Most impressive 2600 game you've ever seen? [Archive]

Zaxxon

03-12-2003, 01:22 PM

In terms of graphics/sound. I thought Crossbow was amazing looking for a 2600 game. It could've passed for a good CV game IMO. That GIJOE game with the giant snake was cool looking.

Tempest

03-12-2003, 01:33 PM

Solaris. That game still amazes me to this day. How Doug got all that game crammed into a tiny 16K rom (especially back in 84) is simply mind blowing.

Tempest

davidbrit2

03-12-2003, 01:39 PM

I think Millipede makes amazing use of the available RAM. As far as depth of gameplay, Secret Quest and Solaris are two of the most impressive.

Kroogah

03-12-2003, 02:04 PM

California Games was really impressive to me.

NE146

03-12-2003, 03:02 PM

Well.. the most *recent* thing on the 2600 that impressed me wasn't a game, but rather the "jumping mario's" demo... (it's blurry because the marios are moving)

http://www.taswegian.com/4kmario2.jpg

get the .bin here (http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20445&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=125)

digitalpress

03-12-2003, 03:04 PM

I'll second "Solaris". I can't think of a game that stretched the 2600 to such limits in both graphics, sound, and depth of play.

Zaxxon

03-12-2003, 03:09 PM

I bought Solaris to try out from U.G.S and I think it was PAL even though it wasn't advertised that way. I couldn't play it. Does the PAL Solaris cart/box look different from the NTSC version?

digitalpress

03-12-2003, 03:18 PM

I bought Solaris to try out from U.G.S and I think it was PAL even though it wasn't advertised that way. I couldn't play it. Does the PAL Solaris cart/box look different from the NTSC version?

I think the boxes look the same. The only real difference MIGHT be a sticker with a "P" on it, or a "P" printed on the spine of the box. I only have one or two PAL titles from this late Atari 2600 era and I'm pretty sure that's the way they're different.

It SUCKS that you can't play it. It's a magnificent game.

Zaxxon

03-12-2003, 03:20 PM

That reminds me, the game Qb.

Atari7800

03-12-2003, 05:06 PM

it's probably just me, but I thought Pole Position looked surprisingly good on the 2600.

Gunstarhero

03-12-2003, 05:13 PM

I got to go with California Games. I actually have more fun with the 2600 version than the Lynx version because I think the BMX stage on the 2600 is much faster and wilder. The graphics for 2600 CG are the best I've seen, but I haven't played all 2600 games yet, including Solaris.

ManekiNeko

03-12-2003, 05:25 PM

Solaris. Fantastic visuals or complex gameplay alone would be impressive in a 2600 game, but when you put 'em together you've got a real jaw-dropper.
Some runners up include Crystal Castles and Midnight Magic.

JR

NE146

03-12-2003, 06:09 PM

Oops forgot to actually say what games I'd nominate.

For pure graphics.. there's a couple of contenders.. but I'd have to go with the crowd and say Solaris.

For gameplay joy.. I'd have to say Marble Craze. I quite honestly wasn't expecting much out of this game.. but then I played it with some paddles and holy cow... The game constantly delighted (yes, "delighted") me with each level I reached! I just kept getting surprised at the cool level design and how he worked all this Atari nostalgia into it. What a great feeling to be rolling the marble around the Blue Maze from Adventure. etc. etc. And the background music helps out a lot too. Great game :)

Charlie

03-12-2003, 06:36 PM

Snoopy & The Red Baron was ok because everything looked pretty much like it was supposed to.

ManekiNeko

03-12-2003, 08:14 PM

Uh, I thought it was Marble Craze.

JR

CrazyImpmon

03-12-2003, 08:52 PM

I'd go with Pitfall 2 for the best sound and Solaris for overall.

And I'm sure it's Marble Craze and not Madness.

Kid Ice

03-12-2003, 09:03 PM

I would choose Demon Attack as the most impressive graphically.

I remember seeing the Pitfall commercial when it first came out and thinking there's no way it could look like that on Atari.

the kid

oesiii

03-12-2003, 10:39 PM

For great graphics, music, and gameplay you should check out BMX Airmaster. Tony Hawk/Dave Mirra type game that came out 10 years before those games were popular.

Fun game :-D

03-13-2003, 04:53 AM

Crystal Castles- while nothing like the arcade, it's tons of fun over the Atari 8-bit version, which of course is graphically superior but nearly impossible to enjoy.

Anyone ever get to the "last" level (w/ just ghosts & skeletons) before the castles start looping?

NE146

03-13-2003, 03:06 PM

Uh, I thought it was Marble Craze.

JR

Noted! (and edited) damn "names" LOL

bargora

03-13-2003, 03:24 PM

NE146

03-13-2003, 04:21 PM

I've personally never seen every level of 2600 Crystal Castles but would like to! :)

Alex Kidd

03-13-2003, 04:31 PM

I'd say Pac-Man

The fact that Atari had the balls to butcher it the way they did and STILL call it "Pac-Man" impresses the hell outta me!

Alex Kidd

But Honestly... I can't say Solaris... I have that game... had it forever... could NEVER dig it... probably Indiana Jones...

Anonymous

03-13-2003, 04:36 PM

@NE146 - I'd really like to see a better picture of that demo you're showing. Are you going to go to the NWCGE this saturday?

NE146

03-13-2003, 05:48 PM

@NE146 - I'd really like to see a better picture of that demo you're showing. Are you going to go to the NWCGE this saturday?

well.. I'm "thinking" about it. Most likely I will stop by for a bit. :hmm:

But anyway it's easy to see the demo going! Simply download the .bin and try it on an emulator! the links are right there in my post. :) Works great!

slapdash

03-14-2003, 12:49 PM

Solaris is definitely up on my list too...

I have to say that Tapper impressed me quite a bit at the time, especially the bars with the sort of neon look.

Have you all seen the screenshots of the Mind Maze proto that Matt Reichert got his hands on? Some of the graphical icons in that are really impressive for the 2600...

le geek

03-14-2003, 06:05 PM

I lean more towards BMX Airmaster (it's crazy what you can do in the half pipe if you fiddle with it long enough), then California Games, then Solaris, then Defender II/Stargate, then Millipede...

Many of the late activision games have lot's of stuff going on, like Pressure Cooker and Private Eye...

On a random note, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw Spitfire Attack, Marine Wars, and Shuttle Orbiter for the first time :)

Cheers,
le geek

03-26-2003, 01:15 PM

@bargora: yeah. that's the "last" level. after that, the castles start over & the enemies move faster.

I just got the cart (again) from eBay & plan to go all the way again soon!

Tempest

03-26-2003, 02:10 PM

Have you all seen the screenshots of the Mind Maze proto that Matt Reichert got his hands on? Some of the graphical icons in that are really impressive for the 2600...

Yeah I was actually quite shocked when I saw it for the first time. The graphics are gorgous, but the gameplay is non-existant. Anyone have an idea who might have done them? For some reason I'm thinking Preston Stewart.

Just a reminder, I will have Mind Maze on display at PC4 for all to enojy(?).

Tempest

congobongo

03-27-2003, 09:17 AM

Pitfall II gets my vote. It looks and sounds great and the check-points were an impressive innovation. Crystal Castles is nice too. Solaris is great but it's just not my type of game. Decathalon is also a winner.

vintagegamecrazy

10-08-2003, 10:19 AM

Solaris really impressed me, probably had the best use of the system's power. I also have to say that HERO was great, the graphics are nothing awsome but are done well, but I was surprised by the depth and level design of the game. I made it to level 10 yesterday and wanted to keep playing. This game is addictive as heck. Anyone who hasn't played this game doesn't know what they are missing!!!!

ianoid

10-08-2003, 10:45 PM

I'm voting for Pitfall 2. It just looks so fine and the sprites are so crisp. The levels are just huge. I was amazed when I saw it, and I'm actually surprised few/no 2600 games met or surpassed the high standard it set as far as size and beauty.

ian