As we discussed in our review, Atari 50: Celebration Definitely more of a museum than a game showcase, but there are still plenty of games here to play! So where should you start? Here are our picks for the best Atari 50 title to try.
Note: these options are for first try. There’s undeniably a lot of nostalgic value here! And some will work better if you’re used to last year’s control schemes. But hey, what if you already know where you want to start? You don’t need us to tell you anything!
The best Atari 50 arcade game: Warlords
Atari 50The selection of arcade titles was drawn from the company’s early days, largely out of necessity: that department was sold out, so later releases were owned by someone else. However, these years certainly include some classics. Like Jobs’ and Wozniak’s overate! Or grandpa himself, Pong!
However, our favorite is Lord, a title that thrives in today’s age of video games with intense multiplayer and simple yet intuitive controls. It’s not the original game, exactly – as the game is quick to point out, the 2600 was designed first – but it certainly feels like a final release. It also benefits from Digital Eclipse’s implementation of the full arcade experience, with overlays and borders to make the action appear pretty close to what it did in its original setting.
The best Atari 50 Game Atari 2600: Combat
The 2600 – or Video Computer System for Old Friends – is undoubtedly Atari’s most iconic console. As a result it has the most releases overall and certainly leads to the most releases in the Atari 50. But they are also things that have been glued to any device willing to license them! So, in many ways, they are not the attraction for this collection.
However, if you are looking for a game that will stand the test of time? A two-player game of Fight really can’t be beat. Several later releases in the franchise are included in Atari 50including a brand new one with a Bomberman-like feeling! But there’s something about the original’s simplicity. We’re usually people who like to dress up, but Fight shows the appeal of distilling everything to read an opponent’s movements.
The best Atari 50 Game Atari 800: Yoomp!
The Atari 800 had a lot of fans in its day, but the best 800 game in this collection is definitely Not in its day. This 2007 fan release is essentially an endless runner game, as you jump through holes in pipes and stay alive. Like so many modern homebrews, Yoomp! uses advanced techniques to look and play a lot better than most games of the 800s era. Atari 50 make some oblique references to the homebrew scene, mostly around Ready Player One project, but it’s a fascinating topic and one that we’d love to see compiled and preserved more deeply.
The best Atari 50 5200/7800 game: Dark room
It might seem a bit odd to put the two together, but for the most part the 5200 didn’t have much time to develop its identity, and its presence here mostly consists of arcade portals. And… it’s 2022 now! Play the arcade version.
However, the 7800 is priced slightly better. Dark bedroom Is one gloves-like a dungeon crawler game, with the advantage of being able to breathe without your life ticking frantically downwards. The controls also don’t feel terrible? Which we note only because it is very rare in the Atari console library. Just don’t accidentally play the 2600 version of the game, also here. Its… compressionin some perhaps uncomfortable ways, to suit the platform.
The best Atari 50 Game Lynx: Scrap Dog
We’ve talked about Lynx before – mostly in its context Evercade Title Collection – and that context might work better for the library than this one. The Lynx game needs the smallest screen you can find to create a lot of visual sensations! Even more so than its Game Boy and Game Gear peers.
However, you can have some fun with Scrapyard Dog? Probably? Going back to the bundled Lynx games feels more like a curiosity, and none of the games in the group are Curious like this quirky background.
The best Atari 50 Leopard Game: Tempest 2000
It’s not hard to see why Jaguar failed, based only on the choices in Atari 50. Although there are a few gems on the system that are not included, the gems here are an important part of its presence in the market. And they’re not great! We can’t say they’re getting old because of the loose controls and their messy visuals it seems like they were disappointing at the time, too.
However, we will make a choice: Stormy 2000. Surprised? Of course not! Jeff Minter’s psychedelic game has grown into a hit game in the years since its release, and even seen both sequels. morale and Officially licensed. Simply put, both its interface and gameplay take on a style that doesn’t rely on comparisons at the time to impress. It’s great that the game is more widely available, especially for more recent fans, so they can experience more of the series. That’s probably all we’ll get! At least until Digital Eclipse finishes creating a Nuon compilation.
New best Atari 50 Game: VCTR-SCTR
If you don’t play Atari 50 Historically, we think you might be here to enjoy a new experience of Digital Eclipse. They certainly don’t have the full range of 2022 games! And they are everywhere in image and purpose. But many of them are very attractive.
Our favorite? VCTR-SCTR. While others on the team are playing an old game, this one is a tribute to the company’s broader vector portfolio. Swap between small planet and Moon lander is a bit crazy! A fun way! Um, usually. It doesn’t make us ultimately good moon lander, but still. We had a nice time.
Developed by Digital Eclipse and published by Atari, Atari 50: Celebration debut on November 11, 2022 for $39.99. It’s available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series S/X, PC and… Really? Yes, even the Atari VCS.
