Most impressive 2600 game you've ever seen?

[Zaxxon]

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]

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]

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]

California Games was really impressive to me.

[NE146]

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)



get the .bin here

[digitalpress]

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]

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]

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]

That reminds me, the game Qb.

[Atari7800]

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

[Gunstarhero]

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]

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]

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]

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

[ManekiNeko]

Uh, I thought it was Marble Craze.

JR

[CrazyImpmon]

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]

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]

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

[RJ]

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]

Uh, I thought it was Marble Craze.

JR

Noted! (and edited) damn "names"