200 is the only Atari system I don't have besides a lynx. I was very close to picking one up when they were new but I ended up holding out for an Atari 8bit computer instead.

I didn't pay much attention to the 7800 because I had that 800xl to keep me occupied at the time. And all the 5200 games were showing up on the 8bit BBS's anyway :)

If I would have bought a 5200 it would have been to play Space Dungeon. Nothing on the 7800 seemed to be exciting. Sure it's fun now to play midnight mutants and all the retro games like asteroids and pole position. And food fight.

VJ

[NeoSNightmarE]

for me it would have to be the 5200. i only played this one. so i guess that would be my choice. but if we were going into the CV also, i would take the CV in a heartbeat.

[ubersaurus]

My preference for the 5200 is well-known around here; obviously I chose the 5200 for this poll.

Concerning Ballblazer - it's been awhile since I played either version, but I recall liking the 5200 version much more than the 7800 version. I don't remember why, though. Maybe the 5200 version used the analog capability of the sticks? So that the harder you push the stick, the faster your rotofoil goes? Maybe it just has far better sound?

They have the same sound since the 7800 one has a POKEY in the cart.

7800 one just seemed to move smoother to me than any other version I've tried. Certainly they both rock the famicom port though LOL

I'd say the two systems have different appeals. Certainly the 5200 has really good ports of numerous titles that never saw 7800 release, but those 7800 exclusives and simultaneous play-ports rock hard as well.

Though I will say I've never had to deal with dead buttons on my 7800 controllers.

[yuppicide]

5200 all the way! First off, you can get the controllers re-done by Best Electronics. You'll have no more problems.

Second, the real reason why I chose 5200: Adventure II!!!! (now called Quest for the Golden Chalice.

http://cafeman.www9.50megs.com/atari/5200dev/QftGC.html

[optic_85]

My first 7800 on the other hand... was gotten.. last year :embarrassed:
Aha! For years I've seen you talking about just being a gamer pack-rat and just having all of the systems from "back in the day". Busted!! NE146 is "exposed" as a collector. LOL



As for the 7800.. it was just a system I passed by. I saw them in the stores, I saw the ads for them... but let's face the fact: Nintendo ruled the word at that time. So to the 7800 I said "peh" and concentrated on SMS and NES

Yeah, nintendo owned back then. I wasnt born till 85' so when i was like 5 playing NES, i had NO CLUE what ATARI was. Or even the SMS, i had no idea it ever existed until i was like 12. I didnt get into atari until recently. I was always a genesis type of guy. I was the kid in thoes school yard debates who was always defending the genesis with my SNES-playing friends.

[-hellvin-]

My first gaming experience ever was on the atari 800xl. My Dad had it set up but I didn't know to use it very well until my half brothers taught me when they visited on the weekend. So naturally, my vote would go to the 5200 for nostalgia factor.

[Aswald]

Having tried them again, since I DID start this thread, I'd have to give it- though not by much- to the 5200.

Part of it is what NE164 said: the nostalgia part. The 5200 was the last console put out by old Atari, when it was both arcade and home video game maker. So, back in those days, one could reasonably expect Atari arcade games on an Atari 5200. This lent an aura of excitement to it; TEMPEST! MILLIPEDE! And maybe some games that appeared on Atari computers; why not?

But the 7800- look, I purchased mine in the latter half of 1988 (the beginning of a number of bad years). At NO POINT did I ever get the impression that now Tramiel (various curses) Atari ever really cared about it. Efforts were relatively few and half-hearted. That moronic Atarian comic was both juvenile and terribly racist, blaming Atari's failure on "Ninja-Endo." Yeah, as if he made Atari do all of those boneheaded things.

Bleah.

As far as the games go- neither system had anything that could equal the ColecoVision, or even the Intellivision or 2600. The variety simply wasn't there. But for overall "I like it," it has to go to the 5200.

Although Joust and Xevious, and to a lesser extent Robotron, were in fact better on the 7800, the difference just isn't enough to cover the rest. The 7800 did NOT have Qix, it did NOT have Berzerk, or Defender, or Pengo, or Dreadnaught Factor, or Mountain King, or Miner 2049er, or...

As for the 7800 games NOT on the 5200- not really spectacular.

The 5200 had better sound.

Several of the games on the 7800 were not really much better than on the 5200. Ms. Pac Man is the best example, and while Robotron is better visually in "smoothness," the border, explosions, and savage feeling of the 5200 make it its equal. And had the CV version of Joust been completed, the 7800 version would not have been worth the purchase. I've seen the "photo" of it; it's nearly as good looking, and probably would've sounded better.

It's not that I don't like the 7800- far from it- but overall, considering the game library of both, the 5200 gets it.


And yes, we DO include games by Sean Kelly and Opcode. It is 2005, after all, and they are there.

[vintagegamecrazy]

Was 7800 version of Klax a legal release? I seem to remember it being illegal. I like the 5200 for nostalgia, but the 7800 had some great games too, I liked super Huey and Donkey Kong Jr. and to a lesser extent Donkey Kong, I love Robotron, and Asteroid and food fight. I don't think sound is an issue as far as agreat system goes, the genesis had terrible sound and it did great. I think the 7800 has a great future, I need games with a plot and levels now, the shooters bore me easier now, and just to think that there could be some awesome ports and homebrews that could possibly come out. I So I love both, I played 52 and 7800 versions of ballblazer, I am curious to know if anyone knows how the NES version stacks up to the competition? Oh controllers aren't a factor on either, both suck big time, I don't play my 5200 for lack of cash to buy good sticks, but the 7800 european controll pads are great, as good as an nes or sms and they can be had for the 10 to 15 dollar range now, making the 7800 a hundred times better.

[boatofcar]

If I had my choice, I'd get an Atari XEGS, which most 5200 games were ported to, and the get a 7800 for the excellent arcade conversions. XEGS>5200 any day. It should've been an option.

[Pantechnicon]

Proud owner of both. But I'll go with the 5200 for many of the reasons others have already cited: Nostalgia, first "next-gen" and so forth. The first time I saw one in action was when I had this door-to-door sales job as a teenager. Standing inside this one house I saw they had a 5200 hooked up and were playing Pac-Man, which made my beloved 2600 just look like a joke. I wanted one ever since then, and finally scored a 4-port in 1998. It's one of the gems of my collection. I treat it well: Best Electronics rebuilt controllers, Sean Kelly multicart and I even got Rob Zdybel (he wrote the BIOS for the system) to autograph it in 2002 8-).

I like the 7800 too, but I get the sense playing 7800 games that there was a certain lack of passion in their development for the most part. I don't get that same impression from the 5200. Although the argument can certainly be made that Atari should not have wasted a lot of the 5200's life re-designing 2600 titles, the quality put into those rewrites should not be ignored. Space Invaders for the 5200 is imho just stunning. Missile Command is a completely different game with the analog controller. 5200 Joust is probably the best home port of the game period. The list goes on for a while.


If I had my choice, I'd get an Atari XEGS, which most 5200 games were ported to, and the get a 7800 for the excellent arcade conversions. XEGS>5200 any day. It should've been an option.

Well now this is just confusing. I've got an XEGS that I found at Goodwill with a few games. It was a nice deal so I brought it home, popped in the games and thought "These just look like the 5200 versions." My XEGS has not seen a lot of action since then.

The 5200 is often (and rightly) described as an Atari 800 without a keyboard. As far as I can tell then, the XEGS is a 5200 with the keyboard put back on. So other than the potential to function as a home computer, I fail to see why the XEGS would necessarily be > 5200.

[boatofcar]

If I had my choice, I'd get an Atari XEGS, which most 5200 games were ported to, and the get a 7800 for the excellent arcade conversions. XEGS>5200 any day. It should've been an option.

Well now this is just confusing. I've got an XEGS that I found at Goodwill with a few games. It was a nice deal so I brought it home, popped in the games and thought "These just look like the 5200 versions." My XEGS has not seen a lot of action since then.

The 5200 is often (and rightly) described as an Atari 800 without a keyboard. As far as I can tell then, the XEGS is a 5200 with the keyboard put back on. So other than the potential to function as a home computer, I fail to see why the XEGS would necessarily be > 5200.[/quote]

Most (all?) of the good games for the 5200 were ported to the XEGS, and you can play them with good joysticks. You also get the added bonus of all the late-release Atari XE games like Blue Max that were not ported to the 5200 or the 7800. It's the best of both worlds.

Actually, it should go something like this, veering off topic:

5200<XEGS<800XL/130XE

[Aswald]

Was 7800 version of Klax a legal release? I seem to remember it being illegal. I like the 5200 for nostalgia, but the 7800 had some great games too, I liked super Huey and Donkey Kong Jr. and to a lesser extent Donkey Kong, I love Robotron, and Asteroid and food fight. I don't think sound is an issue as far as agreat system goes, the genesis had terrible sound and it did great. I think the 7800 has a great future, I need games with a plot and levels now, the shooters bore me easier now, and just to think that there could be some awesome ports and homebrews that could possibly come out. I So I love both, I played 52 and 7800 versions of ballblazer, I am curious to know if anyone knows how the NES version stacks up to the competition? Oh controllers aren't a factor on either, both suck big time, I don't play my 5200 for lack of cash to buy good sticks, but the 7800 european controll pads are great, as good as an nes or sms and they can be had for the 10 to 15 dollar range now, making the 7800 a hundred times better.


You know, I was just thinking about Food Fight. In a 1983 magazine, comparing the CV and 5200 (I'll reprint some of it one of these days; some of the comparisons are hilarious, such as the 5200 being able to handle more sprites, as "proven" by the many well-defined mushrooms in Centipede, or the fact that the CV had 256 pixels to the 5200's 320...and both showed 256 colors (oh, really?), a game called "Fast Food" was mentioned in the 5200 box. I wonder if that was an early name for Food Fight, and that a 5200 version was planned?

I love 7800 Food Fight, but the CV and 5200 could've done just as good a job.

Still, I wonder just what these systems were ultimately capable of. Considering Opcode's astonishing arcade-to-home translations of Space Invader and Pac-Man games, it seems as though the CV could've very nearly matched the NES. Surely the 5200 would be the same?