The following is a post I made as soon as the list started up again at
the new address. My friend Ruffin (Rufbo@xxxxxxx) said he didn't see it,
so I thought maybe the rest of y'all didn't get it. I had hoped it would
spark some discussion... so here goes.
If you got this before and didn't care, hit 'q' now. :^)
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Hi all!
Well, it looks like the list has died again. In the hope of stirring up
a little discussion, I thought I would post my "Top 48" list. This is the
list of Atari 2600 games that I couldn't do without. Sure, there are others
that I might include, but these are the bare essentials. I have tried to
rank games primarily on gameplay, graphics, and sound; I hope I left out
the "sentimental" factor. Keep in mind: replay value and the ability to
keep me coming back were big factors in choosing my favorite games.
I included a description/reason for each of the Top 15. If you want me
to comment on my choices for 16-48, just ask.
I know that there are some omissions below that many of you might find
galling. For example, Adventure does not make my list. Neither does
Yars' Revenge. And I suspect that my #1 will be no one else's. But
here goes:
Matt's Top 48 Atari 2600 Game of All Time
(of the ones he's actually played)
1. Pressure Cooker - Just an all around excellent game. The graphics are
very well done for the Atari 2600. The gameplay (especially on the
higher levels) is very challenging, both in physical demands and
mental skills. Also, the tune is kind of catchy!
2. Jr. Pac-Man - Again, a winner in both graphics (fantastic scrolling
maze) and gameplay. Despite a little flicker in the ghosts, this
game is second only to 7800 Ms. Pac-man in great maze zipping fun
on an Atari home console.
3. Frogger (Parker Bros.) - This game, despite being graphically inferior
to its Supercharger version, is fantastic in gameplay. The music,
some of the best on the 2600, is pleasant and catchy. The gameplay
is also very frantic and challenging, especially on the higher levels.
4. Kaboom - Though I have yet to break 4,000 on this game, it keeps me
coming back again and again. This game alone makes the paddles a
necessary accessory for the Atari 2600.
5. H.E.R.O. - Activision was just pumpin' out the hits apparently. This
game seems BIG for a 2600 game. Granted, many of the rooms are a
variation of previous rooms, but they are all different enough to
keep you coming back. The graphics are colorful and catchy for the
2600. Too bad they didn't have some cool music for this one.
6. Laser Gates - A recent aquisition for me, I couldn't stop playing it
when I first got it. The graphics are fairly simple, but the action
is pretty hot and the side scrolling is pretty smooth for teh 2600.
It's main drawback is that the sound effects are pretty annoying.
Has some of the most impressive explosions for the 2600.
7. California Games - Incredible game. Just freaking awesome. Though I
can't say I really care for the Footbag event, I can school anyone
in the other events. (Rufbo can school anyone else in the Footbag,
just ask him.) The BMX and Surfing are *very* impressive for the
2600. If they had combined the gameplay of BMX Airmaster with the
half-pipe event in California Games this game would have probably been
number 3 or 4.
8. BMX Airmaster - Speaking of BMX Airmaster...this game has one really
cool musical track and some great graphics. The control is dead
on and it has some really nice touches like, like the whistle when
you score over 3000 on one "stunt". Does anyone know if you can break
10000 on one jump? I once got 9988!
9. Circus Atari - Probably the most primitive of the Top 10 graphically,
but almost one of the most fun in gameplay. When your men get flying
around the screen at near light speed, this game just can't be beat!
And who can say they don't enjoy the feeling of clearing out the whole
top row of balloons on one jump?
10. Indy 500 - The only game (so far) that uses the driving controllers, but
that means nothing. Even in the one player timed events, this game can
eat up my time like nothing else. The graphics are fairly basic, but
it just goes to show what you can achieve with good gameplay.
11. Ms. Pac-Man - Along with Jr., we can almost excuse Atari for the
abomination which is Pac-man. This game captures the fun of the arcade,
even if it doesn't have the same mazes or intermissions. A must
have for any 2600 owner.
12. KLAX - I know this one is known in PAL form only (right?) and is fairly
difficult to come by, but let me assure you: If you can ever get it
for a decent price...DO IT! Believe it or not, I actually started
to feel some of the feelings I used to get playing the arcade version.
Any time the 2600 version can help you get that arcade feeling, you
know they did right well!
13. Super Breakout - An improvement on Breakout, this game is a great way
to pass time, or get some kicks late at night when you and your friend(s)
have really tired reflexes.
14. Midnight Magic - A great improvement on Video Pinball, this game brings
a realistic pinball game to the 2600 with good graphics and pretty
decent music. But am I the only one that misses the ability to tilt
the machine that you could do in Video Pinball?
15. Solar Fox - A great game with fast gameplay and a very simple goal. Now
if I could only get all the pieces of the hidden message! (I already
know what it is, but I want to get them all for myself. Rosebud.)
16. Millipede
17. Frogger (SuperCharger)
18. Warlords
19. Robot Tank
20. Montezuma's Revenge: Starring Panama Joe
21. Pitfall II: Lost Caverns
22. Escape From the Mindmaster
23. Dragonstomper
24. Gyruss
25. Road Runner
26. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: Death Star Battle
27. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
28. Subterranea
29. Enduro
30. Joust
31. Pole Position
32. Rampage
33. Ghostbusters
34. Snoopy and the Red Baron
35. Pitfall
36. Spy Hunter
37. Dolphin
38. Defender II
39. Demon Attack
40. Bridge
41. Star Trek Strategic Operations Simulation
42. Centipede
43. Star Raiders
44. Battlezone
45. Defender
46. Video Pinball
47. Combat
48. Missile Command
That's all for now. Happy gamin'!
matt
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||| John V. Matthews, III | PO Box 50355
||| NCSU Mathematics Graduate Student | Raleigh, NC 27650
/ | \ http://www4.ncsu.edu/~jvmatthe/www/ | (919) 515 7324
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